Hanna Schwarz

Hanna Schwarz, born on August 15, 1943, in Hamburg, is a German opera singer. She studied psychology and singing locally before advancing her vocal training at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen and the Hannover University of Music. Her professional debut came in 1970 at the Staatstheater Hannover as Siegrune in Richard Wagner's Die Walküre. Schwarz joined the Hamburg State Opera in 1973 and performed there for over three decades. She also had a prominent career at the Bayreuther Festspiele from 1975 to 1987, taking on major roles such as Fricka in Der Ring des Nibelungen and Waltraute in Götterdämmerung. Her international performances included notable appearances at the Salzburg Festival, Vienna State Opera, Metropolitan Opera, and Covent Garden. Schwarz was recognized for her role as Klytämnestra in Richard Strauss's Elektra, earning the title of Singer of the Year from Opernwelt in 1997.