Eva Turner walking-breathing

In a Radio Four interview at the end of 1987, Eva Turner, the first internationally famous British prima donna (born in Oldham) was asked about the exceptional volume of her voice which enabled her to say in reply to the interviewer’s question: ‘Turandot is a very difficult role, isn’t it?’ – ‘ Well. not too difficult.’

She said: ‘When I went walking I used to breathe in for twelve steps, hold my breath for twelve steps, and breathe out for twelve steps. That developed it.’

She was asked whether she regretted the sacrifice of married life and family, and said:  ‘I did what I really wanted to do – grand opera.   Asked what advice she would give an up-and-coming singer, she paused, then said:  ‘Apply yourself completely to it’.

The commentator said that there is no voice in opera that has the massive assurance of Eva Turner.

TPL note: I remember when I was keen on Wagner at the age of about twelve, I saved up my money to buy some Ring of the Nibelung records. She was one of the Rhine maidens in Rheingold and Gotterdammerung in that recording of about 1926, with Florence Austral I think as the Brunhilde.

© Trevor Leggett