Description

MAY BLYTH (EDMONTON, LONDON, ENGLAND, 12 FEBRUARY, 1899 – ? 1985)

 

 

 

 

She studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London until 1921. In 1922, she became a member of the English National Opera Company, which performed at the Covent Garden Opera House under the direction of Sir Thomas Beecham. There, she sang roles such as Lola in Cavalleria rusticana, Musetta in La Bohème, and Siebel in Gounod’s Faust.

From 1925 to 1926, she also appeared at the Covent Garden Opera House in London, mostly in smaller roles. From 1930 to 1932, she performed with the Sadler’s Wells Opera in London.

In 1937, she sang in a concert performance of Ferruccio Busoni’s opera Doctor Faust at London’s Queen’s Hall. She became well known through her concerts and frequent appearances on BBC broadcasts.

In 1926, she married the Australian conductor Aylmer Buesst (1883–1970), one of the founders of the English National Opera.

In 1934, she received a teaching position at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and in 1946, she was appointed professor at the same institution.

Her recordings, all made by electrical process, appeared on the small English label Broadcast Records towards the end of the 1920s. She also recorded for Decca and Columbia, including the role of Santuzza in the complete Cavalleria Rusticana.

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Decca, London
Aida (Verdi): Sì, fuggiam da queste mura… Di Napata le gole! with Henry Wendon and Richard Watson K533 MA1541-1A
Aida (Verdi): Fuggiam Gli Ardori Inospiti with Henry Wendon and Richard Watson K533 MA1540-1A

Here in the Quiet Hills (Carne) F1688 MB 907-1A

Smile of Spring (Fletcher) F1688 MB909-2A

 

Cavalleria Rusticana – Mascagni

The British National Opera Company

Recorded: 1927

Sung in English

Santuzza……May Blyth

Turiddu…….. Heddle Nash

Alfio…………..Harold Williams

Lola…………..Marjorie Parry

Lucia…………Justine Griffiths

Conductor….Aylmer BuesstBritish National Opera – 1927 – Aylmer Buesst (c) – in English

Original sound recordings made by Columbia Graphophone Company