(Cross-)Gendering the German Voice

Hambridge, Katherine

Abstract

Pauline Anna Milder (1785–1838) undertook the cross-dressing role of Leonore in all three version of Beethoven’s Fidelio. In this detailed study of Milder’s career, the author examines the nature of Milder’s voice (as reported extensively by commentators), the expressive and dramatic consequence of cross-dressing and, more broadly, the development of a recognizably ‘German’ soprano voice, one that was promoted by the most canonical German opera of the time, Beethoven’s Fidelio.

Citation

Hambridge, K. (2020). (Cross-)Gendering the German Voice. In K. Chapin, & D. W. Jones (Eds.), Beethoven Studies 4 (121-143). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108552813.007

• Acceptance Date: Mar 21, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Sep 26, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Deposit Date: Mar 26, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 18, 2021
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Pages: 121-143
• Series Title: Cambridge Composer Studies
• Book Title: Beethoven Studies 4
• Chapter Number: 6
• ISBN: 9781108428521
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108552813.007