Giulia Warwick

's opera companies in the last quarter of the 19th century.

Life and career

Born Julia Ehrenberg, her stage name came from her birthplace, Warwick Street, in Regent's Park, London. Her father was a Polish Jew, and she and her two sisters were all interested in music. Warwick originally intended to be a pianist, playing at the Hanover Rooms as early as 1869, when she was only 12 years old, and then at St. George's Hall in 1872. She then studied singing under Sainton Dolby and Maurice Garcia.

In 1876, Warwick joined the Carl Rosa Opera Company and made her operatic debut at the Crystal Palace as Zerlina in Mozart's "Don Giovanni", then playing Arline in Michael Balfe's "The Bohemian Girl" and the title role in Beethoven's "Fidelio", and earning good reviews. She also performed in oratorios. Warwick then joined Richard D'Oyly Carte's Comedy Opera Company and created the role of Constance in Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera, "The Sorcerer" in 1877, later succeeding Alice May in the role of Aline. She also played Dora Leslie in Arthur Cecil and Alfred Cellier's companion piece, "Dora's Dream". In 1878, she created the part of Lady Viola in James Albery and Cellier's "The Spectre Knight", another companion piece.

In 1878, Warwick returned to Carl Rosa to sing in "Carmen" and other operas. She also appeared in Herold's "Zampa". Warwick then played Ann Chute in Benedict's "The Lily of Kilarney" and sang in an English adaptation of Ponchielli's "I Promessi Sposi". In 1884, she created the role of Jessamine in Robert Planquette's "Nell Gwynne" at the Avenue Theatre. She then embarked on a long provincial tour, earning great success playing the lead in Francois Chassaigne's "Falka", and also Fraisette in "The Old Guard" from Marion Edgcumbe, Etelka in "Nadgy", Isadora in "The Black Rover" and in a number of other musical plays, including Barbara in "The Belle of Cairo".

Warwick retired from the stage in 1896 to become a professor of music at the Guildhall School of Music, resigning in 1902 to found her own vocal school.

Warwick died at the age of 47 and was buried in Willesden Jewish Cemetery.

References

* [http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/newsletters/gossip/no39/gg39_10.html Article about the sopranos of the Savoy Operas]
* [http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/whowaswho/W/WarwickGiulia.htm Giulia Warwick] at the Who Was Who website
*cite book|last=Ayre|first=Leslie|year=1972|title=The Gilbert & Sullivan Companion|location=London|publisher=W.H. Allen & Co Ltd Introduction by Martyn Green.

External links

* [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0027-4666(19040801)45%3A738%3C533%3AOGW%3E2.0.CO%3B2-X Warwick's obituary in "The Musical Times"]