Etelka Gerster by Mora (2)

Etelka Gerster (1855-1920); Hungarian soprano.

She received her vocal training from the famous Mathilde Marchesi de Castrone at the Vienna Conservatory. In 1876 she made her debut at the Teatro Fenice in Venice as Gilda in Verdi's "Rigoletto". In he season 1876/77 she had her first successes at Marseille and Genua. In 1877 she was at Berlin with an Italian Opera company that brought forth much sensation at the Berliner Kroll-Oper. Her older sister the soprano Bertha Krause-Gerster (1852-1885) was also a member of this company. She then married the impresario Carlo Gardini (1833-1910). In 1877 she came to London and was so successful as Amina in Bellini's "La Sonnambula", that in the following years and towards the end of her career in 1890, she returned many times to London (Her Majesty's Theatre and Covent Garden) to give glittering performances. During the years 1878/87 she performed mainly in North America with the Mapleson Opera Company, that undertook extensive tours through the USA. There was a great rivalry between Etelka Gerster and Adelina Patti and the American public took fully part in this battle. Gerster lost her voice soon after her first child was born. In 1889 she returned to Berlin and opened a singing school, which gained general acceptance and where she taught until 1917. One of her pupils was the Dutch contralto Julia Culp (1880-1970).