Kirsten Flagstad - Revision history

Lisaruth: additional information added from user

2025-08-13T18:54:46Z

additional information added from user

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:54, 13 August 2025
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	Flagstad, the preeminent Wagnerian soprano of her generation, gave more than 4,000 performances and made over 200 commercial recordings during a career that spanned five decades. A frequent visitor to San Francisco, Flagstad made her local debut in the San Francisco Opera's first presentation of Wagner's Ring cycle in November 1935. Over the next 15 years, she gave 38 performances with the company, most frequently appearing in ''Die Walkre'' and ''Tristan und Isolde''.		Flagstad, the preeminent Wagnerian soprano of her generation, gave more than 4,000 performances and made over 200 commercial recordings during a career that spanned five decades. A frequent visitor to San Francisco, Flagstad made her local debut in the San Francisco Opera's first presentation of Wagner's Ring cycle in November 1935. Over the next 15 years, she gave 38 performances with the company, most frequently appearing in ''Die Walkre'' and ''Tristan und Isolde''.

	In June 1949, the [[San Francisco Opera \|San Francisco Opera]] announced the return of Kirsten Flagstad, who had been absent from the company since 1939. (Due to belief that she had been a Nazi sympathizer, she was banned from the U.S. during WWII. It was, instead, her husband who had been a member of the National Socialist party, until she convinced him to renounce his membership.) Though she had given a recital in Oakland earlier ~~that same year~~, the veteran-packed board of the War Memorial Opera House voted unanimously to "disapprove" her return because of the "controversial character of her public appearances."		In June 1949, the [[San Francisco Opera \|San Francisco Opera]] announced the return of Kirsten Flagstad, who had been absent from the company since 1939. Due to belief that she had been a Nazi sympathizer, she was banned from the U.S. during WWII. It was, instead, her husband who had been a member of the National Socialist party, until she convinced him to renounce his membership. After the war, in 1946/1947, several artists wrote a letter to Norwegian newspapers with their strong support for Flagstad, finding the witchhunt and false accusations about her political leanings to be bullying.

			During the war, Flagstad sang for people in the Resistance, and for a home with Jewish children. She even supported resistance with money.

			Though she had given a recital in Oakland earlier in 1949, the veteran-packed board of the War Memorial Opera House voted unanimously to "disapprove" her return because of the "controversial character of her public appearances."

	The controversy raged—both in the newspapers and in the board rooms. Finally, the Opera declared it would cancel the whole season rather than cancel Flagstad's contract. Audience demand and sympathies undermined the Opera's stand and the ban was withdrawn.		The controversy raged—both in the newspapers and in the board rooms. Finally, the Opera declared it would cancel the whole season rather than cancel Flagstad's contract. Audience demand and sympathies undermined the Opera's stand and the ban was withdrawn.

Lisaruth: edited to reflect Flagstad's political leanings, per user comments

2025-08-13T18:05:30Z

edited to reflect Flagstad's political leanings, per user comments

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:05, 13 August 2025
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	Flagstad, the preeminent Wagnerian soprano of her generation, gave more than 4,000 performances and made over 200 commercial recordings during a career that spanned five decades. A frequent visitor to San Francisco, Flagstad made her local debut in the San Francisco Opera's first presentation of Wagner's Ring cycle in November 1935. Over the next 15 years, she gave 38 performances with the company, most frequently appearing in ''Die Walkre'' and ''Tristan und Isolde''.		Flagstad, the preeminent Wagnerian soprano of her generation, gave more than 4,000 performances and made over 200 commercial recordings during a career that spanned five decades. A frequent visitor to San Francisco, Flagstad made her local debut in the San Francisco Opera's first presentation of Wagner's Ring cycle in November 1935. Over the next 15 years, she gave 38 performances with the company, most frequently appearing in ''Die Walkre'' and ''Tristan und Isolde''.

	In June 1949, the [[San Francisco Opera \|San Francisco Opera]] announced the return of Kirsten Flagstad, who had been absent from the company since 1939. (~~She~~ had been a Nazi sympathizer ~~and~~ was banned from the U.S. during WWII.) Though she had given a recital in Oakland earlier that same year, the veteran-packed board of the War Memorial Opera House voted unanimously to "disapprove" her return because of the "controversial character of her public appearances."		In June 1949, the [[San Francisco Opera \|San Francisco Opera]] announced the return of Kirsten Flagstad, who had been absent from the company since 1939. (Due to belief that she had been a Nazi sympathizer, she was banned from the U.S. during WWII. It was, instead, her husband who had been a member of the National Socialist party, until she convinced him to renounce his membership.) Though she had given a recital in Oakland earlier that same year, the veteran-packed board of the War Memorial Opera House voted unanimously to "disapprove" her return because of the "controversial character of her public appearances."

	The controversy ~~raged--both~~ in the newspapers and in the board rooms. Finally, the Opera declared it would cancel the whole season rather than cancel Flagstad's contract. Audience demand and sympathies undermined the Opera's stand and the ban was withdrawn.		The controversy raged—both in the newspapers and in the board rooms. Finally, the Opera declared it would cancel the whole season rather than cancel Flagstad's contract. Audience demand and sympathies undermined the Opera's stand and the ban was withdrawn.

	When Flagstad returned to the War Memorial stage on September 30, 1949 in ''Tristan und Isolde'', there were no incidents. Rather, she received a standing ovation and the company had to schedule an extra performance to meet the demand.		When Flagstad returned to the War Memorial stage on September 30, 1949 in ''Tristan und Isolde'', there were no incidents. Rather, she received a standing ovation and the company had to schedule an extra performance to meet the demand.

Lisaruth: changed caption on photo to reflect institution new name

2020-06-07T20:54:49Z

changed caption on photo to reflect institution new name

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:54, 7 June 2020
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	'''Kirsten Flagstad, controversial soprano from Norway.'''		'''Kirsten Flagstad, controversial soprano from Norway.'''

	''Photo: ~~SF Performing Arts Library and~~ Museum''		''Photo: Museum of Performance + Design''

	Considered by many to be the "voice of the 20th century," Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad (1895-1962) was a virtual unknown when she made her debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1934. Nearly 40 years old at the time, she had been singing professionally for 20 years in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, performing roles such as Micaela in ''Carmen'', Marguerite in ''Faust'', the Puccini and Verdi heroines, and numerous operettas.		Considered by many to be the "voice of the 20th century," Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad (1895-1962) was a virtual unknown when she made her debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1934. Nearly 40 years old at the time, she had been singing professionally for 20 years in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, performing roles such as Micaela in ''Carmen'', Marguerite in ''Faust'', the Puccini and Verdi heroines, and numerous operettas.

Ccarlsson: PC

2008-12-31T04:10:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:10, 30 December 2008
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			'''<font face = arial light> <font color = maroon> <font size = 3>Unfinished History</font></font> </font>'''

	[[Image:music1$kirsten-flagstad-photograph.jpg]]		[[Image:music1$kirsten-flagstad-photograph.jpg]]

Ccarlsson at 23:16, 7 October 2008

2008-10-07T23:16:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:16, 7 October 2008
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	[[San Francisco Opera \|Prev. Document]] [[San Francisco Symphony \|Next Document]]		[[San Francisco Opera \|Prev. Document]] [[San Francisco Symphony Timeline\|Next Document]]

	[[category:Music]] [[category:1930s]] [[category:1940s]] [[category:Famous characters]]		[[category:Music]] [[category:1930s]] [[category:1940s]] [[category:Famous characters]]

Ccarlsson at 23:09, 7 October 2008

2008-10-07T23:09:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:09, 7 October 2008
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	[[Image:music1$kirsten-flagstad-photograph.jpg]]		[[Image:music1$kirsten-flagstad-photograph.jpg]]

	Kirsten Flagstad, controversial soprano from Norway.		'''Kirsten Flagstad, controversial soprano from Norway.'''

			''Photo: SF Performing Arts Library and Museum''

	Considered by many to be the "voice of the 20th century," Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad (1895-1962) was a virtual unknown when she made her debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1934. Nearly 40 years old at the time, she had been singing professionally for 20 years in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, performing roles such as Micaela in ''Carmen'', Marguerite in ''Faust'', the Puccini and Verdi heroines, and numerous operettas.		Considered by many to be the "voice of the 20th century," Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad (1895-1962) was a virtual unknown when she made her debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1934. Nearly 40 years old at the time, she had been singing professionally for 20 years in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, performing roles such as Micaela in ''Carmen'', Marguerite in ''Faust'', the Puccini and Verdi heroines, and numerous operettas.
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	Flagstad, the preeminent Wagnerian soprano of her generation, gave more than 4,000 performances and made over 200 commercial recordings during a career that spanned five decades. A frequent visitor to San Francisco, Flagstad made her local debut in the San Francisco Opera's first presentation of Wagner's Ring cycle in November 1935. Over the next 15 years, she gave 38 performances with the company, most frequently appearing in ''Die Walkre'' and ''Tristan und Isolde''.		Flagstad, the preeminent Wagnerian soprano of her generation, gave more than 4,000 performances and made over 200 commercial recordings during a career that spanned five decades. A frequent visitor to San Francisco, Flagstad made her local debut in the San Francisco Opera's first presentation of Wagner's Ring cycle in November 1935. Over the next 15 years, she gave 38 performances with the company, most frequently appearing in ''Die Walkre'' and ''Tristan und Isolde''.

	In June 1949, the San Francisco Opera announced the return of Kirsten Flagstad, who had been absent from the company since 1939. (She had been a Nazi sympathizer and was banned from the U.S. during WWII.) Though she had given a recital in Oakland earlier that same year, the veteran-packed board of the War Memorial Opera House voted unanimously to "disapprove" her return because of the "controversial character of her public appearances."		In June 1949, the [[San Francisco Opera \|San Francisco Opera]] announced the return of Kirsten Flagstad, who had been absent from the company since 1939. (She had been a Nazi sympathizer and was banned from the U.S. during WWII.) Though she had given a recital in Oakland earlier that same year, the veteran-packed board of the War Memorial Opera House voted unanimously to "disapprove" her return because of the "controversial character of her public appearances."

	The controversy raged--both in the newspapers and in the board rooms. Finally, the Opera declared it would cancel the whole season rather than cancel Flagstad's contract. Audience demand and sympathies undermined the Opera's stand and the ban was withdrawn.		The controversy raged--both in the newspapers and in the board rooms. Finally, the Opera declared it would cancel the whole season rather than cancel Flagstad's contract. Audience demand and sympathies undermined the Opera's stand and the ban was withdrawn.
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	When Flagstad returned to the War Memorial stage on September 30, 1949 in ''Tristan und Isolde'', there were no incidents. Rather, she received a standing ovation and the company had to schedule an extra performance to meet the demand.		When Flagstad returned to the War Memorial stage on September 30, 1949 in ''Tristan und Isolde'', there were no incidents. Rather, she received a standing ovation and the company had to schedule an extra performance to meet the demand.

	~~Contributors to this page include:~~		''--San Francisco Opera Association ''

	~~''San Francisco Opera Association - Publisher or Photographer ''~~

	~~SF Performing Arts Library and Museum - Publisher or Photographer~~

	[[San Francisco Opera \|Prev. Document]] [[San Francisco Symphony \|Next Document]]		[[San Francisco Opera \|Prev. Document]] [[San Francisco Symphony \|Next Document]]

			[[category:Music]] [[category:1930s]] [[category:1940s]] [[category:Famous characters]]

Admin: 1 revision(s)

2007-10-07T22:08:37Z

1 revision(s)

← Older revision	Revision as of 15:08, 7 October 2007
(No difference)

Unknown user at 00:00, 15 January 2001

2001-01-15T00:00:00Z

New page

[[Image:music1$kirsten-flagstad-photograph.jpg]]

Kirsten Flagstad, controversial soprano from Norway.

Considered by many to be the "voice of the 20th century," Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad (1895-1962) was a virtual unknown when she made her debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1934. Nearly 40 years old at the time, she had been singing professionally for 20 years in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, performing roles such as Micaela in ''Carmen'', Marguerite in ''Faust'', the Puccini and Verdi heroines, and numerous operettas.

Flagstad, the preeminent Wagnerian soprano of her generation, gave more than 4,000 performances and made over 200 commercial recordings during a career that spanned five decades. A frequent visitor to San Francisco, Flagstad made her local debut in the San Francisco Opera's first presentation of Wagner's Ring cycle in November 1935. Over the next 15 years, she gave 38 performances with the company, most frequently appearing in ''Die Walkre'' and ''Tristan und Isolde''.

In June 1949, the San Francisco Opera announced the return of Kirsten Flagstad, who had been absent from the company since 1939. (She had been a Nazi sympathizer and was banned from the U.S. during WWII.) Though she had given a recital in Oakland earlier that same year, the veteran-packed board of the War Memorial Opera House voted unanimously to "disapprove" her return because of the "controversial character of her public appearances."

The controversy raged--both in the newspapers and in the board rooms. Finally, the Opera declared it would cancel the whole season rather than cancel Flagstad's contract. Audience demand and sympathies undermined the Opera's stand and the ban was withdrawn.

When Flagstad returned to the War Memorial stage on September 30, 1949 in ''Tristan und Isolde'', there were no incidents. Rather, she received a standing ovation and the company had to schedule an extra performance to meet the demand.

Contributors to this page include:

''San Francisco Opera Association - Publisher or Photographer ''

SF Performing Arts Library and Museum - Publisher or Photographer

[[San Francisco Opera |Prev. Document]] [[San Francisco Symphony |Next Document]]