Lois Marshall
Encyclopedia
Lois Catherine Marshall, CC
(January 29, 1924 – February 19, 1997) was a Canadian
soprano
.
In 1967, she was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
. She was a Graduate of the University of Toronto
.
Lois Marshall enjoyed a long career, primarily as a concert and recital singer, first as a soprano and later as a mezzo-soprano. She recorded extensively and in a very wide repertoire. Especially prized are the live recordings, which provide something of the vitality and warmth she radiated on those occasions. The life-long effects of childhood polio
severely limited her mobility, especially in later years. Nevertheless, she appeared occasionally on opera stages and in televised opera, including Boston productions especially staged for her by Sarah Caldwell
. Her final performances in opera were as the old nurse in Eugene Onegin
, in both Ottawa and Toronto. Early fame came with appearances and recordings with Toscanini and Beecham. For many years, she toured as the soprano soloist in the Bach Aria Group, and sang in annual Toronto performances of Messiah and St. Matthew Passion under Sir Ernest MacMillan
and successive conductors of the Toronto Symphony.
Much of Lois Marshall's recorded legacy is held in the archives of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
. Little of it, however, has been released.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(January 29, 1924 – February 19, 1997) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
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...
.
In 1967, she was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. She was a Graduate of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.
Lois Marshall enjoyed a long career, primarily as a concert and recital singer, first as a soprano and later as a mezzo-soprano. She recorded extensively and in a very wide repertoire. Especially prized are the live recordings, which provide something of the vitality and warmth she radiated on those occasions. The life-long effects of childhood polio
Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route...
severely limited her mobility, especially in later years. Nevertheless, she appeared occasionally on opera stages and in televised opera, including Boston productions especially staged for her by Sarah Caldwell
Sarah Caldwell
Sarah Caldwell was a notable American opera conductor, impresario, and stage director of opera.- Life :Caldwell was born in Maryville, Missouri, and grew up in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She was a child prodigy and gave public performances on the violin by the time she was ten years old...
. Her final performances in opera were as the old nurse in Eugene Onegin
Eugene Onegin (opera)
Eugene Onegin, Op. 24, is an opera in 3 acts , by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto was written by Konstantin Shilovsky and the composer and his brother Modest, and is based on the novel in verse by Alexander Pushkin....
, in both Ottawa and Toronto. Early fame came with appearances and recordings with Toscanini and Beecham. For many years, she toured as the soprano soloist in the Bach Aria Group, and sang in annual Toronto performances of Messiah and St. Matthew Passion under Sir Ernest MacMillan
Ernest MacMillan
Sir Ernest Alexander Campbell MacMillan, CC was an internationally renowned Canadian orchestral conductor and composer, and Canada's only "Musical Knight". He is widely regarded as being Canada's pre-eminent musician, from the 1920s through the 1950s...
and successive conductors of the Toronto Symphony.
Partial discography
Dates in parentheses are the dates of recording.- Arias, CBC PSCD 2001 (1956–1959).
- Bach, Johann Sebastian. Cantata 51 and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Exsultate Jubilate, Toronto Symphony, MacMillan (cond.), Hallmark, CS2 (1953/1954).
- Bach, Johann Sebastian. Mass in B Minor, Redel (cond.) Philips 438 739-2.
- Bach, Johann Sebastian. St. Matthew Passion, Toronto Symphony, MacMillan (cond.), Beaver Records, LPS 002 (1953).
- Beethoven, Ludwig van. Missa Solemnis, NBC Symphony, Toscanini (cond.), RCA (1953).
- Celebrity Recital, Lois Marshall, Radio Canada International RCI 427 (1974).
- Elwell, Herbert. Pastorale, Toronto Symphony, MacMillan (cond.), Hallmark, CS1 (1953).
- Folksongs of the British Isles, Marquis MAR 102 (1983).
- Handel, George Frideric. Messiah, Toronto Symphony, MacMillan (cond.), Beaver Records, LPS 001 (1952).
- Handel, George Frideric. Solomon, Royal Philharmonic, Beecham (cond.), [EMI] (1955–1956).
- Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Royal Philharmonic, Beecham (cond.), EMI (1957).
- Schubert, Franz. Die schöne Müllerin, CBC PSCD 2010 (1976).
- Schubert, Franz. Winterreise, CBC PSCD 2011 (1979).
- Schumann, Robert. A Schumann Recital, CBC (1978).
- Strauss, Richard. Vier letzte Lieder, Sony SM2K 526674.
Much of Lois Marshall's recorded legacy is held in the archives of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
. Little of it, however, has been released.