Georgina Stirling
Encyclopedia
Georgina Ann Stirling was a Newfoundland
opera
singer, known by her stage name Marie Toulinquet. Born in Twillingate
, Newfoundland, she became a world-renowned Prima donna
soprano
who played in opera houses throughout Europe and United States. She was Newfoundland's first opera singer and became known as The Nightingale of the North.
Stirling, daughter of Ann (Peyton) and William Stirling, was educated at Twillingate and Toronto
and went on to study singing in Paris, Italy and Germany. She had taken the stage name Toulinguet which was the original French name for Twillingate. At the age of fifteen she played as a church organist in her hometown and early in her career had been instrumental in the formation of the Dorcas Society
.
While in Paris Stirling had studied under the tutorship of Madame Mathilde Marchesi
where she was discovered by a Milan
opera company. She toured and accepted engagements with many opera's such as the Opera Company of New York City, the Boston Harmony Orchestral Society and the Scalchi Opera Company. At the peak of her career she had developed a throat ailment that cut her singing career short. She eventually made a comeback as concert artist.
Stirling had returned to her hometown of Twillingate to live with her sister Rose where she eventually died of Cancer in 1935.
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
singer, known by her stage name Marie Toulinquet. Born in Twillingate
Twillingate
Twillingate is a town of 2,448 people located on the Twillingate Islands in Notre Dame Bay. It is located off the northeastern shore of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It was incorporated on September 30, 1965. The town is about north of Lewisporte and...
, Newfoundland, she became a world-renowned Prima donna
Prima donna
Originally used in opera or Commedia dell'arte companies, "prima donna" is Italian for "first lady." The term was used to designate the leading female singer in the opera company, the person to whom the prime roles would be given. The prima donna was normally, but not necessarily, a soprano...
soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
who played in opera houses throughout Europe and United States. She was Newfoundland's first opera singer and became known as The Nightingale of the North.
Stirling, daughter of Ann (Peyton) and William Stirling, was educated at Twillingate and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and went on to study singing in Paris, Italy and Germany. She had taken the stage name Toulinguet which was the original French name for Twillingate. At the age of fifteen she played as a church organist in her hometown and early in her career had been instrumental in the formation of the Dorcas Society
Dorcas Society
A Dorcas Society is a local group of people, usually based in a church, with a mission of providing clothing to the poor.The original society was founded in Douglas, Isle of Man on December 1, 1834, as part of the community's thanksgiving for being spared from an outbreak of cholera...
.
While in Paris Stirling had studied under the tutorship of Madame Mathilde Marchesi
Mathilde Marchesi
Mathilde Marchesi was a German mezzo-soprano, a renowned teacher of singing, and a proponent of the bel canto vocal method.-Biography:...
where she was discovered by a Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
opera company. She toured and accepted engagements with many opera's such as the Opera Company of New York City, the Boston Harmony Orchestral Society and the Scalchi Opera Company. At the peak of her career she had developed a throat ailment that cut her singing career short. She eventually made a comeback as concert artist.
Stirling had returned to her hometown of Twillingate to live with her sister Rose where she eventually died of Cancer in 1935.
See also
- Music of Newfoundland and LabradorMusic of Newfoundland and LabradorNewfoundland and Labrador is an Atlantic Canadian province with a folk musical heritage based on the Irish, English and Scottish traditions that were brought to its shores centuries ago...
- List of Newfoundland songs
- List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador