Mozart Medal of the International Mozarteum Foundation Salzburg (1976)
Hans-Reinhart-Ring (1978)
Kunst- und Kulturpreis der Stadt Luzern (1978)
Bayerische Kammersängerin (1980)[6]
Buxtehude-Preis des Lübecker Senats (1981)
Prix Mondial du Disque (Montreux)
Edith Mathis (born 11 February 1938) is a Swiss soprano and a leading exponent of the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart worldwide.[1] She is known for parts in Mozart operas, but also took part in premieres of operas such as Henze's Der junge Lord.
Her voice was featured in a key scene of the film The Shawshank Redemption, joining with that of Gundula Janowitz in a duet from Le Nozze di Figaro, "soar[ing] over a prison yard, signifying joy and hope in a world of despair," as described in a 2014 article in The New York Times.[2]
Mathis was born and studied in Lucerne, and made her operatic debut in 1956 as the second boy in Die Zauberflöte. She continued gaining stage experience in her native Switzerland for the next three years. Her first appearance abroad was at the Cologne Opera in 1959. In the early 1960s she made frequent guest appearances in Hamburg, at the Glyndebourne Festival, and the Salzburg Festival. In 1963, she became a member of the Deutsche Oper Berlin. She made her debuts at Covent Garden and the Met in 1970. The 1970s saw her appear in great opera houses of Europe: the Vienna State Opera, the Bavarian State Opera, and the Opéra de Paris.
In addition to her operatic career, Mathis made numerous concert tours in Lieder recitals, including tours to Japan, the US, Australia, Russia, and Israel. She recorded Mahler's Second Symphony several times under Rafael Kubelik and Klaus Tennstedt, and the Fourth Symphony, singing the Finale's "The Heavenly Life" with the Vienna Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein (1972) and the Berlin Philharmonic under Herbert von Karajan (1979), both for Deutsche Grammophon.
Her most notable recorded Mozart roles include Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro for the Deutsche Oper Berlin with Karl Böhm conducting, and Ilia in Idomeneo with the Staatskapelle Dresden. A re-released recording of Don Giovanni with the Vienna Philharmonic and Karl Böhm from the 1977 Salzburg Festival features her in one of her best-known roles, Zerlina. A performance by Mathis as Cherubino is available on a DVD from the Salzburg Festival of 1966, with the Vienna Philharmonic under Böhm, where she sings alongside Ingvar Wixell, Claire Watson, Reri Grist, and Walter Berry.
Bach solo cantatas (BWV 202, 51, 99, 106) – Karl Richter, Peter Schreier, Wolfgang Gönnenwein conductors
Brahms: Volkslieder, Volks-Kinderlieder, 1975, Edith Mathis soprano, Peter Schreier tenor, Karl Engel piano. Deutsche Grammophon
Brahms: Liebeslieder, Walzer op. 52, Neue Liebeslieder, Walzer op. 65 and 3 Quartette op. 64, 1981, Edith Mathis, Brigitte Fassbaender, Peter Schreier, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau; Karl Engel and Wolfgang Sawallisch pianoDeutsche Grammophon
Mozart Lieder – 1986, Karl Engel, piano
Mozart Lieder – 1973, Bernhard Klee, piano
Schumann Lieder – Christoph Eshenbach, piano
Lieder Mozart-Schumann
Franz Schubert Lieder
Haydn Arias – 1981, Armin Jordan, conductor
Handel Neun Deutsche Arien – 1966, Consortium Musicum
Handel/Mozart Der Messias
Richard Strauss & Hugo Wolf Lieder
Exsultate, Jubilate, Geistliche Arien für Sopran – 1979, Bernhard Klee, conductor
Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus-Passion ("St Matthew Passion"), 1979, Edith Mathis, Janet Baker, Peter Schreier, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Matti Salminen, Regensburger Domspatzen Münchener Bach-Chor und -Orchester, conductor Karl Richter. Archiv Produktion
Haydn: Die Schöpfung ("The Creation"), 1980, Edith Mathis, Aldo Baldin, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Chorus and Academy of St Martin in the Fields, conductor Neville Marriner. Philips
Haydn: Die Schöpfung ("The Creation"), 1983, Edith Mathis, Francisco Araiza, José van Dam, Wiener Singverein, Wiener Philharmoniker, conductor Herbert von Karajan (live recording) Deutsche Grammophon
Haydn: Die Jahreszeiten ("The Seasons"), 1981, Edith Mathis, Siegfied Jerusalem, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Chorus and Academy of St Martin in the Fields, conductor Neville Marriner. Philips
W. A. Mozart: "Le Nozze di Figaro", 1968, Susanna: Edith Mathis, Figaro: Hermann Prey, Countess Almaviva: Gundula Janowitz, Count Almaviva: Dietrich Fisher-Dieskau, Cherubino: Tatiana Troyanos, Chor und Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin, conductor Karl Böhm. Deutsche Grammophon
W. A. Mozart: Grosse Messe KV427, 1963, Edith Mathis, Helen Donath, Theo Altmeyer, Franz Crass, Süddeutscher Madrigalchor, Südwestdeutsches Kammerorchester, conductor Wolfgang Gönnenwein. EMI
Otto Nicolai: Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor (The Merry Wives of Windsor), 1976, Kurt Moll ( Falstaff ); Bernd Weikl ( Ford ); Siegfried Vogel (Mr. Page ); Peter Schreier ( Fenton ); Edith Mathis ( Mrs. Ford ); Hanna Schwarz ( Mrs. Page ); Helen Donath ( Anne ); Chor de Deutschen Staatsoper Berlin, Staatskapelle Berlin, conductor Bernhard Klee. Berlin Classics
In 1971 there was a new production of Die Zauberflöte at the Hamburg Opera directed by Sir Peter Ustinov. The production was filmed with, Tamino: Nicolai Gedda, Pamina: Edith Mathis, Sarastro: Hans Sotin, Königin der Nacht: Cristina Deutekom, Papageno: William Workman, Papagena: Carol Malone, Monostatos: Franz Grundheber, Speaker: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Two Men in Armour: Helmut Melchert, Kurt Moll, conducted by Horst Stein (Arthaus DVD)
Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro (1967), YouTube video
