The celebrated German opera singer, Christa Ludwig, has died at the age of 93.
The mezzo-soprano, who was born in Berlin, died at her home near the Austrian capital, Vienna, on Saturday, her family confirmed.
Ludwig made her debut in Frankfurt aged 18 just after the end of World War Two. She retired in 1994.
The singer was widely praised for the rich quality, range and amplitude of her voice.
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Ludwig grew up in Aachen, western Germany, with parents who were both musical. Her father was a tenor and also conducted at the local opera house. Her mother was a mezzo-soprano.
"Singing for me was as natural as learning to walk," Ludwig once said.

Shirley Verrett and Christa Ludwig in 'Les Troyens' at the Metropolitan Opera in October 1973
IMAGE COPYRIGHTGETTY IMAGES
image captionShe performed with American soprano Shirley Verrett in Les Troyens at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1973
Ludwig joined the Vienna State Opera in 1955 and performed at the famous Salzburg Festival under Austrian conductor Karl Boehm.
Her most memorable roles included Dorabella in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, Kundry in Wagner's Parsifal, Leonora in Beethoven's Fidelio and both Octavian and Marschallin in Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier.
During her long career she also sang at London's Royal Opera House, New York's Metropolitan Opera, Milan's La Scala and other top international venues.