Leila Megane
Encyclopedia
Leila Megane was a Welsh
mezzo-soprano
opera
singer.
Born Margaret Jones in Bethesda
, Wales
, she married T. Osborne Roberts (1879–1948), a composer. She sang in Paris
, Milan
, Rome
, New York
, and London
.
On 11 October 1922, she made the first complete recording of Sir Edward Elgar's
Sea Pictures
with Elgar himself conducting. On 12 November 1945, she gave her farewell concert
in Pwllheli
Town Hall.
The following are compilations that include performances by Megane.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
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...
opera
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.
Born Margaret Jones in Bethesda
Bethesda, Wales
Bethesda is a town lying on the River Ogwen and the A5 road on the edge of Snowdonia, in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, colloquially called Pesda by the locals.- History :...
, Wales
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...
, she married T. Osborne Roberts (1879–1948), a composer. She sang in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and 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...
.
On 11 October 1922, she made the first complete recording of Sir Edward Elgar's
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
Sea Pictures
Sea Pictures
Sea Pictures, Op. 37 is a song cycle by Sir Edward Elgar consisting of five songs written by various poets. It was set for contralto and orchestra, though a distinct version for piano was often performed by Elgar...
with Elgar himself conducting. On 12 November 1945, she gave her farewell concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
in Pwllheli
Pwllheli
Pwllheli is a community and the main market town of the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, north-western Wales. It has a population of 3,861, of which a large proportion, 81 per cent, are Welsh speaking. Pwllheli is the place where Plaid Cymru was founded. It is the birthplace of Albert Evans-Jones -...
Town Hall.
Recordings
- Various composers: ElgarEdward ElgarSir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
, T Osborne Roberts, Leila Megane Sain SCD2316
The following are compilations that include performances by Megane.
- BantockGranville BantockSir Granville Bantock was a British composer of classical music.-Biography:Granville Ransome Bantock was born in London. His father was a Scottish doctor. He was intended by his parents for the Indian Civil Service but was drawn into the musical world. His first teacher was Dr Gordon Saunders at...
"Lament Of Isis" from Songs Of Egypt Bantock: Historical Recordings Dutton Laboratories CDLX7043 - ElgarEdward ElgarSir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
, Sea PicturesSea PicturesSea Pictures, Op. 37 is a song cycle by Sir Edward Elgar consisting of five songs written by various poets. It was set for contralto and orchestra, though a distinct version for piano was often performed by Elgar...
Unidentified Orchestra, Edward ElgarEdward ElgarSir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
The Elgar Edition GEMMCDS 9951–5 (Pavilion Records) - T Osborne Roberts "Pistyll y llan" Darlun Fy Mam Sain SCDC2109
Books
- James E W, "Osborne Druan!": Gohebiaeth R. Williams Parry a Leila Megane, Taliesin 99 (1997) 32-52 ISSN 0049-2884
- Jones, Ilid Anne, Leila Megane 1891-1960 - Anwylyn Cenedl, Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 2002, ISBN 0-86381-743-2
External links
- Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru (The National Library of Wales) Archives
- BBC Wales Y gantores ysbrydegol: Llyfr am Leila Megane yn dwyn atgofion (Welsh language, includes pictures)
- Sain potted biography (Bilingual site: Click English for English version or Cymraeg for Welsh version]
- Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru (The National Library of Wales) (first of a series of five photographs)
- National Museum Wales (catalogue details of portrait by Frederick Samuel Beaumont)