Price, Margaret (1941–)

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Price, Margaret (1941–)

Welsh soprano. Name variations: Dame Margaret Berenice Price. Born April 13, 1941, in Blackwood, Wales, to musical family; attended Trinity College of Music (1956).

Opera and concert star, made debut with Welsh National Opera as Cherubino in Marriage of Figaro (1962); debuted in Royal Opera House at Covent Garden in same role (1963), while understudy to Teresa Berganza who fell ill, becoming overnight sensation; became regular performer at Glyndebourne (from 1968), notably as Constanze and Fiordiligi; internationally renowned for opera and lieder, particularly of Mozart and Verdi, gave acclaimed performances of Pamina in San Francisco (1969), and Donna Anna in Cologne (1971); praised for her Desdemona during US tour with Paris Opera (1976), made debut at NY's Metropolitan Opera in the same role (1985); performed as recitalist as well, frequently accompanied by conductor James Lockhart; lived for many years in Germany, but returned to Wales following retirement (1999); recordings include Tristan and Isolde (1990), The Magic Flute (1994) and Otello (2001). Awarded Commander of British Empire (CBE, 1982) and Dame of British Empire (DBE, 1993).

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