Clara Novello Davies
Encyclopedia
Clara Novello Davies was a well-known Welsh
singer, teacher and conductor.
Clara Novello Davies was born in Cardiff
to Jacob, a miner, and Margaret (née Evans) Davies and named after Clara Novello
, a famous soprano (1818-1908). Her father, leader of the church choir, taught her to play the harmonium. She married David Davies, a solicitor's clerk, on 31 October 1883. Their son, David Ivor Davies, became better known as Ivor Novello
, the actor, composer, dramatist and director. Their adopted daughter, who was born Marie Williams but took the name Marie Novello
, was an accomplished concert pianist, but throat cancer cut her life short at the age of 30.
In 1883 she founded and conducted the Welsh Ladies Choir, which won prizes at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago (1893) and the Paris Exposition (1899). She was still conducting into her seventies when her New York based Novello Davies Artist Choir was invited to the 1937 Paris Exposition. This choir also raised funds for charity during WWII.
She died in London
in 1943, aged 81, and was cremated in Golders Green cemetery.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
singer, teacher and conductor.
Clara Novello Davies was born in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
to Jacob, a miner, and Margaret (née Evans) Davies and named after Clara Novello
Clara Novello
Clara Anastasia Novello was an acclaimed soprano, the fourth daughter of Vincent Novello, a musician and music publisher, and his wife, Mary Sabilla Hehl....
, a famous soprano (1818-1908). Her father, leader of the church choir, taught her to play the harmonium. She married David Davies, a solicitor's clerk, on 31 October 1883. Their son, David Ivor Davies, became better known as Ivor Novello
Ivor Novello
David Ivor Davies , better known as Ivor Novello, was a Welsh composer, singer and actor who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. Born into a musical family, his first successes were as a songwriter...
, the actor, composer, dramatist and director. Their adopted daughter, who was born Marie Williams but took the name Marie Novello
Marie Novello
Marie Novello was a Welsh pianist. She was one of Theodor Leschetizky's last students and performed in public from childhood. Her early death from throat cancer cut short a promising career just as she began to record for one of the major English labels, having already amassed a considerable...
, was an accomplished concert pianist, but throat cancer cut her life short at the age of 30.
In 1883 she founded and conducted the Welsh Ladies Choir, which won prizes at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago (1893) and the Paris Exposition (1899). She was still conducting into her seventies when her New York based Novello Davies Artist Choir was invited to the 1937 Paris Exposition. This choir also raised funds for charity during WWII.
She died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1943, aged 81, and was cremated in Golders Green cemetery.