Danish soprano Inga Nielsen (above) made her New York City Opera debut as Adele in FLEDERMAUS in 1980; I was there, and captured this souvenir of the occasion:
Inga Nielsen - Adele's Laughing Song - FLEDERMAUS - NYCO 1980
Following her operatic debut at Gelsenkirchen in 1971, Ms. Nielsen spent the first decade of her career singing soubrette and light-lyric roles. After her success at New York City Opera, as Adele and later as Micaela, Ms. Nielsen began to venture into heavier repertoire. By 1987, she was singing an acclaimed Konstanze at Salzburg and Covent Garden conducted by Sir Georg Solti.
Ms. Nielsen became known for her appearances as Agathe in FREISCHUTZ, Kaiserin in DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN, Salome (which she recorded for Chandos), and the Woman in Schoenberg's ERWARTUNG. She sang at the major opera houses and festivals of Europe, as well as at Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, and with Los Angeles Opera.
Battling cancer, Ms. Nielsen retired in 2006; in remission, she was planning a comeback as Elektra and Kaiserin for 2008 when she suffered a stroke and died at the age of 61.
Ms. Nielsen was married to the American bass-baritone Robert Hale, a New York City Opera stalwart who went on to a major career in Wagner roles.