Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (1915-2006) was one of the most distinguished and influential singers of the 20th century and the last star of an extraordinary quintet of sopranos, all of whom emerged on the operatic scene shortly after the Second World War. Along with Victoria de los Angeles, Maria Callas, Birgit Nilsson and Renata Tebaldi, Schwarskopf embodied, according to Patrick O’Connor of Gramophone, the meaning of the term “prima donna.” The pristine beauty of her lyric soprano voice, her elegance, poise and charm, combined with hard work and innate intelligence, lent her performances a compelling authority, even though some, not unjustly, considered her interpretations of both opera and especially, lieder, mannered and artificial. But in both these fields, she gained extraordinary acclaim during a long and distinguished career that spanned more than two-and-a-half decades. In this podcast, Adriaan Fuchs takes a closer look at the life and art of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. For more information, please visit www.onandofftherecord.com