Judith Blegen obit

Judith Blegen, 1941–2026

 

She was not on the list.

The Metropolitan Opera mourns the death of Judith Blegen, a leading soprano with our company for 21 seasons. Following her 1970 debut as Papagena in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, she quickly became a Met regular, combining a sweet, silvery voice and enchanting stage presence. Of her 20 roles, she was probably best known as the flirtatious Adina in Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore (pictured above) opposite Luciano Pavarotti’s Nemorino, portrayals the duo performed in four seasons, including for a much-viewed telecast in 1981. Her most frequent part, however, was Sophie in Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier, which she sang 37 times, including in a 1982 television broadcast. Blegen’s distinguished interpretations of Susanna in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Gretel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, and Mélisande in Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande were equally notable and speak to the impressive breadth of her artistry. Together with her husband, Raymond Gniewek, the Met’s longtime concertmaster, Blegen was a beloved member of the Met family for many years, both during and after her singing career. Her charm was not limited to stage characters but also came through in her personal interactions on stage and off. We extend our sincere condolences to her son, Tom Singher, and all her family, friends, and admirers.