Lilian Benningsen

Lilian Benningsen (17 July 1924 – 12 June 2014) was an Austrian operatic mezzo-soprano and contralto. She made an international career based at the Bavarian State Opera for decades, where she first appeared as Eboli in Verdi's Don Carlos. She created several roles, such as Carolina in Henze's Elegie für junge Liebende at the 1961 Schwetzingen Festival. Her recordings include both operas and concerts.

Life and career Born in Vienna, Benningsen was trained as a singer in Vienna by Elisabeth Radó and Anna Bahr-Mildenburg. She was awarded the title Kammersängerin and received the Bavarian Order of Merit in 1970.

She performed and recorded Bach cantatas with the Münchener Bach-Chor, conducted by Karl Richter, including Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe, BWV 108, which she sang with Peter Pears and Kieth Engen. A reviewer wrote: "Lilian Benningsen offers an extremely successful and attractive interpretation which displays Bach's undoubted genius for word painting."