Marie Wittich

Marie Wittich was a German soprano who studied in Würzburg and made her stage debut at Magdeburg in 1882, reputedly aged just 14, as Azucena. She joined the Dresden Court Opera in 1889, remaining 25 years, and created the title role in Strauss's Salome at its 1905 premiere there, despite doubting her own suitability for so young a character: she refused to perform the Dance of the Seven Veils or kiss John the Baptist's severed head, telling Strauss 'I won't do it; I'm a decent woman', and a dancer stood in for the dance. The premiere was nonetheless a triumph, with 38 curtain calls. She sang at Bayreuth from 1901 to 1909, and retired from the stage in 1914 to teach in Dresden.