Birth

:

April 9, 1922

Death

:

December 12, 2013

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

Rae Woodland was a British classical music artist who was born on August 22, 1926, in London, England. She was the daughter of a professional musician and grew up in a musical family. Her father was a violinist and her mother was a pianist, and they both encouraged her to pursue a career in music. Woodland began her musical training at an early age, studying piano and violin. However, it was her singing voice that stood out, and she soon began to focus on vocal training. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she received a scholarship to study opera. In 1950, Woodland made her professional debut at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, where she performed the role of Barbarina in Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro." This was the beginning of a long and successful career in opera, which would see her perform in some of the world's most prestigious opera houses. Over the course of her career, Woodland performed in a wide range of operas, including works by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, and Wagner. She was particularly renowned for her performances in Mozart's operas, and was considered one of the leading Mozartian sopranos of her time. One of the highlights of Woodland's career was her performance in the role of Susanna in Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" at the Royal Opera House in London in 1955. This performance was widely acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, and helped to establish Woodland as one of the leading sopranos of her generation. Woodland also performed in a number of other notable productions, including the world premiere of Benjamin Britten's "The Turn of the Screw" at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice in 1954. She also performed in the premiere of Britten's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Aldeburgh Festival in 1960. In addition to her work in opera, Woodland was also a highly regarded concert singer. She performed in a wide range of concerts and recitals, and was particularly renowned for her performances of lieder and other art songs. Throughout her career, Woodland received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to classical music. In 1960, she was awarded the Order of Merit by the British government for her services to music. She was also awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1977. Woodland retired from performing in 1985, but continued to be involved in the music world as a teacher and mentor to young singers. She was a highly respected voice teacher, and many of her students went on to have successful careers in opera and concert singing. Rae Woodland passed away on December 18, 2011, at the age of 85. She was remembered as one of the leading sopranos of her generation, and as a passionate advocate for classical music. Her legacy continues to inspire and influence generations of musicians and music lovers around the world.

More....