Leider Frida, *18 April 1888 Berlin, †4 June 1975 Berlin, German singer (soprano). She studied vocals under O. Schwarz in Berlin. After her debut in Halle (1915), she performed in Rostock (1916–18), Königsberg (1918–19) and Hamburg (1919–23), and in 1923, she joined the Staatsoper in Berlin, where she remained a leading dramatic soprano until 1940, appearing in many operas by Mozart, Verdi and R. Strauss and in Beethoven’s Fidelio, and above all in great Wagner roles, which soon brought her international fame. In 1924, she made her debut at Covent Garden in London, playing the title roles of Isolde and Brünnhilde in Valkyrie, and from then on she performed there every season until 1938 as Wagner’s most admired soprano. In 1928–38, she was a regular soloist at the Bayreuth festivals. In 1928–33, she enjoyed great success on American stages; at the Civic Opera in Chicago she made her debut as Brünnhilde (1928), and at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, she appeared for the first time as Isolde. From 1934, she operated in Germany. After the war, she was engaged in teaching in Berlin: in the vocal studio at the Staatsoper (until 1952) and at the Hochschule für Musik (1948–58). Leider’s voice was distinguished by a noble, dark timbre and great sound power, and her interpretation emanated with extraordinary dramatic power. Leider has made numerous album recordings.
Das war mein Teil. Erinnerungen einer Opernsängerin, Berlin 1959, English translation: Playing My Part, New York 1966
