"Emilie Herzog: The Thurgau Nightingale"

Emilie Herzog was born in Ermatingen in 1859, the daughter of a teacher, and spent most of her childhood and youth in Diessenhofen. Emilie came into contact with music at an early age. After training as a cleaner, Emilie Herzog studied singing in both Zurich and Munich and soon became a celebrated opera star.

Emilie Herzog appeared before emperors, kings and tsars and shared the stage with the famous tenor Enrico Caruso, among others. Emilie Herzog also achieved great importance as a concert singer and as the director of master classes for singing at the conservatories in Berlin and Zurich.

In 1900, she was appointed Royal Prussian Kammersängerin. In 1890, she married the music historian and music critic Heinrich Welti (1859-1937). He organized "historical song recitals" for her in German and Swiss cities. Her daughter was the concert soprano and teacher Eva Kötscher-Welti (1896-1964). Emilie Herzog died in Aarburg in 1923.

Reto Knöpfel, honorary curator of the Vinorama Ermatingen, carried out extensive research into the life and work of the diva. Among other things, he corresponded with the Metropolitan Opera in New York. His breakthrough came when he tracked down Emilie Herzog's great-granddaughter while researching the family tree. She revealed valuable, previously unknown information about her famous great-grandmother and gave the museum extremely valuable memorabilia, which now adorn the exhibitions.

The cabinet exhibition in Diessenhofen (middle floor of the museum) offers an insight into the life and work of the famous Thurgau woman. Aspects of her Thurgau origins, her first career steps in Munich, individual insights into her private life and her special relationship with Diessenhofen and Winterthur are presented.

The Vinorama Ermatingen Museum highlights the highlights of her career and the opera roles she sang, but also addresses the hurdles and challenges that the singer had to overcome. Among the items on display are decorations from royal houses that were awarded to the diva. An original dress can also be admired.

The exhibition in Diessenhofen is designed to complement the one in Ermatingen. Both venues offer the opportunity to enjoy a selection of unique visual and audio recordings of Emilie Herzog, which will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the two complementary exhibitions.

Source:
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