Norma Burrowes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Norma Burrowes (born on April 24, 1944) is a Irish soprano, particularly associated with Handel and Mozart roles.

[edit] Life and career

Born in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland, she studied at The Queen's University of Belfast and then at Royal Academy of Music with F. Nielsen and R. Bruce-Lockhart. She made her professional debut with the Glynderbourne Touring Opera Company, as Zerlina, in 1970. The same year, she made her debut at the Royal Opera House in London, as Fiakermilli, and at the Glyndebourne Festival, as Papagena.

She joined the English National Opera in 1971, and quickly began to appear on the international scene, notably at the Salzburg Festival, the Paris Opera, the Aix-en-Provence Festival.

She began her career singing mostly soubrette roles, such as: Blonde, Susanna, Despina, but gradually expanded to light coloratura parts, such as: Adina, Norina, Marie, Oscar, Nanetta, Zerbinetta, later adding more lyrical roles such as: Pamina, Juliette, Manon.

She also excelled in opera by Purcell, Handel, and Haydn, in which she can be heard on several recordings.

A singer with a pure and silvery voice, secure coloratura technique and delightful stage presence. She retired in 1982.

[edit] Sources

• Grove Music Online, Elizabeth Forbes, Oxford University Press, 2008.