A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Frege, Madame
FREGE, Madame (née Livia Gerhard), was born at Gera, June 13, 1818, received her musical education at Leipzig, and was taught to sing by Pohlenz. She made her first appearance in public on July 9, 1832, when just entering her 15th year, at a concert given at the Gewandhaus by the still more juvenile Clara Wieck, then only 13. She had at that time a cultivated voice of lovely quality, especially in the upper register, perfect intonation, and good style. She was engaged for the next series of Gewandhaus Concerts, and began with a very large repertoire, as is evident from the pieces ascribed to her in the reports of the concerts. She first appeared on the stage at Leipzig, in Jessonda, in March 1833. A residence in Dresden enabled her to profit by the example and advice of Schröder Devrient. In 35 she entered the regular company of the theatre royal of Berlin. After delighting the public by a large range of characters, in which her acting was equal to her singing, she made her last appearance on June 25, 1836 (as Elvira), and left the boards to be married to Dr. Frege of Leipsic. Since that time she has sung only at concerts. Her house has always been a centre of the best music. She had a singing society there of 50 voices, with a select band, led by David, and conducted by Lange, at which the best and least known music, old and new, was performed in perfection. Mendelssohn was her intimate friend, often consulted her on his music, and took her his songs to try before making them public. 'You don't know my songs,' said he to a friend in London; 'come to Leipzig and hear Mme. Frege, and you will understand what I intended them to be.' A letter to the 'Frau Doctorin Frege,' dated London, Aug. 31, 1846, and describing the first performance of 'Elijah,' is printed in the second volume of his Letters. It was at her house, on Oct. 9, 1847, in trying over the songs which form op. 71, that he was struck with the first of the attacks which ended in his death on Nov. 4.
Mme. Frege's characteristics were delicacy and refinement—not a large voice, but a great power of expression in singing her words, a perfect style, and the highest musical intelligence.