Description

MARGARET BURKE SHERIDAN (CASTLEBAR, IRELAND, 15. 10. 1889 – DUBLIN, IRELAND, 16. 04. 1958)

 

 

 

 

She was first trained in Dublin, then at the Royal Academy of Music in London under William Shakespear, and completed her education in Milan with soprano Tina Sconamiglio. In 1911, under the name Margaret Burke-Sheridan, she sang Handel’s Messiah in Dublin. She made her debut in 1918 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome as Mimi in La Bohème. She achieved great success, particularly at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. In 1921, she sang for the first time at La Scala in Milan, where she became very popular and appeared regularly until 1924. In 1923, she performed the role of Olimpia in the premiere of Respighi’s Belfagor. She was highly praised by Giacomo Puccini. Her roles at La Scala also included Wally in Catalani’s La Wally and Maddalena in Giordano’s Andrea Chénier. In 1924, due to political reasons, she left the theatre with Arturo Toscanini, who had previously supported her career. She also found success at the Arena di Verona and made several guest appearances at Covent Garden (from 1919 onward). There, she participated in the first performance of Mascagni’s Iris (1919). During the 1925-1930 seasons, she sang regularly at Covent Garden. After retiring from the stage, she returned to Ireland and worked as a vocal pedagogue in Dublin.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1918 Roma Teatro Costanzi

1919 London Covent Garden

1921-1924 Milano La Scala

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Lohengrin (Wagner): Sola nei miei prim’anni DB988 (2-053276), HMV London 1926-11-24
2. Otello (Verdi): Giа nella notte densa… Ed io vedea (w. Zanelli) DB1395 32-1129 HMV, Milano 1929-12-13
3. Otello (Verdi): Ed io vedea (w. Zanelli) DB1395 32-1130 HMV, Milano 1929-12-13
4. The Lover’s curse (Hughes) HMV DA985 3-3314 1928-07-23
5. The Meeting of the Waters (Moore) 3-3316 DA985 HMV 23-7-28
6. Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Death of Butterfly (w. Mummery) 2-054180 CR1439 HMV, London 1927-07-07
7. Madama Butterfly (Puccini): E questo? DB1084 (2-053299) HMV, London 1927-07-07
8. Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Un bel dì DB981 (2-053275) HMV, London 1926-11-24
9. Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Ancora un passo (w. chorus) DB1084 (2-053298) HMV, London 1927-07-07
10. Bohème (Puccini): Mi chiamano Mimì DB988 (2-053277) HMV, London 1926-11-24
11. Manon Lescaut (Puccini): Tu, tu, amore…O Tentatrice (w. Pertile) DB1281, DB1281, (2-054282), (2-054283) HMV, Milano 1929-04-24
12. Andrea Chénier (Giordano): Vicino a te (w. Pertile) DB1289 (2-054287) HMV, Milano 1929-04-29
13. Andrea Chénier (Giordano): La nostra morte (w. Pertile) DB1289 (2-054288) HMV, Milano 1929-04-29
14. Otello (Verdi): Ave Maria DB981 (2-053274) HMV, London 1926-11-01
15. Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Bimba degli occhi miei (w. Pertile) DB1119 (2-054185) HMV, Milano 1927-11-09
16. Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Io t’ho germito (w. Pertile) DB1119 (2-054186) HMV, Milano 1927-11-09
17. Danny Boy (Weatherley) DA832 3-3120 HMV, London 1926
18. Down by the Sally Gardens (Hughes) Bb 14213 HMV 23-7-28
19. Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms (Moore) DA906 BR 1451 HMV 1927-07-14