Born: 17 December 1841, Slovak Republic
Died: 15 March 1926
Country most active: Germany
Also known as: Anna Maria von Görger St Jörgen
Aglaja Orgeni was a distinguished opera singer renowned for her coloratura soprano vocals and her contributions as a vocal educator.
A scion of the Görger v. St. Jörgen family, Orgeni pursued her studies in Baden-Baden under the tutelage of Pauline Viardot. She made her debut in 1865 as Amina in Bellini’s La sonnambula at the Berlin Court Opera. In 1866, she joined the London Covent Garden Opera, achieving significant acclaim for her performances as Lucia di Lammermoor and Violetta in La traviata. From 1873 to 1878, Orgeni held a position at the Munich Court Opera, solidifying her status as one of the most sought-after coloratura sopranos in Europe, gracing stages across the continent.
Transitioning to education, she served as a vocal pedagogue at the Dresden Conservatory from 1886 to 1914, earning the title of Professor” in 1908, a groundbreaking achievement as the first woman bestowed with this honor at the Royal Conservatory. In 1914, she relocated to Vienna, where she continued to impart her knowledge of singing until her demise in 1926. Aglaja Orgeni’s legacy endures not only through her exceptional performances on renowned stages but also as a trailblazer in the realm of vocal pedagogy.”
The following is excerpted from A Dictionary of Music and Musicians, published in 1900 and edited by George Grove.
ORGENYI, Aglaia, [App. p.736 “For name read Orgéni, Anna Maria Aglaia, and add that her real name is von Görgér St. Jörgen, and that she was born in 1841 at Rima-Szombath, Galicia”] a native of Vienna, and the daughter of an officer in the Austrian army, received instruction in singing from Mme. Viardot Garcia. Miss Orgényi made her first appearance on the stage Sept. 28, 1865, as Amina, at the Royal Opera House, Berlin, and was highly successful, both on account of her excellent singing and acting, and of the natural charm of her person and manner. She confirmed this success in the parts she next played, viz. Lucia, Agatha, Violetta, Rosina, Margaret, Martha, and Norma. She first appeared in England April 7, 1866, at the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden, as Violetta, and was very well received, subsequently playing Lucia and Marta. She also sang in concerts, and gained great praise for her singing of Agatha’s scena from ‘Der Freischütz’ (of which a contemporary remarked, ‘we have not heard anything better than the opening of the great scene … her measure and expression in delivery of the Largo bespoke a real artist’); and also of Bach’s now favourite air ‘Mein gläubiges Herz,’ to the cello obbligato of Piatti, of which the same writer remarks that ‘the elegance and distinction of her manner and her real musical acquirements have secured her a public.’ In spite of the large measure of favour given her, she never played on the stage again in England, but in 1870 sang in concerts for a short period, being well received at the Philharmonic in the above scena of Weber, and that from Lucia. Miss Orgényi, after her first season in London (having refused as an Austrian to sing at that time in Berlin on account of the war of 66) went to Vienna in September of that year, and played there with success, and afterwards was heard in opera, festivals, and concerts, at Leipzig and other cities, chiefly at Dresden; also at Bremen, Stettin, Copenhagen, etc., returning to Berlin (concert, 71) and Vienna (72); also in Italian opera at Berlin (72), with Artot-Padilla and her husband, and at Florence. She has recently been appointed Grand-Ducal chamber singer at the court of Schwerin. [App. p.736 “She sang for a few nights at the Lyrique, Paris, in 1879, as Violetta. In 1881 she re-appeared in England, and sang with success at the Crystal Palace, Philharmonic, and other concerts. She is now a teacher of singing at the Dresden Conservatorium.”]