Bernadette Greevy facts for kids

Bernadette Greevy (born July 3, 1940 – died September 26, 2008) was a famous Irish mezzo-soprano. A mezzo-soprano is a female singer whose voice is lower than a soprano but higher than a contralto. She was also the person who started and led the Anna Livia Dublin International Opera Festival. She was the first artist to work full-time at the Dublin Institute of Technology's Faculty of Applied Arts.

Her Amazing Singing Career

Bernadette Greevy was born in Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland. She was one of seven children in her family. She went to school at the Holy Faith Convent School. Later, she studied music in Dublin and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Starting Her Opera Journey

Bernadette first sang in an opera when she was just 18 years old. This was in the opera Faust by Gounod at Dublin's Gaiety Theatre. In 1961, she made her official opera debut. She played Maddalena in Verdi's Rigoletto. She also performed at the Wexford Festival in 1962. In 1982, she sang at the famous Royal Opera House in London.

A Voice for Oratorios and Songs

Even though she sang in operas, Bernadette Greevy became most famous for her singing in oratorios and song recitals. Oratorios are like operas but are usually based on religious stories and are performed without costumes or scenery. Song recitals are concerts where a singer performs many songs, often with just a piano.

She learned about important works like Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius and Handel's Messiah. She also recorded music by composers like Mahler, Bach, and Haydn.

What Critics Said About Her Voice

In 1966, a reviewer from The New York Times wrote about her voice. They said her voice was strong and clear, like a true contralto. They also noted that she had amazing breath control and could sing very quickly and accurately.

Bernadette Greevy especially loved the music of Mahler. She performed his song cycle Kindertotenlieder in London in 1966. The Times newspaper praised her "full, glowing voice" and her "gloriously expressive phrasing". Later, in the 1990s, she sang all of Mahler's vocal works with an orchestra in Argentina.

Living and Working in Dublin

Bernadette Greevy chose to live in her hometown of Dublin throughout her career. She believed that if you were good enough, you could live anywhere you wanted. This choice meant she didn't record as much music or perform as many concerts as some other singers.

Bernadette Greevy passed away at the age of 68 after a short illness. She was married to Peter Tattan, who died before her in 1983. They had one son named Hugh.

Awards and Special Honours

Bernadette Greevy received many awards and special recognitions for her talent. These include:

• Harriet Cohen International Music Award for Outstanding Artistry
• National Order of Merit (from Malta)
• Honorary Doctorate of Music from the National University of Ireland
• Honorary Doctorate of Music from Trinity College Dublin
• Jacob's Award (1978) for her radio performance of Mahler's music
• The papal cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (from the Holy See)