Della Casa, Lisa (1919- )

Swiss soprano. She studied at the Berne Conservatory and in Zurich, beginning her international career at the Salzburg Festival in 1947, as Zdenka; she returned to sing Donna Elvira there in 1953. She became known as one of the outstanding Mozart and Strauss singers of her day, also doing much to further the cause of Swiss music. She made her New York Metropolitan Opera House debut in 1953, as Mozart's Countess, and sang at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, IN 1953 as Arabella. She retired in 1974.