03 November 2019

singer and musician

In 1980 these stamps of Emma Albani, an opera soprano and Healey Willan, an organist and composer. Both were designed by artist Huntley Brown.

Marie-Louise-Emma-Cecile Lajeunesse was born on November 1, 1847. or 1848, or possibly 1852 as she claimed in her memoir. That last birthdate would make her eight years old when she made her debut in 1860 at a world premier in Montreal before the Prince of Wales. While in Italy to study italian opera she was encouraged to change her name to something simpler and chose "Emma Albani" which sounded more European. The stamp shows her as Violetta from La Traviata

James Healey Willan was born in England and emigrated to Canada at age 33 to the Toronto Conservatory of Music. He was an organist, composer, choir conductor, and teacher. He was the organist and choir master of the Church of St Mary Magdalene for four decades, until his death in 1968.  During his life he composed more than 8450 pieces of music, most of them sacral. The stamp shows him at the console of an organ.

for Sunday stamps - singers, musicians

5 comments:

  1. Two imposing stamps especially that of Emma.

    My singers are here http://bit.ly/2PCTLDQ

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  2. The colourful background of these stamps makes me travel back to the 80s... It's difficult to see why "Albani" sound more European than "Lajeunesse", but I guess it was so at that time.

    Here you can see my Sunday guitars.

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    Replies
    1. I agree about the name. I guess it was chosen because she was in Italy (though spelled 'Albany' it would be more Scottish)

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  3. I like the moveable birth dates. Both striking portraiture.
    My singers are performing here

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    Replies
    1. creates a bit of a mystery about her, doesn't it?

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