Gray was born in Greenock, Scotland in 1948.[1] She showed an early talent in music and supplemented the usual Scottish primary and secondary state school education with private lessons in both singing and piano.[2] In 1965 this tuition, and her natural ability, provided her with the skills to successfully gain a place at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama as an undergraduate student.[3] Here she remained for four years concentrating her studies on singing, piano and cello.[3] In 1969 (her final year at the Academy of Music) she won the International Cinzano Singing Award which granted a two-year scholarship to continue her musical education at the London Opera Centre[1] (managed out of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and also acting at that time as the ROH's rehearsal space).[3] It was in London that as a student she made her first appearance in an opera as Malenka in The Bartered Bride in 1970.[4] Also, during this time, Gray continued to win a number of major singing awards[4] (see awards section below).
Opera careeredit
Having completed her studies in Naples, she returned to the UK in 1972 and quickly began to establish her professional career: first with the Glyndebourne Touring Company (part of the Glyndebourne Opera Festival which helps to provide professional experience to young performers) and later within the context of The Glyndebourne Festival itself.[2][3] It was with this company that, at the age of 23, she made her debut as Mimi in Puccini's La bohème – a role that remained in her professional repertoire until her retirement.[3][5] Between her professional debut in 1971 and her final appearance in 1982 Gray toured the UK and Europe performing major roles for a number of major opera companies and houses. These included: Scottish Opera (1974–1979), English National Opera (1979), Welsh National Opera (1981), The Royal Opera House (1982).[6] Her American debut was in Dallas in 1981 where she sang as Sieglinde in Richard Wagner's Die Walküre.[3][6] During this time she became the Isolde of choice for famous British Wagnerian conductor Sir Reginald Goodall. Not only did she perform the role at a number of opera houses with Goodall conducting but Gray went on to record the role for him on the first digital recording of Tristan und Isolde in 1982.[7] As the early 1980s progressed Gray's international fame and reputation grew and plans began to take place for her perform major roles at both La Scala and the Metropolitan Opera House but these were to never come to fruition. Instead, Grays operatic career shortly came to a permanent halt.
Concert careeredit
Like many established opera singers, Gray also had a successful concert career. This included performances of works by Mahler, Verdi, Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Elgar, Rossini and Britten, together with song cycles by Wagner, Richard Strauss, Sibelius and Schumann. Special mention should be given to three performances: First, in 1981 she sang with the English National Opera when it celebrated its Golden Jubilee in the presence of the Queen. In 1982 she performed in front of the Prince of Wales at the London Coliseum, as part of a national tribute to British troops returning from the Falklands War. Finally, and also in 1982, Gray became the first Scottish soprano to sing at the opening night of the Edinburgh Festival, performing in Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Accompanied on the piano by Stephen Maughan, Gray returned to the concert platform in 2002 for a recital of Richard Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder. The historic occasion took place on 18 May at St. Columba's-by-the-Castle in Edinburgh, and was hosted by the Wagner Society of Scotland.
Media personalityedit
During her career Gray became something of a media personality, appearing alongside baritone Geraint Evans in the BBC chat show Three's Company and with her former music teacher Dame Eva Turner in one of several radio phone-ins discussing singing. She took part in BBC Radio 4's Food Program and was photographed by David Bailey for The Observer.[3]
Retirement from the stageedit
Gray retired from the opera stage in 1982 after an illness left her unable to continue. She has been described as "one of the most lyric of modern sopranos", and was "expected to be the next Callas".[5]
After many years of seclusion from the media she published her autobiography in 2007: A Life Behind Curtains: A Singer's Silent Sounds. She is now an opera coach working from her home in Surrey.
Principal rolesedit
While Gray sang many major opera roles (a number of them many times), her principal roles are considered to have been:[1]
BBC Radio 4 Interview in 2007 (available for download)
An article originally published in Black Lamb magazine about the authors search for Gray after her "disappearance" in 1982
November 02, 2023
linda, esther, gray, other, people, named, linda, gray, linda, gray, disambiguation, born, 1948, greenock, scotland, retired, scottish, soprano, operatic, singing, teacher, contents, early, life, opera, career, concert, career, media, personality, retirement, . For other people named Linda Gray see Linda Gray disambiguation Linda Esther Gray born 29 May 1948 Greenock Scotland is a retired Scottish soprano and an operatic singing teacher Contents 1 Early life 2 Opera career 3 Concert career 4 Media personality 5 Retirement from the stage 6 Principal roles 7 Discography 8 References 9 External linksEarly life editGray was born in Greenock Scotland in 1948 1 She showed an early talent in music and supplemented the usual Scottish primary and secondary state school education with private lessons in both singing and piano 2 In 1965 this tuition and her natural ability provided her with the skills to successfully gain a place at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama as an undergraduate student 3 Here she remained for four years concentrating her studies on singing piano and cello 3 In 1969 her final year at the Academy of Music she won the International Cinzano Singing Award which granted a two year scholarship to continue her musical education at the London Opera Centre 1 managed out of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and also acting at that time as the ROH s rehearsal space 3 It was in London that as a student she made her first appearance in an opera as Malenka in The Bartered Bride in 1970 4 Also during this time Gray continued to win a number of major singing awards 4 see awards section below Opera career editHaving completed her studies in Naples she returned to the UK in 1972 and quickly began to establish her professional career first with the Glyndebourne Touring Company part of the Glyndebourne Opera Festival which helps to provide professional experience to young performers and later within the context of The Glyndebourne Festival itself 2 3 It was with this company that at the age of 23 she made her debut as Mimi in Puccini s La boheme a role that remained in her professional repertoire until her retirement 3 5 Between her professional debut in 1971 and her final appearance in 1982 Gray toured the UK and Europe performing major roles for a number of major opera companies and houses These included Scottish Opera 1974 1979 English National Opera 1979 Welsh National Opera 1981 The Royal Opera House 1982 6 Her American debut was in Dallas in 1981 where she sang as Sieglinde in Richard Wagner s Die Walkure 3 6 During this time she became the Isolde of choice for famous British Wagnerian conductor Sir Reginald Goodall Not only did she perform the role at a number of opera houses with Goodall conducting but Gray went on to record the role for him on the first digital recording of Tristan und Isolde in 1982 7 As the early 1980s progressed Gray s international fame and reputation grew and plans began to take place for her perform major roles at both La Scala and the Metropolitan Opera House but these were to never come to fruition Instead Grays operatic career shortly came to a permanent halt Concert career editLike many established opera singers Gray also had a successful concert career This included performances of works by Mahler Verdi Handel Haydn Mendelssohn Elgar Rossini and Britten together with song cycles by Wagner Richard Strauss Sibelius and Schumann Special mention should be given to three performances First in 1981 she sang with the English National Opera when it celebrated its Golden Jubilee in the presence of the Queen In 1982 she performed in front of the Prince of Wales at the London Coliseum as part of a national tribute to British troops returning from the Falklands War Finally and also in 1982 Gray became the first Scottish soprano to sing at the opening night of the Edinburgh Festival performing in Beethoven s 9th Symphony Accompanied on the piano by Stephen Maughan Gray returned to the concert platform in 2002 for a recital of Richard Wagner s Wesendonck Lieder The historic occasion took place on 18 May at St Columba s by the Castle in Edinburgh and was hosted by the Wagner Society of Scotland Media personality editDuring her career Gray became something of a media personality appearing alongside baritone Geraint Evans in the BBC chat show Three s Company and with her former music teacher Dame Eva Turner in one of several radio phone ins discussing singing She took part in BBC Radio 4 s Food Program and was photographed by David Bailey for The Observer 3 Retirement from the stage editGray retired from the opera stage in 1982 after an illness left her unable to continue She has been described as one of the most lyric of modern sopranos and was expected to be the next Callas 5 After many years of seclusion from the media she published her autobiography in 2007 A Life Behind Curtains A Singer s Silent Sounds She is now an opera coach working from her home in Surrey Principal roles editWhile Gray sang many major opera roles a number of them many times her principal roles are considered to have been 1 Isolde Tristan und Isolde Wagner Sieglinde Die Walkure Wagner Kundry Parsifal Wagner Tosca Tosca Puccini Leonore Fidelio Beethoven Discography editMahler Symphony no 8 BBC Symphony Orchestra Pierre Boulez BBC 1975 Wagner Die Feen The Fairies Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Wolfgang Sawallisch Orfeo Live Recording Released 1995 Wagner Tristan und Isolde Welsh National Opera Orchestra Reginald Goodall 1982 References edit a b c International Who s Who in Classical Music 2003 p 313 a b A Life Behind Curtains A Singer s Silent Sounds Linda Esther Gray 2007 Green Oak Publishing ISBN 978 0 9555505 0 8 a b c d e f g Biography Archived 14 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine on singbelcanto com a b The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music 2004 4th ed p 302 a b BBC Woman s Hour Linda Esther Gray a b The International Who s Who of Women 2002 p 215 WOSU FM Classical NotesExternal links editOfficial Website BBC Radio 4 Interview in 2007 available for download An article originally published in Black Lamb magazine about the authors search for Gray after her disappearance in 1982 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Linda Esther Gray amp oldid 1090469537, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
