Country

:

Canada

Birth

:

January 29, 1925 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Death

:

February 19, 1997 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

Lois Marshall was a Canadian soprano who was born on June 19, 1924, in Toronto, Ontario. She was the youngest of three children and grew up in a musical family. Her father was a violinist and her mother was a pianist, and they both encouraged Lois to pursue music from a young age. Marshall began her vocal training at the age of 12 with the renowned Canadian soprano, Ettore Mazzoleni. She quickly showed promise as a singer and made her professional debut at the age of 15, performing in a concert with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. In 1947, Marshall won the Metropolitan Opera Auditions of the Air, which launched her career as an international opera singer. She made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in 1950, performing the role of Pamina in Mozart's "The Magic Flute." She went on to perform at the Met for 11 seasons, singing a variety of roles in operas such as "Don Giovanni," "La Bohème," and "The Marriage of Figaro." Marshall was known for her clear, pure voice and her ability to convey emotion through her singing. She was also praised for her impeccable diction and her ability to sing in multiple languages, including Italian, French, German, and English. In addition to her opera career, Marshall was also a sought-after concert singer. She performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. She also collaborated with many of the world's leading conductors, including Leonard Bernstein, Sir Georg Solti, and Herbert von Karajan. One of Marshall's most memorable performances was her rendition of Handel's "Messiah" at the opening of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's new concert hall in 1982. The performance was broadcast on national television and was widely praised for Marshall's beautiful singing and the orchestra's stunning performance. Marshall was also a dedicated teacher and mentor to young singers. She taught at the University of Toronto and the Banff Centre for the Arts, and many of her students went on to have successful careers in opera and concert singing. Throughout her career, Marshall received many awards and honors for her contributions to classical music. She was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1976, and in 1990 she was awarded the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. She was also inducted into the Canadian Opera Hall of Fame in 1989. Marshall retired from performing in 1989, but she continued to be an active supporter of the arts until her death in 1997. She was remembered as one of Canada's greatest classical music artists, and her legacy continues to inspire young singers today.

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