Margarete Luise Schick (19 January 1763 – 2 March 1835) was a German operatic soprano active during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. She was principally associated with the Königliche Oper (Royal Opera) in Berlin, where she performed leading roles in both German and Italian repertory.
Early life and education
Schick was born in Leipzig, the daughter of a musician (her father, Johann Jakob Schick, was a violinist). She received early musical training from her father and later studied vocal technique with the noted German soprano and pedagogue Franziska Lebrun.
Career
Schick made her professional debut in 1782 at the Leipzig Gewandhaus, singing the role of Konstanze in Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail. In 1786, she was engaged by the Court Opera in Berlin, where she rapidly became a prima donna. Her repertoire included:
- Konstanze (Die Entführung aus dem Serail)
- Desdemona (Otello, Rossini version)
- Elektra (Elektra, Süssmayr)
- The title role in Johann Adolf Hasse’s Zenobia
Contemporary critics praised her clear, agile timbre, precise diction, and expressive phrasing. She was also noted for her ability to perform both coloratura passages and more dramatic, lyrical lines.
Later years and pedagogy
After retiring from the stage in 1810, Schick remained in Berlin, where she taught voice privately. Among her pupils were the singers Friedrich August Schmid and Caroline Vollenhove, who later achieved success in the German operatic scene.
Personal life
In 1790, Schick married the violinist and composer Johann Friedrich Kuhlmann. The couple had three children; none pursued professional music careers.
Death and legacy
Margarete Luise Schick died in Berlin at the age of 72. Although not widely known outside specialist circles today, she is referenced in several historical accounts of German opera, including Friedrich Ludwig's Geschichte der deutschen Oper (1838) and the Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung (1835). Her contributions are regarded as part of the development of German operatic vocal tradition during the Classical period.