Honour for Ulster diva who raised the roof at La Scala
THE music world has recognised a remarkable Ulster woman whose voice has reverberated around Italy's iconic concert halls.
Belfast-born Marjorie Wright was honoured for her services to opera with the Silver Lion Award.
The Northern Irish diva – who now lives in Warrenpoint – was presented with the prestigious award in Venice.
"I loved the piano when I was younger, it was my instrument and I never thought of singing," Marjorie said.
"I actually started singing because I had a terrible stammer.
"I was afraid and shy around people, so my parents sent me to elocution lessons."
It was the beginning of a career which would take her to the stage of La Scala.
The Milan venue is one of the most famous opera houses in the world, with a history that dates back to the 18th century.
It has seen premieres from renowned composers such as Puccini and Verdi, and performances from greats including Placido Domingo, Maria Callas and Luciano Pavarotti.
Marjorie's autobiography – The Rise and Fall of a La Scala Diva – was published two years ago, but an Italian translation is set to be unveiled.
She began to win singing competitions as a teenager, but kept playing the piano and other instruments, performing in ensembles with James Galway and Derek Bell.
Marjorie was eventually taught by Dorothy Parke – "a genius of a teacher. I never had teachers like I had in Belfast,’’ she said.
“Dorothy told me I’d never make it as a concert pianist because my hands were too small, but she said I hadn’t got a bad wee voice.”
From then on she developed her singing, on one occasion even leaving her sick bed with mumps to take part in a competition.
“And guess what,” she said, “I won!’’
“There was a photograph of me in the News Letter afterwards with the cup and my swollen head,” she joked.
Marjorie went on to gain a scholarship to the prestigious Royal College of Music in London.
She joined renowned choral group the Ambrosian Singers, and was performing in Rome when a friend suggested Marjorie move to Italy.
She did, and soon got opportunities to sing.
“One day I was sitting on a bus in Rome and a conductor I knew sat down beside me – he asked if I would perform a piece in three weeks’ time,” she said.
“From that moment, I was off and never looked back.”
It was when a friend of hers got ill, and had to pull out of a new work from the composer Luigi Dallapiccola, that Marjorie became a leading lady.
“I got the music on Tuesday and the concert was on Sunday,” she said.
“I took a tranquilliser, a cup of black coffee and sat up half the night learning it.
“On the Sunday, I set out in the snow to the concert hall and wondered what I was doing – Dallapiccola was there, the BBC was there to record it, it was very intimidating.
“But once we started my muscles took over and, before I knew it, the show was over.
“The audience were ecstatic, and afterwards I was led to Dallapiccola and he said: ‘the next time, hold the top note longer’ before turning away dismissively.
“But he turned back again with tears in his eyes and, from then on, I worked with him a number of times.”
From there, it was a small step to appearances in La Scala, and success on the greatest stage in opera music.
Marjorie lived in Italy for 15 years, however the opera jobs dried up: “Politics got in the way, but that’s music,” Marjorie said.
But she is proud of what she has achieved, being a rare non-Italian to break into the opera world.
And yesterday’s award is recognition of the impact the Ulster woman has had in the world of high arts.
To mark the occasion, Marjorie was set to sing once more in Italy. However, she planned to sing not opera classics, but Irish folk songs – including Danny Boy, a nod to the Ulster roots which have kept her grounded.
“You can’t be a diva in Northern Ireland,” she said, “they’ll fairly cut you down to size!”
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Monday 28 May 2012
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