Gladys Ancrum Suggest updates
Born Surrey.
English soprano.
Early in her career, in 1914, she was a member of Thomas Quinlan's company that toured to South Africa, Australia and Canada. Her repertoire at this time included Venus in Tannhäuser and the title role in Louise. Later, she concentrated on the heavier Wagner roles, singing Kundry at Covent Garden in 1919. She also sang with the Beecham and BNOC companies. Roles with BNOC included Sieglinde, Brünnhilde, Isolde and Kundry.
In November 1983 and August 1984 issues of Opera are articles by John Steane about Neville Cardus’ criticism which quote enthusiastic descriptions of her as Kundry. She made some recordings.
Roles in Scotland
- Ida Adele's sister
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Fledermaus 1910
- Antonia's mother a spirit voice
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Tales of Hoffmann 1911
- Kundry a woman in Klingsor's power
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Parsifal 1922
Parsifal 1926
- Venus
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Tannhäuser 1922
Tannhäuser 1924
Tannhäuser 1925
Tannhäuser 1926
Tannhäuser 1927
Tannhäuser 1928
Tannhäuser 1930
- Brangäne Isolde's attendant
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Tristan und Isolde 1925
Tristan und Isolde 1926
- Señora Juanita de Castro
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Leper's Flute 1926
- Brünnhilde a Valkyrie
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Valkyrie 1927
- Meg Mistress Page
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Falstaff 1928
- Sieglinde a Volsung, sister of Siegmund
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Valkyrie 1928
- Ortrud Friedrich's wife
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Lohengrin 1928
- Brünnhilde now a mortal
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Siegfried 1930