Kyra Vayne
Encyclopedia
Kyra Knopmuss (born St Petersburg, Russia 29 January 1916; died London 12 January 2001) was a Russian-born British opera
singer.
She was born Kyra Knopmuss in St Petersburg just before the Revolution, and in 1924 the family fled to London. She was educated at a private school, leaving at 15. In 1937 she became a showgirl in the revue “Sanctions”, featuring Phyllis Dixey
. She first broadcast for the BBC in 1938 with Teddy Joyce's Girls Choir. After two voice teachers whom she did not like, she found Mignon Nevada
, which was satisfactory.
Between 1937 and 1941, she, at first under the name of Kyra Vronska, toured in such musicals as ‘’Balalaika’’, ‘’Show Boat’’ and ‘’Chu Chin Chow
’’. Then she sang Russian gypsy songs in Vic Oliver
’s show “Variety Bill” on tour in Britain. She changed her name again to Kyra Vayne and sang with Oliver’s British Symphony Orchestra. She then sang in Mussorgsky's Sorochintsi Fair at the Savoy Theatre and on tour, alternating with Oda Slobodskaya in the role of Khivria, and also with Daria Bayan as Parassia. This production was very popular and returned to London at the Adelphi Theatre before going on a second tour. She also sang the title role of ‘’Gay Rosalinda’’, an English version of Johann Strauss's ‘’Die Fledermaus
’’, at the Palace Theatre, for four weeks in 1945, but was replaced by another soprano who invested in the show.
After the war Vayne toured Scandinavia, singing at China Variety Theatre in Stockholm, the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen and elsewhere. In 1949 she was invited to sing Fevronia in ‘’The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh’’ by Rimsky-Korsakov at the Liceu in Barcelona. In 1951 she sang Leonora in ‘’Il trovatore’’ for Welsh National Opera, and in autumn 1952 Vayne sang her first Tosca, to the Scarpia of Tito Gobbi
in the Italian Opera Company’s production. The company returned in May 1953, when she sang Leonora in ‘’La forza del destino’’ with Carlo Bergonzi
as Don Alvaro. In 1952 she married Igor Semiletoff (the marriage was later dissolved).
She had a long association with Eugene Iskoldoff, the impresario of the Italian Opera Company, who became her manager. She went to Italy to try her luck, and in 1954 sang Donna Anna in Dargomyzhky's The Stone Guest in Florence, and Tosca in Rome, Piacenza and Genoa, usually with success. She also sang Santuzza in ‘’Cavalleria rusticana’’ with Gigli
as Turiddu at Rome. During the last years of the Italian Opera Company, which ended in 1956, Vayne sang Violetta in ‘’La traviata’’, Leonora in ‘’Il trovatore’’ and Tosca. She and Iskoldoff went to New York and then Hollywood to seek work but their money ran out and after Iskoldoff committed suicide Vayne was left destitute. She returned to London and became a secretary, and later a ceramic restorer.
In 1961 she went to New York with the Players' Theatre under the name of the Strollers. Eventually her first CD was issued, with arias from ‘’Prince Igor’’, ‘’The Queen of Spades’’ and ‘’Tosca’’ (Earl Okin
“rediscovered” this soprano and Preiser released two CD sets made from her old, private records and broadcast tapes).
'Kyra had been working alongside my mother at the local bank for over 20 years when I first discovered that she had been an opera singer. Amazed at hearing the quality of her version of Ernani Involami on a private lacquer 78rpm record, I was determined to have her recordings published. The first success was on a CD associated with The Record Collector magazine but, later on Otto Preiser of Preiser records, with help from some investment from some of Kyra's friends and fans, enabled the first full CD to be issued. Needless to say, people were amazed at the quality of her singing. Her comparative lack of career success was obviously due (when I heard her stories) to poor management. For instance, her manager had never even arranged a proper recording contract for her. Kyra was in fact one of the finest post-war operatic sopranos anywhere; far better, in my opinion, than Maria Callas, for instance. Her CDs sold well and she was memorably invited to Moscow for the passing of the millennium. I was delighted that she knew, by the time of her death, that she would be remembered' - Earl Okin.
Later she recorded (at the age of 81) a disc of songs and operetta pieces, and wrote her autobiography, ‘’A Voice Reborn’’ (1999).
She appeared on Desert Island Discs
on 24 March 1996, choosing a culinary book and peanuts
and treats to tame animals and birds.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
singer.
Biography
The Russian-born soprano Kyra Vayne came to London in 1924. From the late 1930s to the late 1950s she sang in London and elsewhere in revue and variety, and later in opera. Reviewers acknowledged that she had a fine voice but for various reasons her career was only intermittently successful. In ‘’A Voice Reborn’’ she tried to explain the reasons for this: sometimes "personal problems intruded on, and destroyed my professional life - or rather, I stupidly allowed them to", and opportunities, were missed especially in Italy. "Wherever I went I was the perpetual outsider."She was born Kyra Knopmuss in St Petersburg just before the Revolution, and in 1924 the family fled to London. She was educated at a private school, leaving at 15. In 1937 she became a showgirl in the revue “Sanctions”, featuring Phyllis Dixey
Phyllis Dixey
Phyllis Dixey was a British singer, dancer and impresario. Her earlier career was as a singer in variety shows in Britain. During World War II, she joined ENSA and entertained the British forces...
. She first broadcast for the BBC in 1938 with Teddy Joyce's Girls Choir. After two voice teachers whom she did not like, she found Mignon Nevada
Mignon Nevada
Mignon Nevada was an English operatic soprano. She was born in Paris, daughter of the American operatic soprano Emma Nevada and her English husband Raymond Palmer. She was named after the title character of the 1866 opera Mignon, written by her godfather, French composer Ambroise Thomas...
, which was satisfactory.
Between 1937 and 1941, she, at first under the name of Kyra Vronska, toured in such musicals as ‘’Balalaika’’, ‘’Show Boat’’ and ‘’Chu Chin Chow
Chu Chin Chow
Chu Chin Chow is a musical comedy written, produced and directed by Oscar Asche, with music by Frederic Norton, based on the story of Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves...
’’. Then she sang Russian gypsy songs in Vic Oliver
Vic Oliver
Vic Oliver was an actor and radio comedian.He was born in Vienna, Austria, the son of Viktor von Samek and came to England via America....
’s show “Variety Bill” on tour in Britain. She changed her name again to Kyra Vayne and sang with Oliver’s British Symphony Orchestra. She then sang in Mussorgsky's Sorochintsi Fair at the Savoy Theatre and on tour, alternating with Oda Slobodskaya in the role of Khivria, and also with Daria Bayan as Parassia. This production was very popular and returned to London at the Adelphi Theatre before going on a second tour. She also sang the title role of ‘’Gay Rosalinda’’, an English version of Johann Strauss's ‘’Die Fledermaus
Die Fledermaus
Die Fledermaus is an operetta composed by Johann Strauss II to a German libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genée.- Literary sources :...
’’, at the Palace Theatre, for four weeks in 1945, but was replaced by another soprano who invested in the show.
After the war Vayne toured Scandinavia, singing at China Variety Theatre in Stockholm, the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen and elsewhere. In 1949 she was invited to sing Fevronia in ‘’The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh’’ by Rimsky-Korsakov at the Liceu in Barcelona. In 1951 she sang Leonora in ‘’Il trovatore’’ for Welsh National Opera, and in autumn 1952 Vayne sang her first Tosca, to the Scarpia of Tito Gobbi
Tito Gobbi
Tito Gobbi was an Italian operatic baritone with an international reputation.-Biography:Tito Gobbi was born in Bassano del Grappa and studied law at the University of Padua before he trained as a singer. Giulio Crimi, a well-known Italian tenor of a previous generation, was Gobbi's teacher in Rome...
in the Italian Opera Company’s production. The company returned in May 1953, when she sang Leonora in ‘’La forza del destino’’ with Carlo Bergonzi
Carlo Bergonzi
Carlo Bergonzi is an Italian operatic tenor. Although he performed and recorded some bel canto and verismo roles, he is above all associated with the operas of Giuseppe Verdi, including a large number of the composer's lesser-known works that he helped revive...
as Don Alvaro. In 1952 she married Igor Semiletoff (the marriage was later dissolved).
She had a long association with Eugene Iskoldoff, the impresario of the Italian Opera Company, who became her manager. She went to Italy to try her luck, and in 1954 sang Donna Anna in Dargomyzhky's The Stone Guest in Florence, and Tosca in Rome, Piacenza and Genoa, usually with success. She also sang Santuzza in ‘’Cavalleria rusticana’’ with Gigli
Beniamino Gigli
Beniamino Gigli was an Italian opera singer. The most famous tenor of his generation, he was renowned internationally for the great beauty of his voice and the soundness of his vocal technique. Music critics sometimes took him to task, however, for what was perceived to be the over-emotionalism...
as Turiddu at Rome. During the last years of the Italian Opera Company, which ended in 1956, Vayne sang Violetta in ‘’La traviata’’, Leonora in ‘’Il trovatore’’ and Tosca. She and Iskoldoff went to New York and then Hollywood to seek work but their money ran out and after Iskoldoff committed suicide Vayne was left destitute. She returned to London and became a secretary, and later a ceramic restorer.
In 1961 she went to New York with the Players' Theatre under the name of the Strollers. Eventually her first CD was issued, with arias from ‘’Prince Igor’’, ‘’The Queen of Spades’’ and ‘’Tosca’’ (Earl Okin
Earl Okin
Earl Okin is a London singer-songwriter, musician and comedian.Born in Carshalton, Surrey, he has lived in Notting Hill since he was 5 years old, holds a degree in philosophy from the University of Kent at Canterbury and worked as a schoolmaster for 11 years before going 'full time'.He was signed...
“rediscovered” this soprano and Preiser released two CD sets made from her old, private records and broadcast tapes).
'Kyra had been working alongside my mother at the local bank for over 20 years when I first discovered that she had been an opera singer. Amazed at hearing the quality of her version of Ernani Involami on a private lacquer 78rpm record, I was determined to have her recordings published. The first success was on a CD associated with The Record Collector magazine but, later on Otto Preiser of Preiser records, with help from some investment from some of Kyra's friends and fans, enabled the first full CD to be issued. Needless to say, people were amazed at the quality of her singing. Her comparative lack of career success was obviously due (when I heard her stories) to poor management. For instance, her manager had never even arranged a proper recording contract for her. Kyra was in fact one of the finest post-war operatic sopranos anywhere; far better, in my opinion, than Maria Callas, for instance. Her CDs sold well and she was memorably invited to Moscow for the passing of the millennium. I was delighted that she knew, by the time of her death, that she would be remembered' - Earl Okin.
Later she recorded (at the age of 81) a disc of songs and operetta pieces, and wrote her autobiography, ‘’A Voice Reborn’’ (1999).
She appeared on Desert Island Discs
Desert Island Discs
Desert Island Discs is a BBC Radio 4 programme first broadcast on 29 January 1942. It is the second longest-running radio programme , and is the longest-running factual programme in the history of radio...
on 24 March 1996, choosing a culinary book and peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
and treats to tame animals and birds.
Autobiography and discography
- 1999 A Voice Reborn. London: Arcadia Books ISBN 1-900850-27-3 (with Andrew Palmer)
- Kyra Vayne (Preiser 89996)
- Kyra Vayne, Volume 2 (Preiser 89993)
- Kyra Vayne (Eklipse EKR-P-16)
- Nostalgia with Kyra Vayne (Eklipse EKR-P-19)