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Home » Arts and Culture » Theatre and performing arts » Operas

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Extract from 'Blodwen', an opera by Joseph Parry, title page [image 1 of 12]
Playbill for the Swansea Theatre, 8 October 1856
  • This was the earliest letter from the pen of Mary Granville (1700-1788) (the future Mrs Delany) in the collections of Newport Library. On this page she records her thoughts on a trip to the opera. Mary Granville was born at Coulston, Wiltshire, the daugher of an aristocratic and influential family. She married Alexander Pendarves, an elderly MP in 1718 but he died in 1725 and Mary moved to London where she became a familiar face at public and social functions. In 1743 she married Patrick Delany, an Irish Anglican cleric. She died in 1788 at Windsor Castle. During her lifetime Mary had been a prolific writer of letter and corresponded regularly with her family and friends. Her letters were edited and published in six volumes in 1861-2 by Lady Llanover (Augusta Hall, ne้ Waddington) (1802-96) who was her great-niece.
Letter from Mary Granville to her sister, 29 November 1720 [page 1 of 3]
  • According to this publicity leaflet, the baritone singer David Evans was a pupil of Mr D. Ffrangcon-Davies. He was the winner of the Gilbert Betjemann Gold Medal for Opera and the Swansea Eisteddfod prize at the Royal Academy of Music, 1907.
Publicity material regarding the baritone, David Evans, c. 1910 [image 1 of 4]
  • According to this publicity leaflet, Miss Louis James, soprano, was a pupil of Mr D. Ffrangcon-Davies and Professor Iles. It is noted that she 'achieved a huge success in the title role of the opera 'Columba' (Sir Alex Mackenzie), and 'Ortrud' in Lohengrin; both at the Royal Academy Opera House.'
Publicity material regarding the soprano, Miss Louie James, c. 1910 [image 1 of 4]
  • Geraint Evans (1922-92) was born in William Street, Cilfynydd, near Pontypridd. He was principal baritone at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden between 1948 and 1984, and during a long and successful career sang at all the world's major venues making the role of Verdi's Falstaff his own and receiving special acclaim for his interpretation of leading roles in Mozart's operas. Several other musical talents have also risen from the area including Stuart Burrows (born in the same street as Sir Geraint), Gillian and Beverley Humphries, and the one and only Mr Tom Jones, from Treforest. Source: 'The Old Photographs Series: Pontypridd', compiled from the Collection of Pontypridd Historical and Cultural Centre by Simon Eckley and the staff of the Centre (Chalford Publishing, Stroud, 1994).
Sir Geraint Evans opening new displays at Pontypridd Museum, March 1991