Period

:

Baroque

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

Dora Labbette was a renowned British soprano who made a significant contribution to the world of classical music during the early 20th century. Born on 1 February 1898 in London, England, Dora was the daughter of a music teacher and a professional singer. Her parents recognized her musical talent at an early age and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. Dora received her formal music education at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she studied under the tutelage of renowned vocal coaches such as George Henschel and Alberto Randegger. She made her professional debut in 1918 at the age of 20, performing in a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Her performance was well-received, and she soon became a sought-after performer in the British music scene. In 1921, Dora made her operatic debut at the Royal Opera House in London, playing the role of the First Lady in Mozart's "The Magic Flute." Her performance was highly praised, and she went on to perform in several other operas, including "The Marriage of Figaro," "Don Giovanni," and "Carmen." Dora's career continued to flourish throughout the 1920s and 1930s, and she became one of the most popular sopranos of her time. She performed in several major opera houses across Europe, including the Paris Opera, the Berlin State Opera, and the Vienna State Opera. She also performed in several concerts and recitals, both in Britain and abroad. One of the highlights of Dora's career was her performance in the 1924 production of "The Marriage of Figaro" at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera. The production was a huge success, and Dora's performance as Susanna was widely praised. She went on to perform in several other productions at Glyndebourne, including "Don Giovanni" and "The Magic Flute." In 1932, Dora was awarded the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her services to music. She was also awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society in 1935, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the world of classical music. Dora's career was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II, and she spent much of the war years performing for troops and entertaining civilians in Britain. She also worked as a nurse, caring for wounded soldiers and civilians. After the war, Dora continued to perform, but her career began to wind down. She made her final operatic appearance in 1951, playing the role of the Countess in "The Marriage of Figaro" at the Royal Opera House in London. She continued to perform in concerts and recitals for several more years, but eventually retired from performing in the late 1950s. Dora Labbette died on 14 June 1984, at the age of 86. She is remembered as one of the greatest sopranos of her time, and her contributions to the world of classical music continue to be celebrated today.

More....