Jane Manning
Encyclopedia
Jane Manning OBE
(born 20 September 1938) is an English
concert and opera soprano
, writer on music, and Visiting Professor at the Royal College of Music
. She has been described by one critic as "the irrepressible, incomparable, unstoppable Ms. Manning - life and soul of British contemporary music"
In 1966, she married the composer Anthony Payne
, but she does not use her married name professionally.
Thompson), Manning was born in Norwich
in 1938 and educated at Norwich High School for Girls
, the Royal Academy of Music
(graduating LRAM
in 1958), and the Scuola di Canto at Cureglia
, Switzerland
. She was promoted to ARCM in 1962.
broadcast in 1965. She first sang at a Henry Wood Promenade Concert
in 1972, was part of The Matrix with Alan Hacker, founded her own virtuoso ensemble, called Jane's Minstrels
, in 1988, and has sung regularly in concert halls and festivals throughout Europe, specializing in contemporary music, with more than three hundred world premières given. She toured Australia
and New Zealand
in 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1996, 2000, and 2002, and the United States
in 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, and 1997.
Manning's unique voice and infallible sense of pitch have made her an exemplary performer of new music. She is the author of an important book called New Vocal Repertory. She is also widely considered to be one the world's finest performers of Schoenberg
's Pierrot Lunaire
.
In his preface to Manning's 65th Birthday Concert at the Wigmore Hall in 2007, the British critic Bayan Northcott
wrote:
Several leading composers have composed new works for Jane Manning including Harrison Birtwistle
, James MacMillan and Colin Matthews
. She commissioned the grand opera
King Harald's Saga
from Judith Weir
in 1979. Richard Rodney Bennett
's choral work Spells was written for her, as was Matthew King
's The Snow Queen
(1992).
The critic, Ivan Hewitt, has written of Manning:
Her premieres include the part of Max in Oliver Knussen
's opera Where the Wild Things Are
(1980). In 2007, she was awarded an honorary doctorate (along with her husband Anthony Payne
) by the University of Durham, the first time the university has ever honoured a married couple in this way.
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...
(born 20 September 1938) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
concert and opera soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
, writer on music, and Visiting Professor at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
. She has been described by one critic as "the irrepressible, incomparable, unstoppable Ms. Manning - life and soul of British contemporary music"
In 1966, she married the composer Anthony Payne
Anthony Payne
Anthony Payne is an English composer, most famous for the work published as Edward Elgar: The Sketches for Symphony No. 3 Elaborated by Anthony Payne...
, but she does not use her married name professionally.
Early life
The daughter of Gerald Manville Manning and Lily Manning (néeNEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Thompson), Manning was born in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
in 1938 and educated at Norwich High School for Girls
Norwich High School for Girls
Norwich High School for Girls is an independent fee-charging school with selective entry in Norwich, Norfolk, England. It was founded in 1875 and is now one of the twenty-nine schools of the Girls' Day School Trust. The school has one of the best academic records in Norfolk...
, 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...
(graduating LRAM
LRAM
LRAM is an abbreviation for Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music. This professional diploma was formerly open to both internal students of the Royal Academy of Music and external candidates in voice, keyboard and orchestral instruments and guitar, as well as conducting and other musical...
in 1958), and the Scuola di Canto at Cureglia
Cureglia
Cureglia is a municipality in the district of Lugano in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:Cureglia is first mentioned in 1335 as Curea or Curilia....
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. She was promoted to ARCM in 1962.
Career
Manning's London début was in 1964 and her first BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
broadcast in 1965. She first sang at a Henry Wood Promenade Concert
The Proms
The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London...
in 1972, was part of The Matrix with Alan Hacker, founded her own virtuoso ensemble, called Jane's Minstrels
Jane's Minstrels
Jane's Minstrels is a virtuoso British new music ensemble set up in 1988 by the English soprano Jane Manning and her husband, the composer Anthony Payne...
, in 1988, and has sung regularly in concert halls and festivals throughout Europe, specializing in contemporary music, with more than three hundred world premières given. She toured Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1996, 2000, and 2002, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, and 1997.
Manning's unique voice and infallible sense of pitch have made her an exemplary performer of new music. She is the author of an important book called New Vocal Repertory. She is also widely considered to be one the world's finest performers of Schoenberg
Schoenberg
Schoenberg is the surname of several persons:* Arnold Schoenberg , Austrian-American composer* Claude-Michel Schoenberg , French record producer, actor, singer, popular songwriter, and musical theatre composer...
's Pierrot Lunaire
Pierrot Lunaire
Dreimal sieben Gedichte aus Albert Girauds 'Pierrot lunaire' , commonly known simply as Pierrot Lunaire, Op. 21 , is a melodrama by Arnold Schoenberg...
.
In his preface to Manning's 65th Birthday Concert at the Wigmore Hall in 2007, the British critic Bayan Northcott
Bayan Northcott
Bayan Northcott is an English composer and music critic.Born in London, he studied English at Oxford University, then taught the subject for six years before taking up music criticism. Later, encouraged by Alexander Goehr and Hans Keller, he took up composition...
wrote:
It was an inspired choice to present Jane Manning as Miss Donnithorne, not only because she is an artist of astonishing gift but because she is also one of the greatest performers of Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire, and in her performance of the Maxwell Davies, the two pieces are palpably linked………. Her performance is desperately touching, the more disturbing for being played as reminiscence….. a performance of scorching intensity (without conductor).
Several leading composers have composed new works for Jane Manning including Harrison Birtwistle
Harrison Birtwistle
Sir Harrison Paul Birtwistle CH is a British contemporary composer.-Life:Birtwistle was born in Accrington, a mill town in Lancashire some 20 miles north of Manchester. His interest in music was encouraged by his mother, who bought him a clarinet when he was seven, and arranged for him to have...
, James MacMillan and Colin Matthews
Colin Matthews
Colin Matthews OBE is an English composer of classical music.-Early life and education:Matthews was born in London in 1946; his older brother is the composer David Matthews. He read classics at the University of Nottingham, and then studied composition there with Arnold Whittall, and with Nicholas...
. She commissioned the grand opera
Grand Opera
Grand opera is a genre of 19th-century opera generally in four or five acts, characterised by large-scale casts and orchestras, and lavish and spectacular design and stage effects, normally with plots based on or around dramatic historic events...
King Harald's Saga
King Harald's Saga
King Harald's Saga, Grand opera in three acts for unaccompanied solo soprano singing eight rôles is a monodrama by Judith Weir, commissioned by Jane Manning and premiered on May 17, 1979...
from Judith Weir
Judith Weir
Judith Weir CBE, is a British composer.-Biography:Her music has been appreciated by audiences and critics alike. She trained with John Tavener while still at school and subsequently with Robin Holloway at King's College, Cambridge, graduating in 1976...
in 1979. Richard Rodney Bennett
Richard Rodney Bennett
Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, CBE is an English composer renowned for his film scores and his jazz performance as much as for his challenging concert works...
's choral work Spells was written for her, as was Matthew King
Matthew King (composer)
Matthew King is a British composer and pianist. His works include opera, piano and chamber music, choral and orchestral pieces.-Career:...
's The Snow Queen
The Snow Queen (Chamber Opera)
The Snow Queen is a chamber opera in six scenes with a prologue by Matthew King. The libretto, by Andrew McKinnon, is based on the original allegorical fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. The opera was composed in 1992 for the British soprano Jane Manning who sang the title role in the first...
(1992).
The critic, Ivan Hewitt, has written of Manning:
For many people Jane Manning is simply the voice of contemporary classical music in this country. Anyone who took an interest in this burgeoning area of music in the 1970s and '80s grew up with the sound of her astonishing voice in their ears. It’s instantly recognisable, but it’s also a chameleon. Whether she’s faced with the pure angular leaps of Anton Webern, the throaty suggestiveness of Schoenberg or the black, crazed humour of Gyorgy LigetiGyörgy LigetiGyörgy Sándor Ligeti was a composer of contemporary classical music. Born in a Hungarian Jewish family in Transylvania, Romania, he briefly lived in Hungary before becoming an Austrian citizen.-Early life:...
, Jane Manning is always equal to the task.
Her premieres include the part of Max in Oliver Knussen
Oliver Knussen
Oliver Knussen CBE is a British composer and conductor.-Biography:Oliver Knussen was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His father, Stuart Knussen, was principal double bass of the London Symphony Orchestra. Oliver Knussen studied composition with John Lambert, between 1963 and 1969 and also received...
's opera Where the Wild Things Are
Where the Wild Things Are (opera)
Where the Wild Things Are is a 'fantasy' opera in one act by Oliver Knussen, his Opus 20, to a libretto by Maurice Sendak, based on Sendak's own children's book of the same title...
(1980). In 2007, she was awarded an honorary doctorate (along with her husband Anthony Payne
Anthony Payne
Anthony Payne is an English composer, most famous for the work published as Edward Elgar: The Sketches for Symphony No. 3 Elaborated by Anthony Payne...
) by the University of Durham, the first time the university has ever honoured a married couple in this way.
Appointments
- Member of International Jury, Gaudeamus Young Interpreters Competition, Holland, 1976, 1979, and 1987
- Milhaud Visiting Professor, Mills CollegeMills CollegeMills College is an independent liberal arts women's college founded in 1852 that offers bachelor's degrees to women and graduate degrees and certificates to women and men. Located in Oakland, California, Mills was the first women's college west of the Rockies. The institution was initially founded...
, OaklandOakland, CaliforniaOakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, 1983 - Lucie Stern Visiting Professor, Mills College, Oakland, 1981 and 1986
- Vice President, Society for the Promotion of New MusicSociety for the Promotion of New MusicThe Society for the Promotion of New Music was founded in London in 1943 with the intention of promoting the creation, performance and appreciation of new music...
, 1984– - Member of Jury, European Youth Competition for Composers, 1985
- Member of Executive Committee of Musicians Benevolent Fund, 1989–
- Chairman, Eye Music Trust (formerly Nettlefold Festival Trust), 1990-
- Member of Arts CouncilArts councilAn arts council is a government or private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts mainly by funding local artists, awarding prizes, and organizing events at home and abroad...
Music Panel, 1990–95 - Visiting Artist, University of ManitobaUniversity of ManitobaThe University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
, 1992 - Visiting Professor, Royal College of MusicRoyal College of MusicThe Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, 1995– - Honorary Professor, Keele UniversityKeele UniversityKeele University is a campus university near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. Founded in 1949 as an experimental college dedicated to a broad curriculum and interdisciplinary study, Keele is most notable for pioneering the dual honours degree in Britain...
, 1996–2002 - AHRC Creative Arts Research Fellow, 2004–07, and Visiting Professor, 2007–2009, Kingston UniversityKingston UniversityKingston University is a public research university located in Kingston upon Thames, southwest London, United Kingdom. It was originally founded in 1899 as Kingston Technical Institute, a polytechnic, and became a university in 1992....
Publications
- chapter in How Music Works (1981)
- New Vocal Repertory (Vol. I, 1986, and Vol. II, 1998, Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
) - chapter in A Messiaen Companion (1996)
- Pierrot Lunaire: practicalities and perspectives (Southern Voices, 2008)
- chapter in Cambridge History of Musical Performance (2009, Cambridge University PressCambridge University PressCambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
) - many articles in Composer, Music and Musicians, and TempoTempo (journal)Tempo is a quarterly music journal published in the UK and specialising in music of the 20th century and contemporary music. Originally founded in 1939 as the 'house magazine' of the music publisher Boosey & Hawkes, Tempo was the brain-child of Schoenberg's pupil Erwin Stein, who worked for Boosey...
Honours
- Hon. ARAMAram-Bible:* Aram, son of Shem, according to the "Table of Nations" in Genesis 10* Aram-Naharaim , the land in which the city of Haran lay* Aram , an ancient region containing the state of Aram Damascus...
1972 - Special Award, Composers Guild of Great Britain, 1973
- Hon. FRAMFramFram is a ship that was used in expeditions of the Arctic and Antarctic regions by the Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup, Oscar Wisting, and Roald Amundsen between 1893 and 1912...
1984 - Officer of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe 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...
, 1990 - Fellow of the Royal College of MusicRoyal College of MusicThe Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, 1998 - Hon doctorate, University of YorkUniversity of YorkThe University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
, 1988 - Hon. Doctor of MusicDoctor of MusicThe Doctor of Music degree , like other doctorates, is an academic degree of the highest level. The D.Mus. is intended for musicians and composers who wish to combine the highest attainments in their area of specialization with doctoral-level academic study in music...
, University of Keele, 2004 - Hon. Doctor of Music, University of Durham, 2007
External links
- Jane Manning at classical-artists.com
- Jane Manning at orchestraoftheswan.org
- Dr Jane Manning at kingston.ac.uk
- Jane's Minstrels official web site