Urszula Koszut

Urszula Lucia Koszut (13 December 1940 – 27 September 2023) was a Polish operatic soprano. She made her debut in 1966 and did so professionally the following year at the Stuttgart Opera in Germany until 1969. Koszut was a performer at the Hamburg State Opera and then at the Vienna State Opera from 1973 to 1979. She performed in the opera houses of Europe and North America and sang soprano parts in the oratorio-cantata repertoire of Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johannes Brahms.

Early life Koszut was born on 13 December 1940 in the town of Pszczyna, Poland. Her father was from Hungary, After graduating from primary school, Koszut attended the music high school in Bielsko-Biała, studying the flute.

Career In 1966, she made her debut as Musetta in Giacomo Puccini's La bohème at the Grand Theatre, Warsaw. The following year, Koszut traveled abroad and began her professional career performing the title role of Miss Lucia in Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor at the Stuttgart Opera in Germany. She remained with the Stuttgart Opera until 1969, She taught voice and coached repertoire. Koszut specialised in German romantic lieder and the songs of Polish composers.

Personal life She was married twice. Koszut's second husband was the opera conductor Gerhard Geist. Koszut had a child in her first marriage to Andrzej Okruta. She died on 27 September 2023 in Warsaw after a lengthy illness. Koszut's funeral took place at the on 13 October 2023.