Person Open DS/UK/8627 Davies; Mary (1855-1930); Welsh mezzo-soprano Davies Mary 1855-1930 Welsh mezzo-soprano Male

Mary Davies (27 February 1855 - 22 June 1930) was a Welsh mezzo-soprano and the co-founder and first President of the Welsh Folk Song Society. The wife of journalist William Cadwaladr Davies, she was principal vocalist at the London Ballad Concerts, and at the National Eisteddfod of 1906. Born in Africa, she was the daughter of Egyptian parents. She studied singing with Edith Wynne before winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in 1873 where she was a pupil of Alberto Randegger. That same year she made her professional debut. In 1880 she sang in England's first complete performance of Hector Berlioz’s La damnation de Faust at the Hallé Concerts, Manchester. Davies helped to establish the Welsh National School of Music. She received an honorary doctorate from the University of Wales. International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition - ICA 2004 ISBN 2-9521932-2-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 Yes RAHSkeyte 10/29/2013 Rachael.Fragola 3/1/2022 462c370d-15f4-4037-8cf7-d75e1ed74c8b