The young Renate Holm sings the famous song "Bist du's, lachendes Glück" from the great operetta "Der Graf von Luxemburg" by Franz Lehár, with music from another song ("Denn doppelt schmeckt's dem Bübchen") from the same operetta. 1957.
Renate Holm (original name: Renate Franke) was born in Berlin on 10.08.1931. Aspiring to become an opera singer, she worked as a dentist assistant in order to finance her singing lessons (working eleven hours every day for two years, followed by a one-hour singing lesson). After winning two singing competitions in 1953, she enjoyed success as a pop singer and film star in the 1950s. In 1956 she represented Germany in an international singing competition in Italy and again won the first prize. Later she chose the path of classical music and became a celebrated opera and operetta singer, singing a wide repertoire and performing in the great opera houses of the world. She was a member of the Vienna State Opera from 1964 to 1991, and received the distinguished title of "Österreichische Kammersängerin" in 1971, as well as numerous other awards and honours. Aside from her long and illustrious artistic career, she was also an animal rights activist. For over half a century she owned a farm in Lower Austria, living with animals she saved from the slaughterhouse and from testing labs. She regularly organized concerts and donated the net proceeds to various animal welfare organizations.
The great artist and human being passed away in Vienna on 21.04.2022. She will be missed by people and animals alike. May she rest in peace.