Dorothy Silk
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Silk (born Kings Norton
, Worcestershire
, England 4 May 1883 - died Alvechurch, Worcestershire 30 July 1942) was an English soprano.
She studied in Birmingham, then in Vienna under Johannes Ress. She made her London debut at Queen's Hall
. She particularly built her reputation as a Bach singer, and gave pioneering chamber concerts (1921-6) in which she performed cantatas by Schütz and Tunder. She also sang at the Royal Albert Hall
, Aeolian Hall
and provincial centres. She was professor of singing at the Royal College of Music
. She sang in the public premiere of Gustav Holst
’s Savitri
, and was much admired by the composer who expressed a preference for her as soloist for his Choral Symphony
. She also sang the premiere of Holst's Humbert Wolfe songs, which took place on 9 November 1929 at Louise Hanson-Dyer's house-warming in Paris. Although Silk's voice, described as ‘light’ and ‘flexible’,, was considered ideal for Bach, she also made a fine impression singing the soprano solo part in Verdi’s Requiem.
Kings Norton
Kings Norton is an area of Birmingham, England. It is also a Birmingham City Council ward within the formal district of Northfield.-History:...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, England 4 May 1883 - died Alvechurch, Worcestershire 30 July 1942) was an English soprano.
She studied in Birmingham, then in Vienna under Johannes Ress. She made her London debut at Queen's Hall
Queen's Hall
The Queen's Hall was a concert hall in Langham Place, London, opened in 1893. Designed by the architect T.E. Knightley, it had room for an audience of about 2,500 people. It became London's principal concert venue. From 1895 until 1941, it was the home of the promenade concerts founded by Robert...
. She particularly built her reputation as a Bach singer, and gave pioneering chamber concerts (1921-6) in which she performed cantatas by Schütz and Tunder. She also sang at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, Aeolian Hall
Aeolian Hall (London)
Aeolian Hall located at 135-137 New Bond Street, began life as the Grosvenor Gallery, being built by Sir Coutts Lindsay in 1876, an accomplished amateur artist, with a predeliction for the aesthetic movement, for which he was held up to some ridicule. In 1883, he decided to light his gallery with...
and provincial centres. She was professor of singing at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
. She sang in the public premiere of Gustav Holst
Gustav Holst
Gustav Theodore Holst was an English composer. He is most famous for his orchestral suite The Planets....
’s Savitri
Savitri
Savitri or Savithri may refer to:*Savitri, with all vowels short, a Roman-phonetic spelling of the Vedic Hindu sun god Savitr*Sāvitrī, a name of the Gayatri Mantra dedicated to Savitr...
, and was much admired by the composer who expressed a preference for her as soloist for his Choral Symphony
First Choral Symphony
British composer Gustav Holst wrote his First Choral Symphony in 1923–24. It was premiered in Leeds Town Hall on October 7, 1925, conducted by Albert Coates and with Dorothy Silk as soloist...
. She also sang the premiere of Holst's Humbert Wolfe songs, which took place on 9 November 1929 at Louise Hanson-Dyer's house-warming in Paris. Although Silk's voice, described as ‘light’ and ‘flexible’,, was considered ideal for Bach, she also made a fine impression singing the soprano solo part in Verdi’s Requiem.