Christa Ludwig returns to France to celebrate her 80th birthday as honorary patron of the 42nd edition of MIDEM. She will make a public appearance in the company of French philosopher and music writer André Tubeuf on Wednesday 30 January at 11.30am, during which archive footage of her performances will be screened. She will also attend the MIDEM classical concerts and will be guest of honour at the MIDEM Classical Awards ceremony, where she will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

EMI Classics are due to release a special box set of Christa Ludwig’s recordings in spring 2008.

Having notably performed with Herbert von Karajan, Karl Böhm, Otto Klemperer and Leonard Bernstein, Christa Ludwig remains an unforgettable figure on the world opera and Lieder stage. Her vocal range, her mastery in many styles and her instantly recognizable timbre, have allowed her to perform a vast range of repertoires. She perfectly embodied the great heroines of Beethoven, Strauss, Verdi, Wagner and Berlioz, and unlocked the mysteries of German Lieder with unique sincerity. In Norma, alongside Maria Callas, in Così fan tutte with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, in the Lieder of Mahler with Bernstein, or in the intimacy of Schubert, Christa Ludwig’s artistry has left a lasting impression on generations of music lovers.

Her remarkable recorded legacy, comprising almost half a century of opera, lyrical and symphonic works, is testimony to her unique diversity.

Christa Ludwig gave her farewell tour during the 1993-94 season, from Salzburg to New York, and then to Paris, under the direction of Pierre Boulez. The singer always had strong links to France, notably through her marriage to Paul-Emile Deiber, member of the Comédie-Française and stage director.

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