Diana Montague
Encyclopedia
Diana Montague is a British mezzo-soprano
known for her performances in opera and as a concert singer.
and educated at the Testwood School, the Winchester School of Art
and the Royal Northern College of Music
. She made her professional debut as Zerlina in Don Giovanni
with Glyndebourne Touring Opera in 1977 and went on to sing leading mezzo-soprano roles in opera houses throughout Europe and as well as in the United States. She made her Metropolitan Opera
debut as Annio in La clemenza di Tito
on 22 January 1987 and later appeared with the company as Sesto in La clemenza di Tito (1987), Dorabella in Così fan tutte
(1988), Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro (1988), and Nicklausse in Les contes d'Hoffmann
(1989).
Montague is married to the British tenor, David Rendall.
, Zoraida di Granata
, and Il crociato in Egitto
, all for Opera Rara
. Her other opera recordings include:
Mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
known for her performances in opera and as a concert singer.
Biography
She was born in WinchesterWinchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
and educated at the Testwood School, the Winchester School of Art
Winchester School of Art
Winchester School of Art is the art school of the University of Southampton, situated 10 miles north of Southampton in the city of Winchester near the south coast of England.- Overview :...
and the Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Northern College of Music
The Royal Northern College of Music is a music school in Manchester, England. It is located on Oxford Road in Chorlton on Medlock, at the western edge of the campus of the University of Manchester and is one of four conservatories associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music...
. She made her professional debut as Zerlina in Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and with an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It was premiered by the Prague Italian opera at the Teatro di Praga on October 29, 1787...
with Glyndebourne Touring Opera in 1977 and went on to sing leading mezzo-soprano roles in opera houses throughout Europe and as well as in the United States. She made her Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
debut as Annio in La clemenza di Tito
La clemenza di Tito
La clemenza di Tito , K. 621, is an opera seria in two acts composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to an Italian libretto by Caterino Mazzolà, after Metastasio...
on 22 January 1987 and later appeared with the company as Sesto in La clemenza di Tito (1987), Dorabella in Così fan tutte
Così fan tutte
Così fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti K. 588, is an opera buffa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart first performed in 1790. The libretto was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte....
(1988), Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro (1988), and Nicklausse in Les contes d'Hoffmann
Les contes d'Hoffmann
Les contes d'Hoffmann is an opéra by Jacques Offenbach. The French libretto was written by Jules Barbier, based on short stories by E. T. A...
(1989).
Montague is married to the British tenor, David Rendall.
Recordings
Montague appears on several full length opera recordings including the rarities Rosmonda d'InghilterraRosmonda d'Inghilterra
Rosmonda d'Inghilterra is a melodramma or opera in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti. The Italian libretto was written by Felice Romani originally for Coccia's Rosmunda...
, Zoraida di Granata
Zoraida di Granata
Zoraida di Granata is a melodramma eroico , in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti...
, and Il crociato in Egitto
Il crociato in Egitto
Il crociato in Egitto is an opera in two acts by Giacomo Meyerbeer, with a libretto by Gaetano Rossi. It was first performed at La Fenice theatre, Venice on 7 March, 1824. The part of Armando was sung by the famous castrato, Giovanni Battista Velluti; the opera was probably the last ever written...
, all for Opera Rara
Opera Rara
Opera Rara is a British record label, founded in the early 1970s by Americans Patric Schmid and Don White to promote concerts of rare and/or forgotten operas by Giacomo Meyerbeer and Donizetti and such other "bel canto" composers as Giovanni Pacini, Saverio Mercadante, and Federico Ricci.The...
. Her other opera recordings include:
- Le Comte OryLe comte OryLe comte Ory is an opéra written by Gioachino Rossini in 1828. Some of the music originates from his opera Il viaggio a Reims written three years earlier for the coronation of Charles X...
– Count Ory: John AlerJohn AlerJohn Aler is an American lyric tenor who performs in concerts, recitals, and operas. He is particularly known for his interpretations of the works of Mozart, Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, and Handel....
; tenor, Isolier: Diana Montague, mezzo-soprano; Countess Adèle: Sumi Jo, soprano; Dame Ragonde: Raquel Pierotti, mezzo-soprano; Alice: Maryse Castets, soprano; Orchestra and Chorus of the Opéra de Lyon conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Label: PhilipsPhilips RecordsPhilips Records is a record label that was founded by Dutch electronics company Philips. It was started by "Philips Phonographische Industrie" in 1950. Recordings were made with popular artists of various nationalities and also with classical artists from Germany, France and Holland. Philips also... - Iphigénie en TaurideIphigénie en TaurideIphigénie en Tauride is an opera by Christoph Willibald Gluck in four acts. It was his fifth opera for the French stage. The libretto was written by Nicolas-François Guillard....
– Iphigenie: Diana Montague, mezzo-soprano; Oreste: Thomas Allen, baritone; Pylade: John Aler, tenor; Monteverdi Choir; Orchestras of the Opéra de Lyon conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Label: Philips
External links
- Diana Montague on the Peter Moores FoundationPeter MooresSir Peter Moores CBE DL is a British businessman, art collector and philanthropist, a former chairman of the Liverpool-based Littlewoods football pools and retailing business in the United Kingdom....
- Artist's biography on Intermusica Artists' Management