Gilda
First she studied piano, then singing and was a
pupil of Esta d'Argo at London. She made her debut as a concert singer in 1922 at
the Wigmore Hall in London. During several years she was the principal coloratura
soprano of the British National Opera Company. As a member of this company she made
her debut (1924, London). In 1930 she sang at London Scala Theatre in the
English première of Mozart’s ‘’La finta giardiniera’’. In the 1926-1927 season she
appeared at London Covent Garden as Nornen in ‘’Götterdämmerung’’. In 1931 she excited
there a sensation as Queen of the night in ‘’Zauberflöte’’ and Gilda in ‘’Rigoletto’’.
In the 1931-1932 season she sang both parts at Chicago Opera. In 1935 she performed
with great successat the Glyndebourne festival as Constance in Mozart’s ‘’Entführung
aus dem Serail’’, in the 1935-1936 season sang also the part of Queen of the
night. In 1937 she appeared at Covent Garden as Olympia in ‘’Les contes
d'Hoffmann’’ and Rosina in ‘’Il Brbiere di Siviglia’’, in 1938 as Madama
Butterfly. In the 1938-1940 seasons she was engaged by the Sadler's Wells Opera
in London. Then a heart suffering forced her to retire from the stage, but till
1948 she sang in concerts.
Chronology of some appearances
1922 London Wigmore
Hall
1924 London British National Opera Company
1926-1927 London
Covent Garden
1930 London Scala
Theatre
1931 London Covent
Garden
1931-1932 Chicago
Opera
1935-1936 Glyndebourne
festival
1937 London Covent
Garden
1938 London Covent
Garden
1938-1940 London Sadler's
Wells Opera
RECORDINGS FOR SALE
HMV, London 1928-06-28
Coq d'Or (Rimsky-Korsakov): Hymn to the sun C1542 (03928)
HMV, London 1929-01-03
Götterdämmerung (Wagner): Es ragt die Burg with Arden & Palmer D1573 (6-0548)
Götterdämmerung (Wagner): Wollt ihr wissen with Arden & Palmer D1573 (6-0567)
If I didn't know the singer was female, I could easily have thought I was hearing a young boy soprano. The voice is pristine with perhaps a hint of a not so ripe fruity quality. An intriguing experience.
ReplyDelete