Difference between revisions of "Leo Quayle"
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== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
| − | Born in Pretoria on 11 December 1918, he died Durban on 19 May 2005. | + | Born in Pretoria on 11 December 1918. |
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| + | His father, Albert Gordon Quayle, violinist and conductor of the [[Pretoria Operatic and Dramatic Association]], started teaching Leo Quayle the violin. Leo Quayle conducted the Pretoria Juvenile Orchestra in 1934. While still a scholar at Pretoria Boys’ High School, from which he matriculated in 1935, he studied piano with Isador Epstein, and in 1936 he won the UNISA overseas scholarship to continue his studies at the Royal College of Music. | ||
| + | |||
| + | He died Durban on 19 May 2005. | ||
== Career == | == Career == | ||
| − | He took up a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in 1937. He returned to South Africa to serve in the [[UDF Entertainment Unit]] for a while during the war, returning to England after the war to complete his studies. He then worked in film music. In 1948 he joined Sadler’s Wells for two years as chorus master and assistant conductor, and in that first year he conducted [[Faust]]. He was at Welsh National Opera as Music Director 1952-3, introducing [[Nabucco]] as well as the premiere of [[Menna]] (Arwel Hughes 1953). He spent the 1953 season as Chorus Master at Glyndebourne and then returned to Sadler’s Wells as Principal Conductor. He spent several more seasons in London before moving to South Africa, first as senior lecturer at [[Stellenbosch University]], then as head of the music department at the [[University of the Orange Free State]]. | + | He took up a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in 1937. He returned to South Africa to serve in the [[UDF Entertainment Unit]] for a while during the war, returning to England after the war to complete his studies. He was awarded the Hopkinson Gold Medal for piano in 1946. He then worked in film music. In 1948 he joined Sadler’s Wells for two years as chorus master and assistant conductor, and in that first year he conducted [[Faust]]. He was at Welsh National Opera as Music Director 1952-3, introducing ''[[Nabucco]]'' as well as the premiere of ''[[Menna]]'' (Arwel Hughes, 1953). He spent the 1953 season as Chorus Master at Glyndebourne and then returned to Sadler’s Wells as Principal Conductor. He spent several more seasons in London before moving to South Africa in 1957, first as as part-time lecturer at the [[Stellenbosch Conservatoire]], then later as senior lecturer at [[Stellenbosch University]], then as head of the music department at the [[University of the Orange Free State]]. |
| + | |||
| + | He was also guest conductor of the [[CTMO]] between 27 March and 19 June in 1958. | ||
| − | He retired from [[PACT]] in 1983, spending two years at Calgary Opera and a season with the Bochum orchestra. He returned to South Africa as guest conductor with [[PACT]] | + | In 1964 he moved to Pretoria as director of opera and music for the newly formed [[PACT]] ([[Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal]]) orchestra. |
| + | |||
| + | He retired from [[PACT]] in 1983, spending two years at Calgary Opera and a season with the Bochum orchestra. He returned to South Africa as guest conductor with [[PACT Ballet]]. | ||
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ||
| − | + | He also conducted ''[[Don Pasquale]]'', ''[[Carmen]]'' and ''[[Don Giovanni]]''. In 1976 he added ''[[La Bohème]]'' and ''[[La forza del destino]]'', and in the years up to 1983 ''[[Otello]]'', ''[[Cavalleria Rusticana]]'', ''[[Pagliacci]]'', ''[[Rigoletto]]'', ''[[Aïda]]'', ''[[Turandot]]'', ''[[Madama Butterfly]]'', ''[[Un Ballo in Maschera]]'' and ''[[Il Trovatore]]''. | |
| + | |||
| + | 1960: ''[[Die Zauberflöte]]'' for [[South African Opera Federation]] | ||
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| + | 1964: ''[[Il trovatore]]'' for [[PACT]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1966: ''[[Die Fledermaus]]'' for [[PACT]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1966: ''[[Il trovatore]]'' for [[PACT]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1966: ''[[Prodaná nevěsta]]'' (''[[The Bartered Bride]]'') for [[PACT]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1968: ''[[Madama Butterfly]]'' for [[PACT]], ''[[The Lion in Winter]]'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1970: ''[[King John]]'' | ||
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| + | 1971: ''[[Tosca]]'' ([[PACT]]) | ||
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| + | 1972: ''[[Don Giovanni]]'' for [[PACT]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1973: ''[[Le nozze di Figaro]]'' for [[PACT]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1974: ''[[Lucia di Lammermoor]]'' for [[PACT]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1974: ''[[Norma]]'' for [[PACT]] | ||
| − | ''[[ | + | 1975: ''[[Le nozze di Figaro]]'' for [[PACT]], ''[[The Great Waltz]]'' |
| − | + | 1976: ''[[La bohème]]'' for [[PACT]] | |
| + | |||
| + | 1976: ''[[Jenůfa]]'' for [[NAPAC]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1980?: ''[[Macbeth]]'' ([[PACT]]) | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1981/1982?: ''[[84 Charing Cross Road]]'' ([[The Company of Four]], [[Market Theatre]]) | ||
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| + | 1982?: ''[[The Dresser]]'' ([[The Company of Four]], [[Market Theatre]]) | ||
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| + | 1984: ''[[Beecham]]'' ([[Market Theatre]]) | ||
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| + | 1985: ''[[Showboat]]'' for [[PACT]] | ||
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| + | ==Awards== | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 1973, he was awarded the [[Nederburg Opera Prize]]. | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
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Website of Opera of Scotland [http://www.operascotland.org/person/2219/Leo-Quayle]. | Website of Opera of Scotland [http://www.operascotland.org/person/2219/Leo-Quayle]. | ||
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| + | [[Alexandra Xenia Sabina Mossolow]][http://classicsa.co.za/site/listings/view/classicsa_sabina_mossolow_soprano/?s=musicians&f=ind&m=2&ms=1]. 2003. ''The career of South African soprano [[Nellie du Toit]], born 1929''. Unpublished Masters thesis. [[University of Stellenbosch]].[http://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/16394] | ||
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| + | [[Sjoerd Alkema]]. 2012. "Conductors of the Cape Town Municipal Orchestra, 1914-1965: a historical perspective". [[University of Cape Town]]. Unpublished PhD thesis. | ||
== Return to == | == Return to == | ||
Latest revision as of 22:54, 3 July 2025
Leo Quayle (1918-2005). South Africa orchestral conductor.
Contents
Biography
Born in Pretoria on 11 December 1918.
His father, Albert Gordon Quayle, violinist and conductor of the Pretoria Operatic and Dramatic Association, started teaching Leo Quayle the violin. Leo Quayle conducted the Pretoria Juvenile Orchestra in 1934. While still a scholar at Pretoria Boys’ High School, from which he matriculated in 1935, he studied piano with Isador Epstein, and in 1936 he won the UNISA overseas scholarship to continue his studies at the Royal College of Music.
He died Durban on 19 May 2005.
Career
He took up a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in 1937. He returned to South Africa to serve in the UDF Entertainment Unit for a while during the war, returning to England after the war to complete his studies. He was awarded the Hopkinson Gold Medal for piano in 1946. He then worked in film music. In 1948 he joined Sadler’s Wells for two years as chorus master and assistant conductor, and in that first year he conducted Faust. He was at Welsh National Opera as Music Director 1952-3, introducing Nabucco as well as the premiere of Menna (Arwel Hughes, 1953). He spent the 1953 season as Chorus Master at Glyndebourne and then returned to Sadler’s Wells as Principal Conductor. He spent several more seasons in London before moving to South Africa in 1957, first as as part-time lecturer at the Stellenbosch Conservatoire, then later as senior lecturer at Stellenbosch University, then as head of the music department at the University of the Orange Free State.
He was also guest conductor of the CTMO between 27 March and 19 June in 1958.
In 1964 he moved to Pretoria as director of opera and music for the newly formed PACT (Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal) orchestra.
He retired from PACT in 1983, spending two years at Calgary Opera and a season with the Bochum orchestra. He returned to South Africa as guest conductor with PACT Ballet.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
He also conducted Don Pasquale, Carmen and Don Giovanni. In 1976 he added La Bohème and La forza del destino, and in the years up to 1983 Otello, Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci, Rigoletto, Aïda, Turandot, Madama Butterfly, Un Ballo in Maschera and Il Trovatore.
1960: Die Zauberflöte for South African Opera Federation
1964: Il trovatore for PACT
1966: Die Fledermaus for PACT
1966: Il trovatore for PACT
1966: Prodaná nevěsta (The Bartered Bride) for PACT
1968: Madama Butterfly for PACT, The Lion in Winter
1970: King John
1972: Don Giovanni for PACT
1973: Le nozze di Figaro for PACT
1974: Lucia di Lammermoor for PACT
1975: Le nozze di Figaro for PACT, The Great Waltz
1981/1982?: 84 Charing Cross Road (The Company of Four, Market Theatre)
1982?: The Dresser (The Company of Four, Market Theatre)
1984: Beecham (Market Theatre)
Awards
In 1973, he was awarded the Nederburg Opera Prize.
Sources
Tucker, 1997.
Website of Opera of Scotland [1].
Alexandra Xenia Sabina Mossolow[2]. 2003. The career of South African soprano Nellie du Toit, born 1929. Unpublished Masters thesis. University of Stellenbosch.[3]
Sjoerd Alkema. 2012. "Conductors of the Cape Town Municipal Orchestra, 1914-1965: a historical perspective". University of Cape Town. Unpublished PhD thesis.
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