An array of the island’s singers and musicians will join forces to pay tribute to the renowned professional soprano Margaret Curphey.
The most eminent Manx singer of the last half century passed away in March this year at the age of 86.
St Andrew’s Church in Douglas will host the event on November 1 at 7.30pm with a programme of light music for all tastes, including excerpts from Margaret’s stellar career.
Margaret Curphey
Her career began from an early age when she quickly emerged as not only one to watch, but a future opera star whose rich, soaring soprano voice would soon be heard on some of the world’s most prestigious operatic stages.
Studying for many years with respected local singing teacher Douglas Buxton, it was a period in which she won the coveted Cleveland Medal and Blackpool Rose Bowl – the ‘blue eyed 17-year-old’ was named the outstanding performer during her debut at the Blackpool Music Festival.
Margaret did decide to study at the Birmingham School of Music but those studies were cut short after she was invited to join English Arts Council’s Opera for All tour in 1963.
After such a breakthrough, rave reviews for her vocal talents followed wherever she went.
An invitation to join the Glyndebourne chorus, where she understudied Montserrat Caballe, followed after which she became a principal artist at Sadlers Wells Opera (later English National Opera).
Acclaimed Performances
In 1970, she was sponsored to take part in the International Competition for Young Singers in Bulgaria, and become associated with the work of Wagner.
Under the inspirational direction of Sir Reginald Goodall, Margaret gave the world a series of Wagner performances acclaimed as a landmark in British operatic history.
Throughout her career, the soprano also made several recordings, including a complete “Ring Cycle” in English and “The Mastersingers”.
Although she and her family returned to the Island to live in 1980, Margaret remained very much in demand and performances continued (a number with English National Opera North), including in the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Singapore and Reykjavik, a number of which were recorded by the BBC.
At her official retirement concert in 1994 at the Erin Arts Centre in Port Erin she performed with renowned Heldentenor Alberto Remedios, and her fine baritone husband Philip Summerscales.
During the concert, which will be attended by the Lieutenant Governor and Lady Lorimer, there will be a collection with all proceeds and donations going to the local ‘Forget Me Not’ dementia charity.
3 Comments