Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

February 20, 1874 in Aberdeen, Scotland

Death

:

January 3, 1967 in Inverurie, Scotland

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Mary Garden was a Scottish-American soprano who was born on February 20, 1874, in Aberdeen, Scotland. She was the daughter of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Garden showed an early interest in music and began taking piano lessons at the age of five. She later studied voice with Mathilde Marchesi in Paris. Garden made her professional debut in 1899 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, where she sang the role of Mélisande in Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande. Her performance was a great success, and she quickly became one of the most sought-after sopranos of her time. Garden was known for her powerful voice, dramatic stage presence, and ability to convey emotion through her singing. In 1902, Garden made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, where she sang the role of Louise in Gustave Charpentier's opera of the same name. She quickly became a favorite of audiences and critics alike, and she went on to perform at the Met for over 20 years. Garden was known for her performances in French operas, particularly those of Jules Massenet, and she was also a champion of new works by contemporary composers. One of Garden's most famous performances was in the title role of Richard Strauss's Salome, which she premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in 1907. The opera was controversial at the time because of its erotic subject matter, but Garden's performance was widely praised for its intensity and dramatic power. She went on to perform the role of Salome over 300 times throughout her career. Garden was also known for her work as a producer and director. In 1915, she founded the Chicago Opera Company, which she ran for several years. She also produced and directed several productions at the Metropolitan Opera, including a production of Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande in 1925. Throughout her career, Garden received numerous awards and honors. In 1921, she was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor by the French government, and in 1951, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Harry S. Truman. She was also inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1972. Garden retired from performing in 1934 and spent the rest of her life in Scotland and the United States. She died on January 3, 1967, in Aberdeen, Scotland, at the age of 92. In conclusion, Mary Garden was a Scottish-American soprano who had a long and successful career in opera. She was known for her powerful voice, dramatic stage presence, and ability to convey emotion through her singing. Garden was a champion of new works by contemporary composers and was also known for her work as a producer and director. She received numerous awards and honors throughout her career and was widely regarded as one of the greatest sopranos of her time.

More....