Buckman, Rosina (1881–1948)
Buckman, Rosina (1881–1948)
New Zealand opera singer and teacher. Name variations: Rosina d'Oisly. Born Mar 16, 1881, in Blenheim, New Zealand; died Dec 31, 1948, in London, England; dau. of John Buckman (carpenter) and Henrietta Matilda (Chuck) Buckman (singer and organist); studied at Birmingham and Midland School of Music in England; m. Emile Maurice d'Oisly (opera singer), 1919.
Received early training from mother and church choir director until 1900, when she moved to England to study under George Breedon; illness forced return to New Zealand, where she began performing with American singer, Hamilton Hodges (1904); made operatic début (1905); continued to perform throughout Australia and New Zealand; persuaded by Nellie Melba and John McCormack to return to England, where she auditioned at Royal Opera House Covent Garden (c. 1912); was a flower maiden in the 1st English performance of Parsifal at Covent Garden (1914); invited by Thomas Beecham to become principal dramatic soprano in his newly formed opera company during WWI, where she appeared as Isolde, Butterfly, Mimi, and Aïda; performed at Covent Garden and throughout England in numerous operas following WWI; sang in the only performance of Ethyl Smyth's The Boatswain's Mate (1923); gave last performance (1925); taught at Royal Academy of Music (1930s).
See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 3).