Herta Glaz, 95; Met Opera Star Later Taught at USC

Herta Glaz, 95, a mezzo-soprano who gave more than 300 performances at New York’s Metropolitan Opera between 1942 and 1956 and later taught at USC, died Jan. 28 in Hamden, Conn. She had been in failing health for several years after a stroke.

Born in Austria, Glaz received her musical training at the State Academy of Music. She later studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. She made her opera debut at 19 at the State Opera of Breslau as Erda in Wagner’s “Das Rheingold.” She made her American debut in Los Angeles in 1936, singing Mahler’s “Das Lied von der Erde” and Bach’s “St. John Passion,” with Otto Klemperer and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. She decided to remain in the United States after Adolf Hitler invaded Austria.

She made her Metropolitan Opera debut on Christmas Day 1942, singing the role of Amneris in Verdi’s “Aida.” She sang 25 roles in 14 seasons with the Met.

Glaz became an American citizen in 1943 and retired from performing in 1956. She taught at the Manhattan School of Music and the Aspen Music Festival. After moving to Los Angeles with her third husband in 1977, she became an adjunct professor of voice at USC.