Dame Clara Ellen ButtDBE (1 February 1872 – 23 January 1936) was an English contralto and one of the most popular singers from the 1890s through to the 1920s. She had an exceptionally fine contralto voice and an agile singing technique, and impressed contemporary composers such as Saint-Saëns and Elgar; the latter composed his Sea Pictures, Op. 37 with her voice in mind.
Her main career was as a recitalist and concert singer. She appeared in only two operatic productions, both of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice. Later in her career she frequently appeared in recitals together with her husband, the baritoneKennerley Rumford. She made numerous recordings for the gramophone.
Clara Butt was born in Southwick, Sussex, the eldest daughter of Henry Albert Butt, a sea captain, and his wife Clara née Hook.[2] In 1880, the family moved to the port city of Bristol in England's West Country. Clara was educated at South Bristol High School, where her singing ability was recognised and her talent as a performer encouraged. At the request of her headmistress, she was trained by the bass Daniel Rootham (father of the composer Cyril Rootham) and joined the Bristol Festival Chorus, of which Daniel Rootham was musical director.[2]
Butt won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music (RCM) in January 1890. Her voice teachers were John Henry Blower[3] and Albert Visetti,[4] while her piano teacher was Marmaduke Barton.[5] During her fourth year of vocal lessons at the college she spent three months studying in Paris sponsored by Queen Victoria. She also studied in Berlin and Italy.[2]
Later she polished her skills in Berlin with the famous retired sopranoEtelka Gerster.[2] The French composer Camille Saint-Saëns heard her, and wanted her to study his opera Samson et Dalila, but at the time the representation of biblical subjects on the British stage was forbidden, and nothing came of it.[8] When the law changed and the work was given at Covent Garden in 1909 the part of Delila was sung by Kirkby Lunn, to Butt's disappointment.[9] In 1896 she took a break from singing and returned to Paris for further vocal studies, this time under Jacques Bouhy.[10]
Butt acquired a reputation in Britain for her vocal attributes and her physical presence on the concert platform: she was 6 feet 2 inches tall.[3] She made many gramophone recordings, often accompanied by the (uncredited) pianist Lilian Bryant. Among her recordings are several of Sullivan's song "The Lost Chord";[11] her friend Fanny Ronalds bequeathed the original manuscript of the song to her.[n 1] She was primarily a concert singer; her only operatic performances were in two productions of Orfeo ed Euridice. Britain's leading composer of the era, Edward Elgar, composed his song-cycle Sea Pictures for contralto and orchestra with her in mind as soloist; she sang at the first performance of the work at the Norwich Festival on 5 October 1899, with the composer conducting.[14]
On 26 June 1900 Butt married the baritoneKennerley Rumford and thereafter would often appear with him in concerts.[3] They had two sons and a daughter.[2] Besides singing in many important festivals and concerts, Butt appeared by royal command before Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, and King George V. She made tours of Australia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, the United States and to many European cities.[2]
During the First World War, Butt organised and sang in many concerts for service charities, and for this was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 1920 civilian war honours.[2] That year she sang four performances of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice at Covent Garden, with Miriam Licette, under the baton of Sir Thomas Beecham. According to The Times she was ill at ease on stage, and in the most famous number, "Che farò", her "attempt to sing it dramatically made her play fast and loose with the time and spoil the phrasing".[15] It was her only appearance on the professional operatic stage.[6]
Clara Butt performed 110 times at the Royal Albert Hall in her career, organising many important fund-raising concerts for charities during the First World War.[16]
Butt's three sisters were also singers. One, Ethel Hook, became a famous contralto in her own right, made some solo recordings, and in 1926 appeared in an early sound film made in the Lee de ForestPhonofilm sound-on-film process.
She was clouded by tragedy in her later years, with both her sons predeceasing her. During the 1920s, she became seriously ill with spinal cancer. Nevertheless, she continued to give concerts and make records. A devout Christian Scientist, she took part in revivalist meetings, singing, and giving sermons. She died at North Stoke on 23 January 1936.[2]
^A copy of "The Lost Chord" was buried with Ronalds[12] but the D'Oyly Carte conductor David Mackie notes that Mrs. Ronalds bequeathed the original manuscript to Butt. In 1950, Rumford, Butt's widower, gave the manuscript to the Worshipful Company of Musicians, which still owns it.[13]
References
7 Harley Road, Swiss Cottage, London NW3 3BX, where Butt lived here with her husband, the singer Kennerley Rumford, and their children（1901-1929）.
^ abcdefghKennedy, Michael. "Butt, Dame Clara Ellen (1872–1936)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004. Online edition, January 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2013 (subscription or UK public library membership required)
^ abcdFuller Maitland J A, et al. "Butt, Dame Clara", Grove Music Online, Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 24 March 2013 (subscription required)
^Maurice Leonard, Hope and Glory: A Life of Dame Clara Butt, Victorian Secrets Limited (2012), p. 32
Ainger, Michael (2002). Gilbert and Sullivan – A Dual Biography. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN0195147693.
Leonard, Maurice (2012). Hope and Glory: a life of Dame Clara Butt. Brighton: Victorian Secrets. ISBN978-1906469382.
Mackie, David (2006). Arthur Sullivan and The Royal Society of Musicians. London: The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain. ISBN0950948136.
Shaw, Bernard (1898). Dan H Laurence (ed.). Shaw's Music – The Complete Music Criticism of Bernard Shaw, Volume 2. London: The Bodley Head. ISBN0370312716.
Further reading
Andrea Suhm-Binder's biography page
Winifred Ponder, Clara Butt – Her Life-Story, London: George Harrap, 1928. Reprinted, New York: Da Capo Press, 1978. ISBN0306775298
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clara Butt.
Dame Clara Butt – The Complete Discography, trevormidgley.com
Profile, cantabile-subito.de
Family photo
The Lost Chord, wcomarchive.org.uk
Works by Clara Butt at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
clara, butt, dame, clara, ellen, butt, february, 1872, january, 1936, english, contralto, most, popular, singers, from, 1890s, through, 1920s, exceptionally, fine, contralto, voice, agile, singing, technique, impressed, contemporary, composers, such, saint, sa. Dame Clara Ellen Butt DBE 1 February 1872 23 January 1936 was an English contralto and one of the most popular singers from the 1890s through to the 1920s She had an exceptionally fine contralto voice and an agile singing technique and impressed contemporary composers such as Saint Saens and Elgar the latter composed his Sea Pictures Op 37 with her voice in mind DameClara ButtDBEButt in 1897BornClara Ellen Butt 1872 02 01 1 February 1872 1 Southwick Sussex EnglandDied23 January 1936 1936 01 23 aged 63 North Stoke Oxfordshire EnglandAlma materRoyal College of MusicOccupationSingerYears active1892 1936SpouseKennerley Rumford m 1900 wbr Children3Land of Hope and Glory source source track track Land of Hope and Glory sung by Butt in 1911Her main career was as a recitalist and concert singer She appeared in only two operatic productions both of Gluck s Orfeo ed Euridice Later in her career she frequently appeared in recitals together with her husband the baritone Kennerley Rumford She made numerous recordings for the gramophone Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Later life 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 Sources 7 Further reading 8 External linksEarly life and career EditClara Butt was born in Southwick Sussex the eldest daughter of Henry Albert Butt a sea captain and his wife Clara nee Hook 2 In 1880 the family moved to the port city of Bristol in England s West Country Clara was educated at South Bristol High School where her singing ability was recognised and her talent as a performer encouraged At the request of her headmistress she was trained by the bass Daniel Rootham father of the composer Cyril Rootham and joined the Bristol Festival Chorus of which Daniel Rootham was musical director 2 Butt won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music RCM in January 1890 Her voice teachers were John Henry Blower 3 and Albert Visetti 4 while her piano teacher was Marmaduke Barton 5 During her fourth year of vocal lessons at the college she spent three months studying in Paris sponsored by Queen Victoria She also studied in Berlin and Italy 2 Clara Butt in 1898 She made her professional debut on 7 December 1892 at the Royal Albert Hall in London in Sullivan s cantata The Golden Legend Three days later she appeared as Orfeo in Gluck s Orfeo ed Euridice at the Lyceum Theatre 3 This was an RCM production conducted by Charles Villiers Stanford 6 Bernard Shaw who was then the music critic for The World wrote that she far surpassed the utmost expectations that could reasonably be entertained and forecast a considerable career for her 7 Later she polished her skills in Berlin with the famous retired soprano Etelka Gerster 2 The French composer Camille Saint Saens heard her and wanted her to study his opera Samson et Dalila but at the time the representation of biblical subjects on the British stage was forbidden and nothing came of it 8 When the law changed and the work was given at Covent Garden in 1909 the part of Delila was sung by Kirkby Lunn to Butt s disappointment 9 In 1896 she took a break from singing and returned to Paris for further vocal studies this time under Jacques Bouhy 10 Butt acquired a reputation in Britain for her vocal attributes and her physical presence on the concert platform she was 6 feet 2 inches tall 3 She made many gramophone recordings often accompanied by the uncredited pianist Lilian Bryant Among her recordings are several of Sullivan s song The Lost Chord 11 her friend Fanny Ronalds bequeathed the original manuscript of the song to her n 1 She was primarily a concert singer her only operatic performances were in two productions of Orfeo ed Euridice Britain s leading composer of the era Edward Elgar composed his song cycle Sea Pictures for contralto and orchestra with her in mind as soloist she sang at the first performance of the work at the Norwich Festival on 5 October 1899 with the composer conducting 14 Later life Edit Butt with her husband Kennerley Rumford Portrait of Dame Clara Butt 1927 On 26 June 1900 Butt married the baritone Kennerley Rumford and thereafter would often appear with him in concerts 3 They had two sons and a daughter 2 Besides singing in many important festivals and concerts Butt appeared by royal command before Queen Victoria King Edward VII and King George V She made tours of Australia Japan Canada New Zealand the United States and to many European cities 2 During the First World War Butt organised and sang in many concerts for service charities and for this was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire DBE in the 1920 civilian war honours 2 That year she sang four performances of Gluck s Orfeo ed Euridice at Covent Garden with Miriam Licette under the baton of Sir Thomas Beecham According to The Times she was ill at ease on stage and in the most famous number Che faro her attempt to sing it dramatically made her play fast and loose with the time and spoil the phrasing 15 It was her only appearance on the professional operatic stage 6 Clara Butt performed 110 times at the Royal Albert Hall in her career organising many important fund raising concerts for charities during the First World War 16 Butt s three sisters were also singers One Ethel Hook became a famous contralto in her own right made some solo recordings and in 1926 appeared in an early sound film made in the Lee de Forest Phonofilm sound on film process She was clouded by tragedy in her later years with both her sons predeceasing her During the 1920s she became seriously ill with spinal cancer Nevertheless she continued to give concerts and make records A devout Christian Scientist she took part in revivalist meetings singing and giving sermons She died at North Stoke on 23 January 1936 2 See also EditDaisy Tapley African American contralto List of English Heritage blue plaques in the London Borough of CamdenNotes Edit A copy of The Lost Chord was buried with Ronalds 12 but the D Oyly Carte conductor David Mackie notes that Mrs Ronalds bequeathed the original manuscript to Butt In 1950 Rumford Butt s widower gave the manuscript to the Worshipful Company of Musicians which still owns it 13 References Edit 7 Harley Road Swiss Cottage London NW3 3BX where Butt lived here with her husband the singer Kennerley Rumford and their children 1901 1929 Greater London Council GLC blue plaque Leonard p 12 a b c d e f g h Kennedy Michael Butt Dame Clara Ellen 1872 1936 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 Online edition January 2011 Retrieved 24 March 2013 subscription or UK public library membership required a b c d Fuller Maitland J A et al Butt Dame Clara Grove Music Online Oxford Music Online Oxford University Press Retrieved 24 March 2013 subscription required Maurice Leonard Hope and Glory A Life of Dame Clara Butt Victorian Secrets Limited 2012 p 32 Leonard p 33 a b Dame Clara Butt The Times 24 January 1936 p 16 Shaw p 765 Leonard pp 66 67 Leonard p 67 Leonard p 63 Buckley Jack In Search of The Lost Chord MusicWeb International Retrieved 2 September 2010 Ainger p 128 Mackie p 143 Leonard p 90 Dame Clara Butt in Opera The Times 2 July 1920 p 10 Royal Albert Hall ArchivesSources EditAinger Michael 2002 Gilbert and Sullivan A Dual Biography Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 0195147693 Leonard Maurice 2012 Hope and Glory a life of Dame Clara Butt Brighton Victorian Secrets ISBN 978 1906469382 Mackie David 2006 Arthur Sullivan and The Royal Society of Musicians London The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain ISBN 0950948136 Shaw Bernard 1898 Dan H Laurence ed Shaw s Music The Complete Music Criticism of Bernard Shaw Volume 2 London The Bodley Head ISBN 0370312716 Further reading EditAndrea Suhm Binder s biography page Winifred Ponder Clara Butt Her Life Story London George Harrap 1928 Reprinted New York Da Capo Press 1978 ISBN 0306775298External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clara Butt Dame Clara Butt The Complete Discography trevormidgley com Profile cantabile subito de Family photo The Lost Chord wcomarchive org uk Works by Clara Butt at LibriVox public domain audiobooks Clara Butt recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Clara Butt amp oldid 1136782940, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
