רוז פאולי

Rose Pauly (1895-1975), dramatic soprano, born in Eperjes, Hungary (then part of Austria-Hungary, today Prešov, in Slovakia). She studied voice training in Vienna, Austria, following which she made her opera debut as Aida in Hamburg, Germany. At the Koln Opera, she was discovered by Otto Klemperer who brought her to the Kroll Opera in Berlin (1927) where, for the next few years, she was given important roles in most of their productions. She built an extraordinary repertoire including more than sixty roles and was invited to appear with most of the leading opera houses of Europe. At the Vienna Opera, she appeared successfully in most the Wagnerian and Richard Strauss soprano roles, scoring a notable triumph in Strauss's Elektra. In Vienna she was given the highest appointment to which a prima Donna could aspire, that of Kammersaangerin. In Italy, where she sang in every major opera house, she was also honored: In the hall of fame at the Verdi Opera House of Trieste her portrait was hung between Duse's and Moissi's.
In 1937, she made her American debut in a concert performance of Elektra with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. She was a sensation. A few months later, she was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera House, making her debut there in Elektra. She also scored triumphs as Elektra in Covent Garden, London, and Salzburg, Austria. Among her other great roles was Leonora in Beethoven's Fidelio.
However, though Elektra has been her most successful role, she proved her talent in a great variety of standard and modern operas through appearances in leading opera houses of the United States and South America. She appeared extensively in song recitals.

Pauly survived the Holocaust, and in 1946, leaving behind her meteoric career, she settled in Tel Aviv, Israel, and worked as a teacher.