{{Short description|English soprano}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Ann Mackay | image = | caption = | birth_place = London, England | birth_date = {{Birth-date and age|21 March 1956}} | death_date = | occupation = Classical soprano | years_active = | website = }} '''Ann Mackay''' (born 21 March 1956<ref name=bfi>{{cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2baa1518b6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206143551/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2baa1518b6|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 December 2019|publisher=BFI|title=Ann Mackay filmography|accessdate=5 December 2019}}</ref>) is an English soprano.<ref name=autographs>{{cite web|url=http://www.arts-autographs.co.uk/opera-autographs-m.html|title=Autographs: opera singers M – Ann Mackay|website=arts-autographs.co.uk|accessdate=5 December 2019}}</ref>
==Biography== Ann Mackay was born in London, England. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama<ref name=autographs /> and with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf with whom she appeared at London's Wigmore Hall and elsewhere in Britain and Germany<ref name=autographs />
Mackay was the recipient of numerous awards before and after attending the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, including Greater London Council's "Outstanding Musician 1979",<ref name=Amazon>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-photo-of-Ann-Mackay/dp/B07FLPVMZV|title=Vintage photo of Ann Mackay|website=Amazon |accessdate=5 December 2019}}</ref> the Haydn Memorial Award, and the National Federation of Music Societies Award for Young Concert Artists.<ref name=Amazon />
In 1981, Mackay won the Society of West End Theatre Award for Outstanding First Achievement in Opera (1981 Laurence Olivier Awards), presented to her by Joan Sutherland,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thamehub.co.uk/event/ttmf18-classical-concert/|title=TTFM18 classical concert|accessdate=5 December 2019}}</ref> for her portrayal of Stasi in ''The Gypsy Princess''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://imsvintagephotos.com/annmackay1347570|title=Ann Mackay|last=IMS Vintage Photos|accessdate=5 December 2019}}</ref> In a similar year, she won the Concert Artists Guild of America Amcon Award,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.concertartists.org/competition-winners|title=concertartists.org|last=Concert Artists Guild|first=Competition Winner Archive|accessdate=5 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://imsvintagephotos.com/annmackay1347574|title=IMS Vintage Photos|last=Mackay|first=Ann|accessdate=5 December 2019}}</ref> following which she gave her New York debut at Carnegie Hall and toured the United States.<ref name="Amazon" />
Mackay is a frequent performer at venues and festivals across Europe (including the Aldeburgh Festival, Cheltenham Music Festival, Three Choirs Festival), America, and Australia (including performances at the Sydney Opera House<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/JackGibbonsPiano/posts/10156756609494384//|title=Jack Gibbons – Coming soon to Oxfordshire|website=Facebook|accessdate=6 December 2019}}</ref>). She has also performed with numerous orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, London Mozart Players, City of London Sinfonia, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and others.<ref name="Amazon" /> Moreover, she has performed regularly on BBC radio<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/200f953d-7c6a-4204-9d75-e3c9228a47a6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206143539/https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/200f953d-7c6a-4204-9d75-e3c9228a47a6|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 December 2019|title=Ann Mackay – New Song, Playlists & Latest News|website=BBC Music|accessdate=6 December 2019}}</ref> and television.<ref name="bfi" />
In 1983, Mackay played Rose Trelawny in BBC Radio 4's 1983 production of Julian Slade's musical play ''Trelawny''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/9ce8c5d219c24a3e8f48d2989bfd49e5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019222945/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/9ce8c5d219c24a3e8f48d2989bfd49e5|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 October 2014|title=Afternoon Theatre: Trelawny – BBC Radio 4 FM|date=26 December 1983|accessdate=6 December 2019}}</ref> In 1988, Mackay starred in Sadler's Wells Opera Company's four-month West End run and UK tour of Noël Coward's ''Bitter Sweet'' (the first professional revival since its 1929 premiere). The following year, she sang in John Rutter's Requiem under the direction of the composer at the Three Choirs Festival in Hereford.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/30/travel/a-world-of-music-whos-performing-where.html|title=A World of Music; Who's Performing Where|work=The New York Times|date=30 April 1989 |accessdate=6 December 2019 |last1=Kidd |first1=Vernon }}</ref> In 1990, Mackay toured France, Italy, Spain, and the UK with the European Community Chamber Orchestra as their Guest Singer of the Year<ref name="Amazon" /> In 1992, the Worshipful Company of Musicians elected Mackay a John Clementi Fellow, one of their most prestigious awards for a "professional musician of outstanding ability"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wcomarchive.org.uk/--john-clementi-fellowship|title=John Clementi Fellowship- wcomarchive|accessdate=6 December 2019}}</ref> for her study of the music of George Frideric Handel. Her subsequent Handel performances in the roles of Bernedice, Parthenope and Alcina with the Cambridge Handel Opera Group in the 1990s won her critical acclaim.<ref name="autographs" /><ref>''Handel'' (The Baroque Composers) (2010), 581; edited by David Vickers, published by Routledge</ref>
In addition to her Handel performances, she is highly regarded for her singing of French repertoire and of Richard Strauss (''The Daily Telegraph'' writing of her "naturally beautiful voice with an effortless top that made her an ideal interpreter of Strauss".<ref name="p714552">{{cite web|url=https://imsvintagephotos.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=714552|title=Ann Mackay – IMS Vintage Photos|accessdate=6 December 2019}}</ref>) Mackay has worked with numerous artists in the field of classical music, including Willard White, Simon Rattle, Stephen Cleobury, Nicholas McGegan and Marisa Robles (who described Mackay's voice as "one of the purest, musical and lovely voices I ever heard".<ref name="p714552" />)
Many composers have written music specifically for Mackay including the English composer and pianist Jack Gibbons, whose songs have been premiered by Mackay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jackgibbons.blogspot.com/2016/|title=Jack Gibbons Blog: 2016|accessdate=6 December 2019}}</ref>)
==Family== Ann Mackay has three daughters. Her eldest daughter is Hannah Mackay, the British television comedy producer of the BAFTA nominated series ''Peep Show'', script editor of the Rose D'Or winning and BAFTA nominated series ''Toast of London'', writer on BAFTA nominated CBBC sitcom ''Sadie J.'' and other shows.<ref>{{IMDb name|4170146|Hannah Mackay}}</ref>
==Recordings== Mackay has recorded for the RPO, Decca, Erato, ASV, Meridian, and other companies, including, for Decca, Dixit Dominus (Handel) with the English Chamber Orchestra and the Choir of King's College, Cambridge conducted by Stephen Cleobury, for RPO Records Paul Patterson's Mass of the Sea with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Geoffrey Simon, for Erato Jean-Philippe Rameau's opera ''Naïs'' with the English Bach Festival Singers and English Bach Festival Baroque Orchestra conducted by Nicholas McGegan and, for ASV, an album of Handel with the European Community Chamber Orchestra conducted by Eivind Aadland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://makdelart.blogspot.com/2019/03/handel-silete-venti-agrippina-condotta.html|website=makdelartblogspot.com|title=Handel – Silete venti|date=31 March 2019 |accessdate=6 December 2019}}</ref> Other recordings include a series, for Meridian, with the English Piano Trio of Scottish folk song arrangements by Haydn and Beethoven.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/haydn-in-london-trio-no-17-in-g-minor-trio-no-21-in-c-major-scottish-folk-songs-mw0001367909|title=Haydn in London|website=AllMusic |accessdate=6 December 2019}}</ref> Mackay's 1984 album ''My Minstrel Love''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Simon-Wynberg-Ann-Mackay-My-Minstrel-Love/release/12597975|title=Simon Wynberg, Ann Mackay – ''My Minstrel Love'' (1984, Vinyl)|website=Discogs |date=1984 |accessdate=6 December 2019}}</ref> was chosen as Record of the Month by Hi-Fi News & Record Review.<ref name=Amazon />
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|1357828|Ann Mackay}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20191206143551/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2baa1518b6 Ann Mackay BFI filmography] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20191206143539/https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/200f953d-7c6a-4204-9d75-e3c9228a47a6 BBC artist page for Ann Mackay] *{{YouTube|VEVz_hlEepg|Ann Mackay sings Armide (Lully) introduced by Alan Bennett}} *{{YouTube|hKsjWEFPsjU|Ann Mackay sings Handel (Alleluia from Silete Venti)}} *{{YouTube|xXgoOvn_m1U|Ann Mackay, Ramon Remedios - Il Tabarro Duet}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mackay, Ann}} Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:English sopranos Category:Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama