Mizzi Zwerenz

Biography

Maria "Mizzi" Swerenz became a popular operetta soprano (acting as soubrette) although at first she didn't intend to pursue an artistic career. But coming from an artistic family she had it difficult not to follow their path: Her father, Karl Ludwig Swerenz, was an actor and director of several theaters in various places around the Austro-Hungarian empire, and her mother Eveline Swerenz was an operette soprano. Her grandfather and great-grandfather had both been Hofburg stage players. From 1901 to 1920 she became well-known and beloved around Vienna singing in Carltheater, in the Donaumetropole, Apollo, Raimundtheater the Prater and several more. Her most famous role was perhaps Franzi Steingruber in Oscar Strauss "Ein Walzertraum". She made countless recordings and even a few silent films. In 1905 she married the actor and bass Arthur Guttmann, brother of siblings of tragic fate Emil and Paul Guttmann (not to be confused with composer Artur Guttmann). They sometimes played together on stage. She also came into business, opening an hotel in Baden which was popular among artists. She and Louise Kartousch were maybe the main operetta singers in Vienna of their time.