Ella Tvrdková (19 February 1878 – 8 November 1918), also written as Ella Tordek, was a Czech opera singer.

Ella Tvrdková
Ella Tvrdková, from a Czech publication in 1905
Born	19 February 1878 Kamenice nad Lipou
Died	8 November 1918 (1918-11-09) (aged 40) Krumbach
Nationality	Czech
Other names	Ella Tordek
Occupation	Opera singer
Signature

Early life

Alžběta Anna Tvrdková was born in Kamenice nad Lipou,[1] the daughter of Václav Tvrdek. She studied voice with Mathilde Mallinger at the Prague Conservatory, with further studies in Berlin.[2]

Career

Tvrdková was with the Prague National Theatre from 1899 to 1901. In 1901, she sang a small part in the premiere of Dvořák's Rusalka.[3] From 1901 to 1913, she sang under the name "Ella Tordek" with the Munich Court Opera, and a regular performer at Munich's Wagner and Mozart festivals.[4][5] In 1913, she created the role of Rosaura in the original cast of Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari's opera Le donne curiose, in Milan.[2]

Tordek made recordings, including a duet with Luise Hofer, singing Berlioz's "Nuit paisible et sereine", from Béatrice et Bénédict, and a duet with Friedrich Brodersen, singing Mozart's "Reich mir die Hand", from Don Giovanni.[6]

Personal life

Ella Tvrdková married Gustav Gerhäuser in 1909.[1] She died in 1918, aged 40, in Krumbach, Bavaria.[7]

References

External links

• Recording of Ella Tordek and Luise Hofer on YouTube, singing "Nuit paisible et sereine"