Lucy Chambers (3 July 1834 – 14 June 1894) was an Australian

contralto A contralto () is a classical music, classical female singing human voice, voice whose vocal range is the lowest of their voice type, voice types. The contralto's vocal range is fairly rare, similar to the mezzo-soprano, and almost identical to ...

, one of the first to achieve any kind of success in Europe, where she was dubbed "the Australian nightingale". She became a successful teacher of singing, dubbed by one critic "the Marchesi of the Antipodes".

History

Chambers was born in Sydney, youngest daughter of Lucinda "Lucy" Chambers (c. 1796 – 7 March 1854) and Charles Henry Chambers, (c. 1796 – 1 April 1854), a solicitor and onetime associate of William Charles Wentworth and first town clerk of Sydney. This article repeats the assertion that

Nellie Melba Dame Nellie Melba (born Helen Porter Mitchell; 19 May 186123 February 1931) was an Australian operatic lyric coloratura soprano. She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian era and the early twentieth century, and was the f ...

was one of her pupils. She had a good musical education, first studying pianoforte to an advanced level before taking singing lessons under Mrs Maria Logan, organist at St Andrew's, a past student of Logier and a cousin of

William Vincent Wallace William Vincent Wallace (11 March 1812 – 12 October 1865) was an Irish composer and pianist. In his day, he was famous on three continents as a double virtuoso on violin and piano. Nowadays, he is mainly remembered as an opera composer of n ...

. She gained some local celebrity for the beauty of her voice, then came to the attention of Catherine Hayes, who toured Australia in 1854, and recommended she undertook further studies in London. In January 1862 she left for Europe, where she studied under the best masters — Manuel Garcia and Pietro Romani,

Francesco Lamperti Francesco Lamperti (11 March 1811 or 1813 – 1 May 1892) was an Italian singing teacher and the father of the famed singing teacher, Giovanni Battista Lamperti, the author of ''The Technics of Bel Canto''. Biography A native of Savona, Lam ...

, Lauro Rossi, and

Luigi Vannuccini Luigi Vannuccini (4 December 1828 – 14 August 1911) was an Italian conductor, composer and teacher of bel canto Life Born in Foiano della Chiana, Vannuccini began his musical studies with his father Ernesto, who had been singing teacher in Flo ...

. She made her debut in Italy at the Teatro Paglioni, later as principal contralto at

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, La Pergola, Il Regio and other European opera houses. She was engaged by the Australian entrepreneur

William Saurin Lyster William Saurin Lyster (21 March 1828 – 27 November 1880), often referred to as W. Saurin Lyster, was an impresario, active in Australia. Early life Lyster was born in Dublin, Ireland, the third son of Chaworth Lyster, a captain in the army, ...

for his (second) Italian Opera Company. With her assistance, Lyster secured soprano Lucia Baratti and signors Neri, Dondi, and Contini (tenor, bass and baritone respectively). Chambers made her Australian debut with Lyster's company as Mafeo Orsini in ''

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'' at Melbourne's Theatre Royal in February 1870. She remained with the company for three years, then took up teaching, with rooms at 6 Albert Street, Melbourne. Successful pupils include

Amy Sherwin Frances Amy Lillian Sherwin (23 March 1855 – 20 September 1935), known as the 'Tasmanian Nightingale,' was an Australian soprano celebrated for her groundbreaking international opera and concert career. First gaining attention in ''Don Pasqua ...

, Marie St Claire, Ada Gardiner (Ida Osborne), Alice Dunning Lingard, Fannie Liddiard, Bessie Pitta, Alice Rees (later Mme Vogrich), Colbourne Baber, Violet Varley, Edith Moore, Florence Young, Florence Esdaile, Cicely Staunton, Lucinda Blackham (sister of cricketer

Jack Blackham John McCarthy Blackham (11 May 1854 – 28 December 1932) was a Test cricketer who played for Victoria and Australia. A specialist wicket-keeper, Blackham played in the first Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March 1877 and the ...

), also tenor William Walshe. She was the recipient of a well-subscribed benefit at the

Melbourne Town Hall Melbourne Town Hall, often referred to as simply Town Hall, is the administrative seat of the local municipality of the City of Melbourne and the primary offices of the Lord Mayor and city councillors of Melbourne. Located on the northeast co ...

on 29 November 1884 and another, following losses due to the banking collapse, on 18 October 1893. This concert was well supported by an appreciative audience.

Last days

Around Christmas 1893 she visited her sister, Mrs Gilmore, in

Launceston, Tasmania Launceston () is a city in the north of Tasmania, Australia, at the confluence of the North Esk River, North Esk and South Esk River, South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River, Tasmania, Tamar River (kanamaluka). As of 2021, the Launc ...

, and while there contracted influenza, from which she never fully recovered, and died from a heart attack.

Recognition

A song, "The Old Refrain" by Alfred Moul and E. Norman Gunnison, and published in 1880, was dedicated to Chambers.

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chambers, Lucy 1834 births 1894 deaths Musicians from Sydney Singers from Sydney 19th-century Australian women opera singers Immigrants to the Colony of Victoria Australian mezzo-sopranos Australian vocal coaches