MME. KIRKBY LUNN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17232, 11 April 1930, Page 9

MME. KIRKBY LUNN

ENGLISH OPERA STAR DEAD LONDON Feb. 10. Mine. Kirkby Lunn, lor many years the leading English operatic singer.died at her home in St. John's Wood, N.W., late last night. She was 56 years of age and had been ssriously ill for five months. Mine. Kirkby Limn was a Manchester girl, and she 'always retained a certain Lancashire hluntne'ss of manner. She was [rank, outspoken, strong-willed. When she was 20, in 1893, she entered the Koynl College of Music and made her name' while still a, student. For two years she sang leading contralto parts with (he Carl Rosa, Opera Company. I'Vom Ihe beginning of tho century Mine. Kirkby Limn was one of the principal singers at Queen's Hall and at the chief festivals, and soon she, obtained a leading place at Covcnt Garden. In fact, in the years before the war she was the one English singer who ranked (here with the' greatest foreign stars. Ucv chief part, was Amncris, which she sang numberless times to the Aida of her' friend Destinn, who died recently. Ortrucl (Lohenjgrin), Fricka (The Ping), Brangane (Tristan), and Kundry (Parsifal), were some of her other parts. tier voice, mezzo-soprano than contralto, was a noble organ, and in her singing a vigorous and interesting personaliiy was' revealed. She sang well in several languages.