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Shirley-Quirk, John Stanton

(Encyclopedia)Shirley-Quirk, John Stanton, 1931–2014, British bass-baritone. He began his career as a chemistry teacher, turning permanently to music in 1961. Acclaimed for his fine tone, diction, and phrasing, h...

Crespin, Régine

(Encyclopedia)Crespin, Régine rāzhēnˈ krĕspăNˈ [key], 1927–2007, French soprano. She made her major debut at the Paris Opéra in 1950. The range, flexibility, subtlety, and richness of her voice were criti...

Bing, Rudolf

(Encyclopedia)Bing, Rudolf ro͞oˈdŏlf bĭng [key], 1902–97, Austrian operatic manager. Naturalized a British subject in 1946, he was general manager of the Glyndebourne operatic festivals (1934–49) and artist...

Böhm, Karl

(Encyclopedia)Böhm, Karl, 1894–1981, Austrian conductor. He studied with the musicologist Eusebius Mandyczewski and took a law degree before turning to conducting. After successful appearances with leading Germa...

Lehmann, Lotte

(Encyclopedia)Lehmann, Lotte lāˈmən, Ger. lāˈmän [key], 1888–1976, German-American soprano. Lehmann studied at the Berlin State Conservatory. She made her debut in Hamburg in 1910 and was a member of the Vi...

Horne, Marilyn

(Encyclopedia)Horne, Marilyn, 1934–, American mezzo-soprano, b. Bradford, Pa. She established herself with her characterization of Marie in Alban Berg's Wozzeck at the San Francisco Opera in 1960. In 1970 she mad...

Barbirolli, Sir John

(Encyclopedia)Barbirolli, Sir John bärˌbərōˈlē [key], 1899–1970, English conductor and cellist, b. London. After being cellist (1920–24) in the International String Quartet, he organized the Barbirolli St...

Converse, Frederick Shepherd

(Encyclopedia)Converse, Frederick Shepherd kŏnˈvûrs [key], 1871–1940, American composer, b. Newton, Mass., studied with J. K. Paine and G. W. Chadwick and in Germany with Rheinberger. His Pipe of Desire (Bosto...

Hampson, Thomas

(Encyclopedia)Hampson, Thomas, 1955–, American baritone, b. Elkhart, Ind. An elegant, intelligent, and versatile vocal artist, he has performed in operas, operettas, oratorios, musicals, and recitals. Hampson won...

Sendak, Maurice Bernard

(Encyclopedia)Sendak, Maurice Bernard, 1928–2012, American writer and illustrator of children's books, b. Brooklyn, N.Y. Largely self-taught, he was widely acclaimed as the 20th-century's most important childrens...