Rita Streich (December 18, 1920, Barnaul - March 20, 1987, Vienna) was one of the most significant coloratura sopranos of the post-war period. Born in Russia, she moved to Germany while still very young, and thus spoke both Russian and German fluently. Among her teachers were Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender, Erna Berger, and Maria Ivogün. Her debut as an opera singer was during the Second World War at the Stadttheater of Ústà nad Labem in Bohemia, in the role of Zerbinetta in Richard Strauss' opera Ariadne auf Naxos. Read more on Last.fm