Lotte Lehmann was one of the top dramatic soprano vocalists during the first half of the 20th century. She was known for her exuberant sense of drama, imaginative phrasing, and a precise vocal technique.
Lehmann was born in Perleberg, Germany, in 1888 to a modest and musical family. Her father sang folk music with the local glee club, and he also played the zither. Her mother and aunt also sang, but they both suffered from health problems that prevented them from performing professionally. As a child, she took piano lessons, dance lessons, and she also enjoyed painting. In 1...