A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Wilt, Marie

by Alexis Chitty

WILT, Marie, born about 1835, at Vienna, of poor parents, whom she lost in early life. She afterwards married a civil engineer named Franz Wilt. In 1863 she sang in Schubert's 'Lazarus' under Herbeck with success, received instruction from Dr. Gansbacher and Wolf, made her début in 1865 at Grratz as Donna Anna, and in 1866 sang at Vienna and Berlin. For the seasons 1866–7 she was engaged at the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden, first appearing May 1, 1866, as Norma, under the name of 'Maria Vilda.' In spite of a voice of extraordinary power and richness, and extending over two octaves, she did not realise the anticipation that she would prove a successor to Grisi. For ten years she remained at Vienna, a great favourite both in opera and concerts. In the former she displayed great versatility of style in such varied parts as Norma, Lucrezia, Aïda, Valentine, and The Queen (of the Hugenots), Alice, and the Princess ('Robert'), Donna Anna, Constance (Entführung), Reiza, Elisabeth, etc. She returned to Covent Garden for the seasons 1874–5, and was more successful than before in the parts of Donna Anna, Semiramide, Alice, Valentine, Norma, etc., having improved both in singing and acting. Whether from the fact of her figure being unsuited to the 'young' parts she essayed (although this never militated against Titiens at the rival theatre), or from having commenced her theatrical career somewhat late in life, she again failed to obtain the highest position. Her best part was Norma. With her fine voice she would probably have done better here at concerts. On leaving Vienna she sang at Leipzic in 1878, as Brünnhilde, etc., and afterwards at Pesth. She is now again in Vienna, where, on Oct. 31, 1884, she played Donna Anna in the centenary performance of 'Don Giovanni.'

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