|
Bertha May Crawford (June 20, 1886 - May 26, 1937) was a Canadian opera singer. She built an international reputation as a lyric coloratura soprano in the early 20th century in eastern Europe, performing prima donna roles with opera companies in Russia and Poland between 1914 and 1934. At her death in 1937, music critics considered her the most distinguished soprano produced in that century in Canada.〔Canadian Prima Donna Dead. (1937, May 29). ''The Leader Post'', Regina, Saskatchewan, p.2.〕 She is remembered as having "a high lyric soprano of great beauty and agility" and was most famous for her performances as Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Violetta in La traviata, and Gilda in Rigoletto.〔McPherson, James B. "Crawford, Bertha".()''The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada''.〕 ==Early days in Canada== Crawford was born in the small rural community of Elmvale, Ontario in 1886, the second daughter of John Crawford, a tailor of Scottish Presbyterian descent, and Maud Robertson.〔Ontario Census, 1901 and 1911〕 She grew up singing in trios and quartets with her parents and older sister.〔Canadian Girl Sings Opera in Petrograd. (1915, September 22). ''Christian Science Monitor'' p.4.〕 The Crawford family moved to Toronto just after the turn of the century where Bertha became a student of Edward W. Schuch, Choirmaster at the Church of the Redeemer (Toronto).〔Lock, William. "Schuch, Edward" ()''The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada''.〕 In the early part of the decade, Crawford performed as a solo soprano in local church concerts, benefits and entertainments in Toronto. In 1904, aged 18, she sang at a benefit for the Willard Home for Girls at the Guild Hall〔For the Willard Home. (1904, August 24). ''The Globe, Toronto'', p.12.〕 and by 1905 she was the lead soprano at the Erskine Presbyterian Church.〔Mr. E.W. Schuch - Voice Culture and Expression in Singing. (1905, September 5). ''Toronto Daily Star'', p.19〕 In 1906 she was appointed to sing at the Sherbourne Street Methodist Church. She sang on the stage of Massey Hall at a fundraiser for the Grace Hospital in 1905 〔Music and the drama. (1905, January 21). ''The Globe, Toronto'', p. 10.〕 and at a meeting of the Canadian Temperance League in 1906.〔Sunday at Massey Hall. (1906, November 3). ''The Globe, Toronto'', p. 13.〕 In 1907 she was the "chief triumph" in a production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance put on by the E.W. Schuch Opera Singers,〔An Operatic Month. (1907). ''Musical Canada'', 2(1), p.33.〕 and in November 1907 she entertained at the annual concert of the Loyal Orange County Lodge of Toronto at Massey Hall.〔Music and the Drama. (1907, November 6). ''The Globe, Toronto'', p. 12.〕 During the summer of 1907 she appeared at the Jamestown Exposition in Norfolk, Virginia,〔At the Theatres. (1909, November 6). ''Brandon Daily Sun'', p.4〕 and she toured briefly with a concert party on the lyceum circuit in the southern United States in the spring of 1907. From 1908 when she was only 21, Crawford achieved the pinnacle of church singing in Canada, signing annual contracts for three years as a soprano soloist with the Metropolitan Methodist Church of Toronto, one of the most prominent Protestant churches in the country. She also performed in other churches, for instance in October 1909 she was one of the 'professional talent' who performed at a concert at the Victoria Presbyterian Church in Toronto,.〔Parkhurst, E.R. (1909, October 22). Music and Drama. ''The Globe, Toronto'', p.14.〕 In the latter part of the decade she began to travel extensively as a performer. During the fall and winter of 1909-10 and 1910–11, Crawford joined the H. Ruthven MacDonald Concert Party for five-month tours of the cities and small towns of western Canada. Crawford sang solos and performed duets with baritone MacDonald, while Mrs. MacDonald accompanied on the piano and an elocutionist provided complementary interludes. The company criss-crossed the Prairie Provinces appearing in halls, churches and theatres in communities from Winnipeg, Manitoba,〔Music and Drama. (1910, November 1). ''Manitoba Free Press'', p.9.〕 to places like Lethbridge,〔Theatrical. (1911, January 28). ''Lethbridge Daily Herald'', p.8.〕 Red Deer,〔Local and General. (1911, January 18). ''Red Deer News''.〕 Crossfield,〔Local and General. (1911, January 6). ''Crossfield Chronicle''.〕 Claresholm〔Ruthven MacDonald Coming. (1911, January 19). ''Claresholm Review''.〕 and Frank, in Alberta.〔Happenings in and Around Frank. (1911, April 27). ''Blairmore Enterprise''.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bertha May Crawford」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|