After receiving the European Culture Award in September 2022, Camilla Nylund will be honoured with another distinction. She will be presented with the “Lotte Lehmann Memorial Ring” – one of the world’s most prestigious awards for opera singers – by Vienna State Opera Director Bogdan Roščić and the President of the Vienna State Opera Soloists’ Association Hans Peter Kammerer, after the performance of Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos on November 9, 2022, where Camilla Nylund will be performing the title role.
Bogdan Roščić, Director of the Vienna State Opera: “I am pleased that this so important and traditional honor will take place on an open stage this season. But I am even more pleased that the Soloists’ Association has chosen an artist as central to our house as Kammersängerin Camilla Nylund. She is a worthy successor to the legendary previous holders of the Lotte Lehmann Ring.”
Hans Peter Kammerer, President of the Soloists’ Association of the Vienna State Opera: “KS Camilla Nylund has impressively conquered the dramatic field through consistent, sensitive development of her genuinely lyrical voice, without losing the great qualities of her luminous, soft tone. This is outstanding and unmistakable!”
About the “Lotte Lehmann Memorial Ring”
The Soloists’ Association of the Vienna State Opera donated the Memorial Ring in 1955 to honor the great merits of Lotte Lehmann, who as one of the outstanding artists in opera history had contributed to the fame of the Vienna State Opera between the two world wars. Lotte Lehmann herself was the recipient of the award until her death in August 1976. By unanimous decision, the Soloists’ Association of the Vienna State Opera handed over the Ring in September 1979 – in accordance with Lotte Lehmann’s wishes – to Leonie Rysanek, who in turn appointed Hildegard Behrens as her successor. After the passing of Hildegard Behrens in August 2009, the Soloists’ Association decided to hand over the memorial ring to Waltraud Meier, who has now worn the ring for 10 years according to the new statutes of the award. At the General Assembly of the Soloists’ Association on May 17, 2022, Camilla Nylund was designated by unanimous vote to wear the ring for 10 years.
Excerpt from the guidelines for the awarding of the “Lotte-Lehmann-Memorial-Ring”.
1) In accordance with the will of the Soloists’ Association of the Vienna State Opera as the founder of the “Lotte-Lehmann-Memorial Ring”, as well as the will of its first bearer Lotte Lehmann, the “Lotte-Lehmann-Memorial Ring” is awarded to one of the leading female singers of the German repertoire at the Vienna State Opera.
2 The award is made for a period of 10 years. […]
3) The Soloists’ Association of the Vienna State Opera shall decide in a timely manner on the nomination of a new bearer at a General Assembly upon the proposal of the Executive Board.
4. the ceremonial awarding to the new bearer shall take place in an appropriate setting by the Director of the Vienna State Opera and the President of the Soloists’ Association of the Vienna State Opera.
INQUIRY ABOUT THE AWARD
KS Hans Peter Kammerer
→ President of the Soloists’ Association of the Vienna State Opera
T +43 1 51444 2579
M Hans.Peter.Kammerer@wiener-staatsoper.at
Photo: © Suzy Stöckl
