Inge Borkh

Inge Borkh was a German operatic dramatic soprano. She was first based in Switzerland, where she received international attention when she appeared in the first performance in German of Menotti's The Consul, in Basel, in 1951. In 1952, Borkh became a member of the Deutsche Oper Berlin and the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. She appeared at leading opera houses in Europe and the Americas, and at festivals such as Bayreuth and Salzburg. Trained first as an actress, she was admired for both singing and stage presence, especially in the Richard Strauss roles Salome and Elektra. She also performed in contemporary opera, such as the premiere of Josef Tal's Ashmedai at the Hamburg State Opera in 1971. Her recordings include complete operas and recitals. Borkh was awarded the Hans-Reinhart-Ring, the highest honour for theatre professionals in Switzerland.

26 May 1921

Born on the same birth day (26 May): Aldrich Ames • Christfried Burmeister • Diomedes Díaz • Ernst Bacon • Genie Francis • Helena Bonham Carter • John Wayne • Karim Emami • Lyudmila Petrushevskaya • Mathew Barzal • Matt Busby • Maurice Baquet • Necip Fazıl Kısakürek • Sally Ride • Simon Armitage

Born in the same month (May 1921): Arthur Leonard Schawlow • Bob Godfrey • Edo Murtić • Federico Krutwig • George S. Hammond • Hao Wang (academic) • Harry Carey Jr. • Heinz G. Konsalik • Howard Reig • Humphrey Lyttelton • Joseph Beuys • Karel van het Reve • Leslie Broderick • Sandy Douglas • Satyajit Ray • Sophie Scholl • Sugar Ray Robinson • Tom Uren • Vladimir Colin • Wolfgang Borchert