Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

April 17, 1888 in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England

Death

:

May 26, 1976 in London, England

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Maggie Teyte was a renowned British soprano who was born on April 17, 1888, in Wolverhampton, England. She was the daughter of a French mother and an English father, and her family moved to Paris when she was a child. Teyte began her musical training at the Paris Conservatoire, where she studied with the famous soprano Jean de Reszke. Teyte made her professional debut in 1907 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, where she sang the role of Micaëla in Bizet's Carmen. She quickly became a popular performer in France, and in 1910 she was invited to sing at the Royal Opera House in London. Teyte's performance was a great success, and she was soon offered a contract to sing with the company. Over the next few years, Teyte established herself as one of the leading sopranos of her time. She was known for her beautiful voice, her impeccable technique, and her ability to convey emotion through her singing. Teyte was particularly renowned for her interpretations of French art songs and operas, and she was often compared to the great French soprano Emma Calvé. In 1913, Teyte made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where she sang the role of Mélisande in Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande. She was an instant hit with American audiences, and she returned to the Met many times over the course of her career. Teyte also performed in other major opera houses around the world, including La Scala in Milan, the Paris Opera, and the Royal Opera House in London. During World War I, Teyte put her career on hold to work as a nurse in France. She was awarded the Croix de Guerre for her service, and she later wrote a book about her experiences called "The Wings of War." After the war, Teyte resumed her singing career, and she continued to perform well into her seventies. One of Teyte's most famous performances was her portrayal of the title role in Debussy's opera Mélisande. She was widely regarded as the definitive interpreter of the role, and her recordings of the opera are still considered some of the best ever made. Teyte also had great success with her performances of French art songs, and she recorded many of them over the course of her career. In addition to her singing career, Teyte was also a respected teacher. She taught at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and many of her students went on to have successful careers in opera and concert singing. Teyte was known for her strict but nurturing teaching style, and she was greatly respected by her students. Teyte received many honors and awards over the course of her career. She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1951, and she was awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government in 1956. Teyte was also awarded honorary doctorates from several universities, including the University of Oxford and the University of Paris. Maggie Teyte died on May 26, 1976, at the age of 88. She was remembered as one of the greatest sopranos of her time, and her recordings and performances continue to be admired by music lovers around the world.

More....