Description

GWENDOLINE FLORENCE CATLEY (LONDON, ENGLAND, 9 FEBRUARY, 1906 – HOVE, ENGLAND, 12 NOVEMBER, 1996)

She showed a special musical talent early on and studied at the Guildhall School of Music in London, especially with Bantock Pierpoint, then with Julian Kimbell. She already sang the title role in ‘Martha’ at a student performance. In 1937, as a guest at Sadler’s Wells Opera in London, she sang the part of Queen of the Night in the ‘Zauberflöte’ and in 1938 the Nannetta in G. Verdi’s ‘Falstaff’. In 1938 she gave very successful concerts in London’s Wigmore Hall. She then joined the Carl Rosa Opera Company, with whom she undertook extensive tours through the major English cities until the mid-1950’s and was particularly successful in coloratura roles. She also had a very successful career as a radio and sound film singer and later also appeared in musical revues in London (among others in 1942 at the Stoll Theater in ‘Hi-Di-Hi’). On English radio she sang the part of Leila in ‘Pêcheurs de perles’ by G. Bizet and Anne Trulove in the English premiere of I. Stravinsky’s ‘The Rake’s Progress’.

TRACKLIST

1. Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) There’s a voice within my heart, pt 1 and pt 2 B9323 B9323 0ER689-1 0ER690-1 HMV, Manchester 1943-03-15
2. Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach) The doll’s ong C3902 2EA13778-1 HMV, 1949
3. Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart) I was heedless in my rapture C3696 2EA12662-2 HMV, 1948-01-02
4. Exultate Jubilate (Mozart) Alleluia B9138 0ER431-1 HMV, 1940-10-22
5. Josua (Händel) Oh had I Jubal’s lyre B9138 0ER432-2 HMV, 1940-10-22
6. Lakmé (Delibes) bell song, pt 1 and pt 2 B9541 0EA11590-1 B9541 0EA11591-1 HMV, 1947-01-17
7. Lullaby (Flies, attr Mozart) B9222 0EA9465-1 HMV, 1941-09-02
8. Mignon (Thomas) Behold Titania! (Polonaise) C3696 2EA12661-2 HMV, 1948-01-02
9. Mother dear (Polish folk song, arr Liebling) B9867 0EA14379-1 HMV, 1949-12-17
10. Rigoletto (Verdi) Caro nome C3369 2ER687-1 HMV, Manchester 1943-03-15
11. Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Waltz song C3902 2EA13779-1A HMV, 1949
12. Sweet Echo Come Tune Thy C3931 2EA14219-1 HMV, 1949-09-30
13. The lass with the delicate air (Arne) B9867 0EA14380-1 HMV, 1949-12-17
14. The Russian Nightingale (Alabieff) B972 0EA13364-1 HMV, 1948-10-22
15. Traviata (Verdi) E strano!… Ah, fors’è lui…Follie! Follie! C3358 C3358 2ER695-1 2ER696-2 HMV, Manchester 1943-03
16. Voices of Spring (Strauss) C3638 2EA12115-1 HMV, 1947-06-10
17. Zauberflöte (Mozart) I’ll have revenge B9674 0EA12986-1 HMV, 1948-04-29