Sheridan, Margaret Burke

OPERA SINGER (IRELAND)
BORN 15 Oct 1889, Castlebar, Mayo - DIED 16 Apr 1958, Dublin
CAUSE OF DEATH cancer
GRAVE LOCATION Dublin: Glasnevin Cemetery

The soprano Margaret Sheridan received singing lessons at the school of the Dominican Convent in Eccles Street, Dublin. Vincent O'Brien taught her as well. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London from 1909 to 1911. there she met Guglielmo Marconi, with whose help she auditioned for Alfredo Martino in 1916. In 1918 she debuted at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome in Puccini's "La Bohème".

In 1919 she was Iris in Mascagni's "Iris" at Covent Garden. In Italy she performed Puccini parts in Milan and Naples and in 1922 Toscanini conducted her at La Scala in Catalani's "La Wally". She often sang Madame Butterfly in Italy as well as England and reputedly Puccini himself was much impressed by her performance.

She withdrew from singing in 1930 because of problems with her voice, although she performed at several concerts afterwards. She lived for many years at an appartment in Dublin and when she died in Dublin in 1958 she was almost forgotten.

Events
26/4/1923Premiere of Respighi's opera "Belgafor" at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan. The libretto was written by his friend Claudio Guastalla, based on the play "Belgagor" by Ercole Luigi Morselli. Antonio Guarnieri was the conductor and Vittorio Rota was the set designer. Performers were Mariano Stabile, Gaetano Azzolini, Anna Gramegna, Margaret Sheridan, Thea Vitulli, Cesira Ferrari, Francesco Merli and Ida Mannarini. [Respighi, Ottorino]

Images

The grave of Margaret Burke Sheridan at Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.
Picture by Androom (19 Aug 2016)

 

Sources
Margaret Burke Sheridan - Wikipedia


Sicard von Sicardsburg, August

Published: 05 May 2019
Last update: 20 Apr 2022