Amy Castles
Amy Eliza Castles (25 July 1880 – 19 November 1951), was an Australian dramatic soprano, the daughter of Joseph Castles (1849-1933), and Mary Ellen Castles (1855-1937). Her two sisters, Ethel Margaret "Dolly" Castles (1884–1971) and Eileen Anne Castles (1886–1970) were also highly regarded, talented sopranos.
Amy's talent was discovered by E. Allan Bindley while she was still at school. He became her teacher and directed one of her earliest public performances in a local production of Gilbert and Sullivan's Patience, in October 1898. Next year she made her début in Melbourne at the annual meeting of the Austral Salon. The 'magnificent quality' of her voice astonished her audience and public concerts were immediately arranged: the 'slip of a girl in a simple white frock' with her hair down to her shoulders created a sensation, although her promotion was not without its critics. To help raise money for overseas tuition she toured Australia and, backed by an unprecedented sum of £4000, left in September to study with Madame Marchesi in Paris. Alarmed when Marchesi attempted to produce her as a contralto, Amy left her to study with Jacques Bouhy.
In November 1901 she made her first London appearance at a St James's Hall concert with Ada Crossley and Clara Butt, and was enthusiastically received. In 1902 she returned to Australia to tour for J. C. Williamson. After further study in Europe, she reappeared in London in 1905 at Queen's Hall concerts and in 1906 gave a command performance before King Edward VII. She sang in the larger German centres, making her European début in grand opera in 1907 at Cologne in Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet. She appeared in seasons of Gounod's Romeo and Juliet and Faust and became a favourite of the Queen of the Netherlands. She also took part in the Harrison tours of Great Britain and at various times sang under the batons of Hans Richter, (Sir) Henry Wood and Landon Ronald, achieving success in concert, opera and oratorio.
In September 1909 Amy Castles returned to Australia for a four-and-a-half month tour of seventy-two towns for J. & N. Tait. Her voice at this time was described as astonishingly even and full. At the end of this tour she appeared in the Australian première of Puccini's Madame Butterfly for J. C. Williamson. On 26 March 1910 she sang the title role in the Australian premiere of Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly, at the Theatre Royal in Sydney.
She returned to London in 1911 for a special series of Chappell concerts. In 1912 she accepted an offer of a four-year contract from the Imperial Opera in Vienna and was appointed chamber singer to the Imperial Court. With the outbreak of war she was obliged to leave Austria, returning to Australia in 1915 to tour the capital cities. In 1917 she made her American début in New York at Carnegie Hall. With American involvement in the war Amy gave concerts for the sick and wounded and opened her Manhattan home to visiting Australians.
Amy Castles is featured on the following titles
Amy Castles - Court Singer
Amy Castles was an Australian singer who made a number of recordings in the first decade of the 20th century. She was described as the "Australian nightingale". This CD is a collection of 18 restored songs.
