Régine Crespin was a celebrated French opera singer whose distinguished international career spanned nearly four decades, from 1950 to 1989. Initially establishing herself in the dramatic and spinto soprano repertoire, Crespin garnered widespread acclaim for her portrayals of Wagner and Strauss heroines, drawing particular praise for her warmth, elegance, and vocal subtlety, especially in French and German operatic roles.
Crespin began her career with roles in the French provinces before becoming a central figure at the Opéra National de Paris in the mid-1950s. Her international breakthrough came in 1958 after a celebrated performance as Kundry in Wagner’s Parsifal at the Bayreuth Festival. She soon graced major opera houses worldwide, including a long association with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where she gave over 125 performances between 1962 and 1987.
Crespin was especially admired for her interpretations of Wagner and Richard Strauss, with the Marschallin in Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier being one of her signature roles. Notably, she debuted as Elsa in Wagner’s Lohengrin in 1950 and created a lasting impression as Madame Lidoine in Poulenc's Les Dialogues des Carmélites. In the early 1970s, vocal challenges prompted her to transition to mezzo-soprano roles, excelling particularly as Madame de Croissy in Les Dialogues des Carmélites.
Régine Crespin’s repertoire embraced key parts in Wagner’s works, including Die Walküre, performed under the baton of renowned conductors such as Herbert von Karajan and Sir Georg Solti, with prestigious ensembles like the Berliner Philharmoniker and Wiener Philharmoniker. She performed alongside legendary artists, creating a lasting legacy in the world of opera.
