Sybil Michelow (Contralto)

Born: August 12, 1925 - Johannesburg, South Africa

The South-African contralto, Sybil Michelow, studied at the University of Witwatersrand. Later she studied piano with Franz Reizenstein in London for three years.

Sybil Michelow made her debut as a singer in London in 1958. She gave concerts with leading orchestras and conductors in UK and abroad. She participated in many performances of George Frideric Handel's Messiah, and appeared frequently in radio and TV performances, notably in Rule Britannia at the Last Night of the Proms.

Sybil Michelow was Singing Instructor at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art from 1956 to 1958. Large scale works written for her by Wilfred Josephs and Malcolm Williamson. Compositions: Incidental Music for RADA production of Brecht plays Chalk Circle and Mother Courage; Children's Stories with music, South African Broadcasting Corporation.

Recordings: Music of Court Homes. Vol. 4, and Bach Cantatas BWV 78 and BWV 106 (EMI); Bliss Pastoral (Pye); Luigi Dallapiccola's Sicut Umbra (Argo).

Memberships: Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain, Governor 1986 and 1989; Incorporated Society of Musicians. Hobbies: Piano in Chamber Music groups, Calligraphy. She married with Dr. Derek Goldfoot in 1950.

Source: International Who's Who in Music & Musicians' Directory (13^th Edition, 1992/93)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (November 2005); Manfred Krugmann (Photo 01, August 2011)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Wolfgang Gönnenwein

Alto

BWV 39, BWV 78, BWV 106

Links to other Sites