Marjorie Thomas
Marjorie Gwendolen Thomas (5 June 1923 – 12 September 2008) was an English opera and
Biography
Thomas was born in
Singing career
After
Thomas took a year off from her career after the birth of her daughter, Eileen, in 1948. Her career then accelerated, both in opera and on the concert stage.
Thomas performed with
During her career, Thomas sang in the United States and throughout Europe. She continued to perform in the 1960s, singing at an international performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor at the Vatican in 1963 that marked the election of Pope Paul VI and for the investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon in 1969. She retired from concert singing in 1973.[4]
Teaching and later years
Thomas became a professor of singing at the Royal Manchester College of Music in 1960 and in 1964 accepted a post at London's Royal Academy of Music. She became the head of vocal studies there in 1984, where she taught until 1990. Her students included Susan Bullock.[4] After her retirement from the Academy of Music, she adjudicated at festivals and singing competitions.[5]
Thomas died at the age of 85 after a long illness.[5]
Notes
- ^ "School Reports, 1874–1952", Manchester High School for Girls, 1939
- ^ Leeming, Robert. "Renowned singer Marjorie dies, 85", Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Oldham Evening Chronicle Online, 9 September 2008
- ^ a b c d "Marjorie Thomas: mezzo-soprano", The Times, 3 October 2008
- ^ a b c d e f g "Marjorie Thomas", The Daily Telegraph obituary, 26 September 2008
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Potter, Tully. "Obituary: Marjorie Thomas; One of Sargent's favourite soloists", The Guardian, 25 September 2008
- ^ a b c "Marjorie Thomas (Contralto)", Bach-Cantatatas.com
- ^ Quinn, John. "Sir Edward ELGAR (1857–1934), The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38" MusicWeb (2007)
- ^ List of Thomas's Gilbert and Sullivan recordings, Archived 3 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine A Gilbert and Sullivan Discography
- ^ Marjorie Thomas at the IMDb database
References
- Oron, Aryeh. Liner notes to the album Stars of English Oratorio, Vol. 2 (Dutton, 1998)