The Kaiser's Favorite Lark: Frieda Hempel

She started out as a receptionist at her brother-in-law's dermatology clinic - but after a year of studying singing at the Stern Conservatory, she received an offer from the Met. Yet New York would have to wait. First, Frieda Hempel played Queen of the Night in Breslau, and Violetta and Rossini-Rosina in Barbiere. Max Reinhardt also had her appear in A Midsummer Night's Dream in Berlin, after which she went to Schwerin and on to Bayreuth, where she appeared as one of...