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Mezzo-soprano Gladys Parr

4/11/2023

3 Comments

 
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The mezzo-soprano Gladys Parr died On This Day 4 November 1989. She lived in Norfolk House Terrace

Gladys Parr studied in London, at the Royal Academy of Music, and joined Carl Rosa in 1915, singing with them on tour.
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At Covent Garden, Parr took such roles as Siébel, Nicklausse, Frédéric, and Suzuki. She was quickly promoted to perform the leading roles of the mezzo repertoire. Later she worked with BNOC, Sadler's Wells and with the Covent Garden company, where she was heard during the international seasons as Magdalene (see photo), Annina in Der Rosenkavalier, and the Fortune Teller in Arabella.
After the war Parr sang with the English Opera Group, creating three roles for Britten: Florence Pike in Albert Herring(1947), Mrs Baggott in The Little Sweep (1949), and Mrs Noah in Noye's Fludde (1958).
Parr's recordings include a live performance of Albert Herring, and a classic version of the great quintet from Meistersinger in which her colleagues included Elisabeth Schumann and Friedrich Schorr.
(source Opera Scotland)
3 Comments
JEREMY PODESTA
4/5/2024 02:10:25 am

Hello Mark, Gladys was my great aunt whom I first met in Bury when I was about 5 in 1951. She used to visit us when she was traveling south from Scotland on her way back home in London. I think she was still singing with the Carl Rosa Company. I wo't say any more for now, just to say that when Aunt Glad died in Nivember 1988, I was an executor in her will. I have just been revisiting someof the paper memorabilia that I inherited. It includes cards and the odd letter from Benjamin Britten and Peter Peers and Dame Eva Turner, her life long friend. I would be grateful if you could advise me possibly how to very belatedly best use what I have, so that it is not lost forever, when our son inherits ! Best wishes, Jeremy 07743097516

Reply
Dan Green
13/11/2024 01:55:57 pm

Hello Jeremy, I've just seen your post. I think it would be a very good gesture to donate the Britten correspondence to the Britten Pears Archive at the Red House in Aldeburgh. That way you could make the Parr letters available to all researchers, free of charge.

Reply
Mark Bery
13/11/2024 11:35:59 pm

Jeremy- I must have missed your original comment-very sorry. I hope Dan's comment is something worth pursuing. The Streatham Society would be interested in having anything else for our archives. I could also see if Lambeth Archives would be interested. Do let me know. My email address is [email protected]

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    Mark Bery, Secretary Streatham Society

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