Born in Dresden, Otto-Alvsleben began a three-year apprenticeship (1856 to the end of March 1860) at the age of 14, first as a pianist, then as a singer at the
Dresden conservatory. After graduating, she made her debut on 29 March 1860, at first against the resistance of the general director of the opera , who considered her unsuitable and initially refused her ten auditions. Nevertheless, her patron succeeded in getting her into an audition, whereupon she was employed by Lüttichau for 400
thaler per year. She remained in Dresden as
lyric and
coloratura soprano until 1873 employed at the
Königliches Hoftheater Dresden. Her annual salary quickly rose to 600, 1200 and 1800 thalers. In 1866, she married Max Otto, who later became a senior customs officer. Alvsleben took part in the world premiere of the opera
Der Haideschacht by
Franz von Holstein in Dresden on 24 October 1868. As a concert singer, she gave, for example, the soprano solo in the
9th Symphony at the
Centenary Celebration 1871 in Bonn, postponed for a year because of the
Franco-Prussian War. In 1879, Otto-Alvsleben performed at the
Cincinnati music festival. or 1883. Called the (
Friedrichstadt Nightingale), Otto-Alvsleben died in 1893 in Dresden aged 50 and was buried in the . == Roles (selection) ==