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Margaret Price
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Margaret Price
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Price as Elisabetta in Verdi's Don Carlo at the Metropolitan Opera in 1989.
Margaret Price singing the Welsh folk song Wrth Fynd Efo Deio i Dywyn [cy] (extract)

Dame Margaret Berenice Price DBE (13 April 1941 – 28 January 2011[1]) was a Welsh soprano.

Early years

[edit]

Price was born in Blackwood, near Caerphilly in South Wales. Born with deformed legs, she underwent surgery at age four and suffered pain in her legs for the rest of her life. She often looked after her younger brother John, who was born with a mental handicap.[2] The family had ties in Cardigan and north Pembrokeshire and often spent their summer holiday in Moylgrove.[3]

Her father, a talented amateur pianist, was opposed to a musical career, and hence she never attended an eisteddfod and was aiming for a career as a biology teacher. She was educated at Pontllanfraith Secondary School, near Caerphilly. When she was 15, her school music teacher organised an audition with Charles Kennedy Scott, who persuaded her to study with him at Trinity College of Music in London and obtained a scholarship for her. Over the next few years Price trained as a mezzo-soprano.[2][4]

Career

[edit]

After graduation, she joined the Ambrosian Singers, performing with them on the soundtrack of the 1961 Charlton Heston film El Cid.[2] She remained only briefly with that ensemble and later admitted to having struggled somewhat during her time with that group due to her inadequate skills at sight-singing.[5]

Unrecognised through the normal channel of competitions, she was championed by her now-converted father, who wrote to opera houses to arrange auditions. As a result, Price made her operatic debut in 1962, singing Cherubino in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro at the Welsh National Opera.[2]

After her father wrote to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden in 1962, she auditioned and was turned down twice by musical director Georg Solti who said that she "lacked charm".[2] However, she was accepted as an understudy, thanks to casting director Joan Ingpen, and she formed of a close personal and professional relationship with pianist and conductor James Lockhart. Solti added a rider to her contract, stating that she should never expect to sing lead in the main house, so she sang minor roles as a mezzo.[2] Her breakthrough came in 1963 when Teresa Berganza cancelled a performance and Price got the chance to take over as her nominated understudy, again in the role of Cherubino, a performance that made her famous overnight.[4]

After that, Lockhart convinced Price to take further singing lessons to improve her technique and develop the luminous high range that made her one of the most popular lyric sopranos of the 1970s and 1980s.[6]

In 1967, she performed with Benjamin Britten's English Opera Group in Mozart's The Impresario, and as Titania in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream. In 1968, critic Desmond Shawe-Taylor called her singing "brilliant, flexible and large scale" as Constanze in Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail at Glyndebourne.[2]

As Price did not enjoy travelling, she always kept a "home" stage, where she stayed and performed for the majority of each year. Initially this was Covent Garden, but from 1971 she made Germany her base, initially at Cologne Opera where she made her debut in Don Giovanni, and latterly the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, where she lived until retirement in 1999.[4] Price hence formed a professional relationship with Otto Klemperer, who conducted her first recording of a major role in a complete opera – Fiordiligi in Mozart's Così fan tutte. The 1972 recording established Price as a Mozart specialist.[7]

In the years that followed, Price appeared as a guest at important opera houses. Her Metropolitan Opera debut came in 1985 as Desdemona in Verdi's Otello. In 1989 she appeared in the WNO production of Salome at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, in a performance attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales.[8]

Repertoire

[edit]

Price was most famous for her Mozart roles, especially Fiordiligi, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro (after having sung Cherubino and Barbarina at the beginning of her career), and Pamina in The Magic Flute. Additionally, she sang Verdi roles, such as Amelia (Un ballo in maschera, a role she also recorded with Luciano Pavarotti), Élisabeth (Don Carlos) and Desdemona (Otello), her debut role at the Met, as well as the title role in Aida (also with Pavarotti in San Francisco, which was preserved on video), Richard Strauss's Ariadne (Ariadne auf Naxos) and Adriana Lecouvreur by Cilea. Price was also very active as a lieder singer, equally at home in the romantic idiom of Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann or Richard Strauss and the Second Viennese School. [citation needed]

During her career, Price made many recordings of operas and of lieder. One of her most famous recordings is as Isolde in Carlos Kleiber's complete recording of Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, a role she never sang on stage. She was a Kammersängerin of the Bavarian State Opera.

Later years

[edit]

Price retired to a 160-year-old farmhouse on Ceibwr Bay, part of Moylegrove near Cardigan, Ceredigion, overlooking Cardigan Bay. From there, she successfully bred and showed Golden Retrievers, having the rear seats of her Chrysler removed to create what she termed a "dogmobile."[2] She came out of retirement once to perform at a Remembrance Day concert at her local church, something she later commented on: “It was the most nerve-racking occasion of my life. Never again will I sing in public.”[2]

Death

[edit]

Price died on 28 January 2011 from heart failure at her home in Ceibwr, near Cardigan, aged 69.[2][3][4]

Honours

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Margaret Price

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Dame Margaret Berenice Price DBE (13 April 1941 – 28 January 2011) was a opera singer renowned for her interpretations of roles in and operas, as well as her lieder recitals. Born in Blackwood, , to Thomas Glyn Price and Lilian Myfanwy Price (née Richards), she initially trained as a at Trinity College of Music in under Charles Scott, following her education at Pontllanfraith Secondary School. Price made her professional operatic debut in 1962 as Cherubino in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro with the Welsh National Opera; in 1963, she substituted for at House, . Her American debut followed in 1969 as Pamina in Die Zauberflöte with the , and she became a principal at the in from 1981 until her retirement in 1999. Notable performances included her 1985 Metropolitan Opera debut as in Verdi's , and she was celebrated for roles such as Fiordiligi in Mozart's , Amelia in Verdi's , and a recorded Isolde in Wagner's under in 1982. Throughout her career, Price recorded extensively in opera and lieder, earning acclaim for her smooth, sensuous and musical sincerity, which positioned her among the world's leading sopranos. She received the CBE in 1982 and was appointed DBE in 1993 for her contributions to music. After retiring, she returned to live near Ceibwr Bay on the coast in , where she passed away from at age 69.

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Family Background

Margaret Price was born on 13 April 1941 in Blackwood, a small town near in , into a working-class family. Her parents were Thomas Glyn Price, a skilled , and Lilian Myfanwy Richards, who supported the household in the industrious yet challenging environment of post-Depression . The family home was filled with music, as her father's pianism provided an early soundtrack to her youth, though he initially opposed her pursuing a performance career, favoring a stable profession like teaching. Price's early years were marked by significant personal responsibilities and health struggles that shaped her resilience. She often cared for her younger brother John, who was born with a mental handicap, a role that instilled in her a strong sense of duty and empathy from a young age. Born with leg deformities, she underwent multiple surgeries, including a painful operation at age four to correct the malformations, which limited her mobility and caused throughout her life. Despite these challenges, her determination remained undiminished, and the physical constraints did not hinder her budding interest in music. Her initial exposure to vocal performance came through educational settings in Pontllanfraith. She sang at school, nurturing her natural talent and love for the voice. These formative experiences in the tight-knit Welsh communities laid the groundwork for her musical development, even as she initially aspired to become a teacher.

Musical Training and Early Influences

Margaret Price attended Pontllanfraith Secondary School near , where her musical talent was first recognized by her school music teacher, who encouraged her pursuit of vocal studies despite her initial ambition to become a biology teacher. At the age of 15, this teacher arranged an audition for her at Trinity College of Music in , leading to her acceptance into the institution. In 1956, Price was awarded a scholarship to study at Trinity College of Music, where she trained from 1956 to 1962 under the guidance of Charles Kennedy Scott, the college's founder and a prominent choral conductor. Initially, her vocal training focused on mezzo-soprano repertoire, as her lower register was more developed at the time, reflecting the practical assessment of her voice during her early years of study. During this period, Scott's emphasis on choral and ensemble singing provided a solid foundation in musicianship, while her exposure to diverse vocal techniques began shaping her approach to phrasing and breath control. As her studies progressed, Price's voice developed greater agility in the upper register, prompting a gradual shift toward repertoire, though the full transition occurred under further coaching after leaving . This evolution was supported by her participation in early competitions, where she earned notable prizes including the Elisabeth Schumann Prize, the Ricordi Prize, and the from the Worshipful of Musicians, which bolstered her confidence and provided essential financial assistance for her training. These achievements highlighted her emerging potential and helped sustain her dedication to vocal development amid the challenges of transitioning voice types.

Professional Career

Debut and Rise in the UK

Margaret Price made her professional operatic debut on October 13, 1962, at the age of 21, portraying Cherubino in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro with the Welsh National Opera (WNO) in . This trouser role marked her entry into the professional stage, following her training as a at the Trinity College of Music in , where her voice had begun to show signs of developing into a range. The performance was well-received, highlighting her youthful energy and musicality, and it secured her further opportunities within British opera circles. Her breakthrough came in 1963 at the Royal Opera House, , where she stepped in at short notice to sing Cherubino again, replacing the indisposed during a revival of the same production. This emergency substitution, arranged after her father persistently contacted the house on her behalf, impressed the management and led to a contract with the company, despite initial rejections during auditions. The success prompted engagements with the English Opera Group starting in 1967, where she performed roles such as in Benjamin Britten's and parts in 's and . She also returned to the WNO for additional roles, solidifying her presence in the UK opera scene. Throughout the late 1960s, Price expanded her repertoire with the WNO and Covent Garden, taking on soprano leads that showcased her evolving vocal technique, including Dorabella in Mozart's Così fan tutte in 1968 and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte in 1969 with the WNO, as well as Pamina at Covent Garden in 1968. These performances established her as a rising lyric soprano, praised for her pure tone and expressive phrasing in Mozartian roles. Initially typecast in mezzo-soprano trouser roles like Cherubino due to her training and lower register, Price overcame this by leveraging her voice's natural lightening and bloom, transitioning successfully to higher lyric parts without forcing her technique. This shift, supported by mentors like conductor James Lockhart, allowed her to build momentum in the UK through tours and ensemble work, setting the stage for broader recognition by the early 1970s.

International Engagements and Major Debuts

In 1971, Margaret Price relocated to , establishing her base at the Opera where she debuted as Donna Anna in Mozart's and served as a resident soprano, performing key roles in operas by and that highlighted her lyric soprano's purity and agility. This move marked the beginning of her expansion into , building on her emerging reputation from engagements to secure invitations to prestigious houses. Price's European debuts further solidified her international stature. She made her Vienna State Opera debut in 1973, followed by appearances at the that same year as the Countess in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro. At in Milan, she debuted as Fiordiligi in Mozart's , a role that showcased her interpretive depth in Mozartian repertoire. Her debut came in 1975 as Konstanze in , with subsequent returns for operatic and recital performances. She also debuted at the in 1972 as Amelia in Verdi's and was later honored as Kammersängerin there, recognizing her enduring contributions to the company's repertory. Price's transatlantic breakthrough occurred with her United States debut at the in 1969 as Pamina in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, though her most significant American milestone was her debut on January 21, 1985, as in Verdi's , praised for its vocal radiance despite a reserved stage presence. She returned to the Met in 1989 as Elisabetta in Don Carlo, reinforcing her command of Verdi heroines. Additional engagements included the Festival, where she performed Fiordiligi in 1971, extending her European festival presence.

Peak Career Highlights

During the 1980s and 1990s, Margaret Price established long-term artistic associations with several renowned conductors, which became hallmarks of her peak career period. She frequently collaborated with , including in the landmark 1980 production of Verdi's at House, , where she portrayed opposite , earning widespread acclaim for her poised and luminous interpretation. Her partnership with Kleiber extended to the studio recording of Wagner's in 1982, in which she took the role of Isolde—a part she never performed on stage—delivering a radiant and introspective performance that highlighted her lyrical strengths. Similarly, Price worked regularly with on operatic recordings, such as in and Amelia in , where her rich, even tone complemented Solti's dynamic interpretations. With , she appeared in Mozart's at the in 1987 as Donna Anna, contributing to a production noted for its dramatic intensity and her commanding vocal presence. Key milestones underscored Price's eminence in this era, particularly her Verdi interpretations and Mozart engagements. At , she excelled in Verdi roles during the . Her Mozart portrayals at the formed another pinnacle, with recurring appearances in complete cycles such as (1987) and earlier successes like Constanze in (1975 debut, with returns in the ), solidifying her reputation as a preeminent Mozart specialist through her crystalline and emotional depth. In the 1990s, despite eschewing Wagnerian stage roles to safeguard her vocal profile, Price participated in significant recording projects, including the in 1995 under Georges Prêtre, where her interpretive subtlety captured the cycle's introspective essence. Price's career spanned over 30 years of active performing from her 1962 debut, during which she adeptly balanced commitments at major opera houses like , the , and the with prestigious festival appearances at and elsewhere, maintaining a selective schedule that prioritized vocal sustainability. To preserve her voice's signature purity and evenness, she consciously avoided heavy roles, such as full-scale Wagner heroines on stage or taxing parts like , opting instead for lyric-leaning characterizations that allowed her instrument to flourish without strain. This approach contributed to her remarkable longevity, enabling performances into the late 1990s while upholding consistent artistic excellence. Amid these achievements, Price navigated professional challenges, particularly in reconciling her demanding international touring with family responsibilities. After the birth of her son in , she strategically chose engagements closer to her residence—where she lived for 18 years to facilitate work at the —and limited long-distance travel to prioritize maternal duties, often performing recitals or shorter runs that minimized disruption. Her selective role choices, informed by a deep awareness of vocal health, further exemplified this balance, as she declined opportunities that risked overtaxing her voice, ensuring sustained career vitality while managing personal life.

Artistic Contributions

Opera Repertoire

Margaret Price established herself as a leading lyric soprano through her discerning selection of opera roles, primarily drawn from the works of Mozart and Verdi, where her vocal purity and interpretive elegance shone. Her Mozart specialties included Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, a role she first recorded under Otto Klemperer in 1972 and performed widely, earning acclaim for her poised navigation of the character's emotional complexity and demanding coloratura. She also excelled as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, debuting the role in Cologne in 1971, where critics praised her commanding dramatic presence and seamless legato in the vengeance aria "Or sai chi l'onore." Pamina in Die Zauberflöte marked her San Francisco Opera debut in 1969, highlighting her ethereal tonal beauty in the prayer "Ach, ich fühl's," while her portrayal of the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro—first at the Paris Opera in 1973—demonstrated her refined phrasing and subtle emotional restraint. These roles underscored Price's affinity for Mozart's heroines, characterized by elegant phrasing and tonal purity that brought a sense of intimate vulnerability to the stage. In Verdi's repertoire, Price focused on lighter dramatic roles that allowed her to convey intense emotion without compromising her lyric vocal line, avoiding heavier Wagnerian parts on stage. Her Desdemona in Otello was particularly celebrated, with her 1985 Metropolitan Opera debut in the role lauded for its tragic depth and unstrained vocal power in the Willow Song and "Ave Maria," as noted by critic Tim Page for its "majesty and intimacy." She portrayed Elisabetta in Don Carlo at the Met in 1989, delivering the role's poignant dignity with warm timbre and precise articulation, and sang Aida at the San Francisco Opera in 1981 opposite Luciano Pavarotti, where her Nile aria showcased dramatic intensity balanced by lyrical grace. Other Verdi highlights included Amelia in Simon Boccanegra, emphasizing her ability to infuse noble restraint with heartfelt passion. Beyond and , Price's opera engagements were selective, encompassing occasional forays into other composers while maintaining a relatively narrow of around ten principal roles to preserve vocal . In , she took on Ariadne in , bringing a sensuous yet poised to the title character's , though she declined the Marschallin in despite invitations. She ventured into Puccini with , performing the role in select productions and recordings, where her "Vissi d'arte" conveyed raw vulnerability through controlled emotional delivery. Price's artistic approach centered on her attributes—a warm, pure timbre, precise coloratura, and disciplined emotional restraint—that prioritized textual clarity and musical line over overt dramatics, earning her a reputation for performances that illuminated character psychology with effortless vocal security.

Concert and Lieder Performances

Margaret Price was renowned for her commanding presence in orchestral concerts, where she excelled in major choral works of the Romantic and Baroque repertoires. She performed the soprano solo in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the under , delivering a performance noted for its radiant clarity and emotional depth. Similarly, in Mahler's Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection," she appeared with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by , as well as in a 1990 BBC Proms rendition led by Andrew Davis, where her interpretation of "Urlicht" conveyed profound serenity and spiritual uplift. Price also shone in Baroque oratorios and cantatas, including Bach's Wedding Cantata BWV 202 at the , showcasing her precise articulation and lyrical phrasing in the composer's intricate vocal lines. In the realm of German lieder, Price demonstrated exceptional versatility, particularly in the songs of Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms, where she was celebrated for her ability to capture the introspective nuances of these works. She presented recitals featuring Schubert's lieder, such as those from his song cycles, adapted for soprano voice, emphasizing the poet's melancholic imagery with delicate sensitivity. Her Schumann interpretations, including selections from , highlighted her command of narrative flow and emotional subtlety, while Brahms's lieder benefited from her warm, resonant timbre that evoked the composer's introspective warmth. Although is traditionally a tenor cycle, Price explored Schubert's broader lieder repertoire in recitals, adapting the intimate storytelling to her soprano range with remarkable expressiveness. Price's lieder and concert engagements often took place at prestigious venues, including multiple appearances at the starting from 1965, where she performed works by Mahler and Berlioz with the under conductors like . She gave acclaimed recitals at , such as a 1994 program of Mahler's , praised for its emotional directness. Collaborations with esteemed pianists were central to her lieder work; she frequently partnered with Geoffrey Parsons for Schubert, Mahler, and songs, their synergy enhancing the intimacy of these performances. Her vocal style in concerts and lieder emphasized a floating, that allowed for subtle dynamics and refined , contrasting with the fuller projection required in and enabling profound intimacy in smaller settings. This approach, described as possessing "majesty and intimacy," illuminated the human truths in lieder texts, with her phrasing and vulnerable expressiveness drawing listeners into the music's emotional core. Drawing from her operatic training, Price adapted her sensitivity to achieve a hushed, evocative quality in lieder, particularly evident in her nuanced handling of dynamic shifts in Schumann and Brahms.

Recordings and Discography

Margaret Price's recording career spanned over three decades, encompassing a wide range of operatic, symphonic, and lieder repertoire, primarily with major labels such as Decca, , and . Her discography includes more than 100 releases, reflecting her versatility as a and her commitment to both studio and live documentation of her performances. Among her key opera recordings, Price excelled in Mozart roles, notably as Fiordiligi in Otto Klemperer's 1972 EMI studio recording of , where her poised, radiant tone and technical precision in passages were widely praised for capturing the character's emotional depth. She also shone as Donna Anna in Carlo Maria Giulini's 1975 live recording (Paris Opera) of , delivering a portrayal marked by dramatic intensity and vocal agility, particularly in "Non mi dir," which highlighted her ability to convey both vulnerability and resolve. In Verdi's , Price recorded Desdemona opposite Carlo Cossutta in Solti's 1978 Decca studio set, her pure, ethereal in the "Willow Song" and "Ave Maria" underscoring the role's tragic innocence and earning acclaim for its lyrical beauty. Price's sole major foray into Wagner came with her portrayal of Isolde in Carlos Kleiber's 1982 studio recording of , a role she never performed onstage but which showcased her dramatic conviction and sustained line in the , demonstrating her capacity to navigate the 's demands despite her primary focus on lighter repertoire. Beyond , her lieder and recordings were equally distinguished; she collaborated frequently with Geoffrey Parsons on and Decca albums of Schubert songs, such as the 1974 Romantic Songs and a 2006 release of her 1987 live recital featuring lieder by Schubert, Mahler, and , where her interpretive sensitivity and even vocal production across registers were lauded. In symphonic works, Price's contributions to Mahler's Fourth Symphony under Jascha Horenstein (1970, Unicorn) and (1982, ) were notable for their childlike wonder and seamless integration with the orchestra, as in the heavenly finale of the former. Critics consistently praised Price's recordings for their vocal consistency and artistic impact over time, with Gramophone noting her "smooth but sensuous " and "alert sincerity" in a broad array of works, from arias to heroines, attributing her enduring appeal to a technique that preserved freshness across decades. Her opera discs, including live captures like the 1978 La Scala Don Carlo as Elisabetta di Valois with Domingo, further illustrated her interpretive depth and contributed to her reputation as a benchmark interpreter of and Romantic roles.

Later Career and Retirement

Final Professional Engagements

In the late 1990s, following the zenith of her career in the 1980s, Margaret Price adopted a more selective approach to her performances, focusing on cherished roles while based as a principal artist at the in . Notable engagements from this period included her portrayal of Norma at the House, , in 1987, a role that, though challenging, showcased her commitment to dramatic Verdi heroines despite vocal demands. She also returned to the in 1989 as Elisabetta in Verdi's Don Carlo, delivering a performance noted for its lyrical elegance and emotional depth. After several decades on stage, Price retired from operatic performances around 1999, having begun her career 37 years earlier with her 1962 debut as Cherubino. Her decision was influenced by increasing vocal strain and physical exhaustion, prompting her to step away to preserve the integrity of her instrument and embrace a quieter personal life. Price expressed no regrets about retiring roles she felt she had outgrown, emphasizing a deliberate over prolonged performance. Thereafter, she did not resume a full schedule, occasionally offering masterclasses but devoting herself primarily to non-professional pursuits.

Transition to Retirement

Following her final professional engagements on stage around 1999, Margaret Price relocated to a 150-year-old farmhouse overlooking Ceibwr Bay in , , seeking a quieter life by the coast. This move back to her native allowed her to step away from the demands of international performance schedules while remaining connected to the natural surroundings she valued. In the initial years of retirement, Price engaged in selective educational activities, teaching a few private students. She expressed a for such limited involvement over full-time teaching, viewing the latter as "not an enviable job," and limited her commitments accordingly. Post-retirement, Price focused on managing her vocal health through careful monitoring and rest, emphasizing discipline and control in her past practice to prevent overexertion—a principle she continued to uphold. She also bred and showed golden retrievers. In interviews, she reflected on her career with satisfaction, stating she had no regrets and felt proud of her achievements, while advising young singers to prioritize vocal technique, such as maintaining repertoire for flexibility, and to exercise restraint to sustain long-term health. She professed not to miss performing, approaching her transition with an unsentimental outlook on her professional legacy.

Personal Life and Legacy

Family, Health, and Interests

Price never married and had no children, choosing instead to balance her demanding career with deep familial commitments. From an early age, she assumed significant responsibilities at home, particularly in caring for her younger brother John, who was born with a mental handicap and required ongoing support throughout his life; John predeceased her several years before her own death. Price faced lifelong health challenges stemming from a congenital condition. Born with deformed legs, she underwent corrective at the age of four, an operation that caused persistent pain and mobility issues she endured for the remainder of her life, occasionally impacting her professional engagements. In her later years, she also contended with heart concerns, which ultimately contributed to her health decline. Beyond her musical pursuits, Price nurtured several personal interests that provided solace, particularly after her retirement to a seaside farmhouse in , , in 1999. She developed a passion for breeding and showing Golden Retrievers, maintaining several of the dogs at her home and integrating them into her daily routine; during her performing years, she even traveled with her pets, including to the . Her affinity for animals reflected a gentle, private side to her character, complementing her lifelong connection to Welsh heritage and rural life in her native region.

Death and Posthumous Recognition

Dame died of on 28 2011 at her home in Ceibwr, near Cardigan in , , aged 69. Her funeral service took place at Parcgwyn Crematorium in , where family, friends, and admirers gathered to pay their respects. News of her death prompted an outpouring of tributes from the opera community, emphasizing the profound impact of her luminous voice and interpretive depth. , where she had made her celebrated debut in 1963, acknowledged her as a transformative artist whose performances elevated Mozart and Verdi roles to new heights. The Welsh National Opera, her professional starting point in 1962, hailed her as a whose career inspired generations of Welsh performers. Plácido Domingo, her frequent collaborator in productions like Verdi's , praised her vocal beauty, recalling how her rich, floating tone brought unparalleled emotional intensity to their shared stage moments. Posthumous recognition came swiftly through memorial events and renewed interest in . That same year, BR Klassik released Great Singers Live: Margaret Price, a compilation of live radio broadcasts capturing her radiant performances from the 1970s and 1980s. Re-releases continued into 2012, including EMI Classics' remastered edition of her portrayal of Fiordiligi in Mozart's under , underscoring her mastery of the composer's lyric demands. In the 2020s, archival efforts have further preserved her contributions, with the digitizing select performances and broadcasts for online access via , and Decca expanding her catalog to digital streaming platforms, allowing contemporary listeners to experience her timeless artistry.

Honours and Awards

In recognition of her contributions to , Margaret Price was appointed of the (CBE) in 1982. She was promoted to Dame of the (DBE) in the 1993 , acknowledging three decades of distinguished service in music. Price received the title of Bayerische Kammersängerin from the in 1985, a prestigious honor bestowed on outstanding singers associated with the company. She was also named Kammersängerin by the , further affirming her status among Europe's leading lyric sopranos. Additionally, she was awarded an honorary fellowship by the in 1991. Throughout her career, Price earned several Grammy Award nominations in the Best Opera Recording category for her contributions to notable recordings, including Verdi's in 1988; although she did not secure a win, these nods highlighted the critical acclaim for her vocal performances.

References

  1. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jan/30/dame-margaret-price-obituary
  2. https://biography.wales/article/s14-PRIC-BER-1941
  3. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/music-obituaries/8291584/Dame-Margaret-Price.html
  4. https://www.naxos.com/Bio/Person/Margaret_Price/1889
  5. http://www.bruceduffie.com/price.html
  6. https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/margaret-price/
  7. https://catalogue.royalalberthall.com/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Persons&id=DS%252FUK%252F10726
  8. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/arts/music/01price.html
  9. http://operascotland.org/person/1741/Margaret-Price
  10. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-12315183
  11. https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/dame-margaret-price-opera-singer-noted-for-her-tonal-splendour-and-celebrated-for-her-mozart-and-verdi-interpretations-2201210.html
  12. https://www.opera.co.uk/features/the-price-of-perfection/
  13. https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/23/arts/opera-margaret-price-makes-met-debut-in-otello.html
  14. https://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/article/the-welsh-soprano-dame-margaret-price-has-died
  15. https://www.discogs.com/release/12538573-Beethoven-Margaret-Price-Marilyn-Horne-Jon-Vickers-Matti-Salminen-2-New-York-Choral-Artists-New-York
  16. https://www.amazon.com/LEOPOLD-STOKOWSKI-CONDUCTS-MAHLER-Multi-Channel/dp/B08TRS56S6
  17. https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/rnnp5v/series
  18. https://csoarchives.wordpress.com/tag/margaret-price/
  19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eujs8-rB8lw
  20. https://www.amazon.com/Margaret-Price-Lieder-Recital-Schubert/dp/B00006JC71
  21. https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/efzp6q
  22. https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7943367--dame-margaret-price-geoffrey-parsons
  23. https://www.discogs.com/artist/900180-Margaret-Price
  24. https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/artists/2528--dame-margaret-price
  25. https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/mozart-don-giovanni-32
  26. https://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/article/verdi-s-otello-a-guide-to-the-best-recordings
  27. https://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/article/wagner-s-tristan-und-isolde-the-opera-that-changed-music
  28. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/mar/10/classicalmusicandopera.art
  29. https://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/article/mahler-s-symphony-no-4-the-greatest-recordings
  30. https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-7248/
  31. https://operavision.org/2011/01/29/2932/
  32. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-12434340
  33. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tributes-to-dame-margaret-price-1861492
  34. https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/8832382.tributes-paid-to-dame-margaret-price/
  35. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/welsh-sopranos-voluptuous-voice-burnished-operas-classics/2011/01/31/ABmjAbE_story.html
  36. http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2011/Nov11/Price_900305.htm
  37. https://www.discogs.com/release/13229209-Mozart-Margaret-Price-Yvonne-Minton-Lucia-Popp-Luigi-Alva-Geraint-Evans-Hans-Sotin-John-Alldis-Choir
  38. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02vf65q
  39. https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/about-us/history/history/honorary-awards/
  40. https://www.grammy.com/awards/30th-annual-grammy-awards
  41. https://www.grammy.com/awards/29th-annual-grammy-awards
  42. https://www.grammy.com/awards/26th-annual-grammy-awards
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