David Ffrangcon-Davies

David Ffrangcon-Davies

David Ffrangcon-Davies, M.A. (Oxon) (11 December 1855 — 13 April 1918) was a Welsh operatic baritone.

Contents

Early life and education

David Thomas Davies was born in Bethesda, Gwynedd. He later adapted the name Ffrangcon, an early variant spelling of the nearby valley Nant Ffrancon, as part of his new surname (Ffrangcon-Davies).[1] He attended Friars School, Bangor and Jesus College, Oxford, matriculating in 1876 and graduating with a BA in 1881. His time at Oxford was not without its difficulties, however. During his first two years, his "battels" were "more than once" the highest in the college and he was warned in 1878 that if he was "idle or irregular" in the following term or if he failed to pass his examinations that term, he would lose his exhibition.

In June 1880, it was recorded that he had failed his Schools (final examinations) for the second time, a summons had been taken out against him for 'furious driving' and a judgment for debt had been entered against him in the Chancellor's Court. He was allowed one final chance to pass his exams, provided that he did not return to college until the time for the exam; he passed.[2]

He was ordained a clergyman and was appointed curate at Llanaelhaearn in 1884 and then at Conwy in 1885. While at Conwy he studied the organ with Roland Rogers. He was unable to secure the post of minor canon at Bangor cathedral, and so he decided to concentrate on a singing career. He became a curate at S. Mary's, Hoxton, London, where he was permitted to pursue his music studies.

Musical career

Ffrangcon-Davies' musical interest had begun at an early age under his father's guidance. While at S. Mary's, he studied under the tenor (not the bard) William Shakespeare.

In 1888, he began to sing professionally in concerts in Cardiff. He soon joined the Carl Rosa Opera Company and made his operatic debut in the part of the herald in Wagner's Lohengrin. His greatest success was in the title role of Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah, which he sang for the first time in 1890 at the Horringham, Yorkshire, music festival.

In the late 1890s, Davies toured the U.S. and Germany. He then moved to Berlin to sing and teach singing. In 1901 he again visited the U.S. to sing and lecture. In 1904 he was appointed professor of singing at the Royal Academy of Music in Britain and published a book on vocal training, The Singing of the Future, in 1905.[3]

Family

In 1889, he married Annie Francis Rayner. His daughter was actress Dame Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies (1891-1992), whose career spanned more than seven decades.

References

  1. ^ Martial Rose (2003) Forever Juliet: The Life and Letters of Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies, 1891-1992
  2. ^ Baker, J. N. L. (1971). Jesus College Oxford 1571–1971. Oxonian Press Ltd., Oxford. p. 77. ISBN 0-9502164-0-2. 
  3. ^ Ffrangcon-Davies, David Thomas. The Singing of the Future, (1905, J. Lane), accessed 11 March 2008

External links

Books


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • David Ffrangcon Davies — David Thomas Ffrangcon Davies (11 December 1855 13 April 1918) was a Welsh operatic baritone.Early life and educationDavies was born in Bethesda, Gwynedd. He took the name Ffrangcon , an early variant spelling of the nearby valley Nant Ffrancon… …   Wikipedia

  • Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies — hacia 1933, pintada por Philip Alexius de László Nombre real Gwen Lucy Ffrangcon Davies Nacimiento 25 de enero …   Wikipedia Español

  • Gwen Ffrangcon Davies — 1933, porträtiert von Philip Alexius de László Dame Gwen Lucy Ffrangcon Davies, DBE, (* 25. Januar 1891 in London; † 27. Januar 1992 in Stambourne, Essex) war eine britische Theater und Filmschauspielerin …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies — Dame Gwen Lucy Ffrangcon Davies, DBE (25 January 1891 ndash; 27 January 1992) was a British actress and centenarian.Gwen Ffrangcon Davies was born in London of a Welsh family; the name Ffrangcon originates from a valley in Snowdonia. Her parents… …   Wikipedia

  • David Davies — may refer to: Contents 1 Politics 2 Arts entertainment 3 Sportsmen …   Wikipedia

  • Davies — Family name Region of origin England/Wales Related names Davis, Davey Footnotes: [1] Davies is a spelling variation of the patronym …   Wikipedia

  • Ben Davies (tenor) — Ben Davies (January 6 1858 ndash; March 28 1943) was a Welsh tenor singer, who appeared in opera with the Carl Rosa Opera Company, in operetta and light opera, and on the concert and oratorio platform. He was spoken of as a successor of Edward… …   Wikipedia

  • Louise Kirkby Lunn — (b. Manchester, 8 November 1873, d. London 17 February 1930) was an English contralto singer (sometimes called a mezzo soprano), one of the leading English born singers of the period 1900–1920, admired in concert, oratorio and opera. Training… …   Wikipedia

  • John Coates (tenor) — John Coates (b Girlington, Bradford June 29, 1865, d. Northwood, August 16, 1941) was a leading English tenor, who sang in opera and oratorio and on the concert platform. Training and career as baritone Coates came of a musical family on both… …   Wikipedia

  • Rutland Boughton — who became well known in the early 20th century as a composer of opera and choral music. A pupil of Charles Villiers Stanford and Walford Davies, Boughton s output included three symphonies, several concertos, part songs, songs, chamber music and …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”