Jadwiga Rappé

Jadwiga Rappé (24 February 1952 – 16 May 2025) was a Polish contralto who made an international career in concert and opera, performing a wide range of repertoire. She was based at the Grand Theatre, Warsaw, and taught voice at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music. Her signature role was Erda in Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, a character that she portrayed first at the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 1988 and then in several other European capitals. Many compositions were written for her voice.

Life and career Rappé was born in Toruń on 24 February 1952. She first studied Slavic philology at the University of Warsaw. During these studies she began voice studies with Zofia Brégy at the Warsaw school of music, she graduated with distinction. and the following year a gold medal at the Festival of Young Soloists in Bordeaux. performing a wide range of repertoire from Baroque to contemporary music.

Recordings Rappé made around 60 recordings. Mozart: Coronation Mass, Vesperae solennes de confessore, conducted by Peter Schreier, with Edith Mathis, Hans Peter Blochwitz, Thomas Quasthoff, MDR Rundfunkchor, Staatskapelle Dresden (1993) Mozart: Requiem, Ave verum corpus, conducted by Peter Schreier, with Edith Mathis, Francisco Araiza, Theo Adam, MDR Rundfunkchor, Staatskapelle Dresden (1993) Penderecki: Seven Gates of Jerusalem, conducted by Kazimierz Kord, with soloists, Filharmonia Narodowa (2000) Mahler: Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection", conducted by Antoni Wit, with Hanna Lisovska, Cracow Radio and Television Choir, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (2001) Lutosławski: Twenty Polish Christmas Carols, conducted by Antoni Wit, with Olʹha Pasichnyk, Piotr Nowacki, Cracow Radio and Television Choir, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (2005) Szymanowski: Stabat Mater, Demeter, conducted by Wit, with Jadwiga Gadulanka and Andrzej Hiolski, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (2002) Beethoven: Ninth Symphony, conducted by Colin Davis, with Sharon Sweet, Paul Frey, Franz Grundheber, Staatskapelle Dresden (2005) Penderecki: Polish Requiem, conducted by Antoni Wit, with Izabella Kłosińska, Ryszard Minkiewicz, Piotr Nowacki, Filharmonia Narodowa Chór, Filharmonia Narodowa (2006) Mahler: Symphony No. 8, conducted by Antoni Wit, with soloists, Warsaw Boys Choir, Warsaw National Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra (2006) Mozart: Mass in C minor, K. 139 "Waisenhaus", Exsultate, jubilate, conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt, with Barbara Bonney, Josef Protschka, Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Concentus Musicus Wien (2011) Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde, conducted by Michael Zilm, with , Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (2011) Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen, conducted by Bernard Haitink, with soloists, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (2012)

Mahler: Symphony No. 3, conducted by Heinz Rögner , Berliner Rundfunk Sinfonie-Orchester (2021)