Ann Murray
Encyclopedia
Ann Murray DBE
is an Irish
mezzo-soprano
. She was born on 27 August 1949, in Dublin. She studied with Frederic Cox
at the Royal Manchester College of Music
and made her stage debut as Alcestis in Christoph Willibald Gluck
's Alceste
in 1974. She has since sung at all major opera houses and is particularly noted for her performances in works by George Frideric Handel
, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
and Richard Strauss
.
Murray performs mainly at Covent Garden
(where she performed as Siphare in Mitridate Rè di Ponto), the English National Opera
and the Bavarian State Opera
(where she was made Kammersängerin in 1998). Murray was the featured singer in volume three of the Hyperion Schubert Edition, Hyperion Records
' complete Franz Schubert
lieder project, in 1988, led by pianist Graham Johnson.
In 2002, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to music. Not being a citizen of a Commonwealth realm
, the award was honorary rather than substantive. This means she can use the postnominal "DBE", but is not known as Dame Ann Murray.
Murray maintains her links with Ireland and is the Patron of the 'Young Associate Artists Programme' of the Dublin-based Opera Theatre Company. She was married to the late English tenor, Philip Langridge
and has one son, Jonathan.
In September 2010 she was appointed professor of singing at the Royal Academy of Music
in London.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
is an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
. She was born on 27 August 1949, in Dublin. She studied with Frederic Cox
Frederic Cox (musician)
Robert Frederic Cox was a noted singer, composer and music educator.Cox was the Professor of Singing , Principal and Principal Emeritus at the Royal Manchester College of Music and then a singing teacher at RNCM from 1975 to 1984.Distinguished pupils of his included: John Mitchinson, Joseph...
at the Royal Manchester College of Music
Royal Manchester College of Music
The Royal Manchester College of Music was founded in 1893 by Sir Charles Hallé who assumed the role as Principal. For a long period of time Hallé had argued for Manchester's need for a conservatoire to properly train the local talent. The Ducie Street building, just off Oxford Road, was purchased...
and made her stage debut as Alcestis in Christoph Willibald Gluck
Christoph Willibald Gluck
Christoph Willibald Ritter von Gluck was an opera composer of the early classical period. After many years at the Habsburg court at Vienna, Gluck brought about the practical reform of opera's dramaturgical practices that many intellectuals had been campaigning for over the years...
's Alceste
Alceste (Gluck)
Alceste is an opera by Christoph Willibald Gluck from 1767. The libretto was written by Ranieri de' Calzabigi and based on the play Alcestis by Euripides. The premiere took place in Vienna.-Preface and reforms:...
in 1974. She has since sung at all major opera houses and is particularly noted for her performances in works by George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
and Richard Strauss
Richard Strauss
Richard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
.
Murray performs mainly at Covent Garden
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
(where she performed as Siphare in Mitridate Rè di Ponto), the English National Opera
English National Opera
English National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
and the Bavarian State Opera
Bavarian State Opera
The Bavarian State Opera is an opera company based in Munich, Germany.Its orchestra is the Bavarian State Orchestra.- History:The opera company which was founded under Princess Henriette Adelaide of Savoy has been in existence since 1653...
(where she was made Kammersängerin in 1998). Murray was the featured singer in volume three of the Hyperion Schubert Edition, Hyperion Records
Hyperion Records
Hyperion Records is an independent British classical record label.-History:The company was named after Hyperion, one of the Titans of Greek mythology. It was founded by George Edward Perry, widely known as "Ted", in 1980. Early LP releases included rarely recorded 20th century British music by...
' complete Franz Schubert
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
lieder project, in 1988, led by pianist Graham Johnson.
In 2002, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to music. Not being a citizen of a Commonwealth realm
Commonwealth Realm
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations that has Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. The sixteen current realms have a combined land area of 18.8 million km² , and a population of 134 million, of which all, except about two million, live in the six...
, the award was honorary rather than substantive. This means she can use the postnominal "DBE", but is not known as Dame Ann Murray.
Murray maintains her links with Ireland and is the Patron of the 'Young Associate Artists Programme' of the Dublin-based Opera Theatre Company. She was married to the late English tenor, Philip Langridge
Philip Langridge
Philip Gordon Langridge CBE was an English tenor, considered to be among the foremost exponents of English opera and oratorio....
and has one son, Jonathan.
In September 2010 she was appointed professor of singing at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
in London.
External links
- Artist page at Askonas Holt Ltd.
- Artist page at Hyperion Records.
- Short biography at Bach-Cantatas.com