Eva Turner facts for kids

Dame Eva Turner (born March 10, 1892 – died June 16, 1990) was a very famous English singer. She was known as a dramatic soprano, which means she had a powerful, clear voice perfect for big opera roles. People admired her strong and steady voice, especially in Italian and German operas.

Eva's Early Life and Training

Eva Turner was born in a place called Werneth, near Oldham, England. She started taking singing lessons from a teacher named Dan Rootham. He also taught another famous singer, Clara Butt.

From 1911 to 1914, Eva studied music at the Royal Academy of Music in London. This is a very important music school. Later, in 1928, she became a special member called a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music (FRAM).

Becoming an Opera Star

Eva began her singing career in the chorus of the Carl Rosa Opera Company. The chorus is a group of singers who sing together. Slowly, she started getting bigger and more important parts in operas.

She played many famous roles, including:

• Cio Cio San in Madama Butterfly
• Micaela in Carmen
• Musetta in Puccini's La bohème
• Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana
• Donna Anna in Don Giovanni
• Elisabeth in Tannhäuser
• The main characters in Aida and Tosca

In 1924, something very exciting happened. She auditioned for the La Scala opera company in Milan, Italy. This is one of the most famous opera houses in the world! The main conductor, Arturo Toscanini, hired her. She sang important roles like Freia and Sieglinde in La Scala's Ring Cycle.

Her Most Famous Role: Turandot

Eva Turner became especially famous for playing the main role in the opera Turandot. She was actually in the audience when this opera first premiered in 1926. But later that year, she sang the role herself in Brescia, Italy.

She also performed Turandot at the Covent Garden in London in 1928. In 1929, she sang it again at La Scala. Some of her performances of Turandot from 1937 were recorded live. These recordings were released much later, allowing people to hear her amazing voice.

Eva Turner stopped performing on stage in 1948.

Teaching Future Singers

After she stopped performing, Eva didn't leave the music world. In 1949, she was asked to be a visiting professor of voice at the University of Oklahoma in the United States. She was supposed to stay for one year, but she ended up staying for nine years!

In 1959, she returned to London. She became a Professor of Singing at the Royal Academy of Music, where she had studied herself. She taught there until she was in her 80s!

Eva had a very direct way of teaching. While some students found it tough, her methods helped many become successful singers. Some of her famous students include Amy Shuard, Roberta Knie, Janet Coster, and Kiri Te Kanawa. Amy Shuard and Gwyneth Jones, who both became famous for singing Turandot, learned the role from Eva.

Honours and Recognition

Eva Turner received many special honours during her life.

• She was featured on the TV show This Is Your Life twice! Once in 1959 and again in 1983, just before her 91st birthday.
• In 1962, she was given the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). This is a very high honour in the UK.
• She was also made a Fellow of the Royal College of Music (FRCM) in 1974 and a Fellow of the Royal Northern College of Music (FRNCM) in 1978.
• In 1982, she was given the "Freedom of the Borough" of Oldham, her hometown. In the same year, she was made an Honorary Citizen of the State of Oklahoma in the US.

Even after retiring, Eva loved going to opera performances. She was often seen in the audience at Covent Garden until she passed away. She also enjoyed watching the comedy duo Hinge and Bracket, who often made funny tributes to old opera styles.

Many of her recordings from the 1920s and 1930s are still available today on CDs.

See also

• In Spanish: Eva Turner para niños