Davies, Cecilia

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Davies, Cecilia

Davies, Cecilia , English soprano; b. c. 1755; d. London, July 3, 1836. A precocious child, she toured with her parents and her sister, Marianne Davies (b. 1743 or 1744; d. c. 1818), who played the harpsichord and flute, and then the glass harmonica from 1762. Cecilia appeared in Ireland in 1763, and then with her sister in London in 1767 before touring throughout Europe. During their stay in Vienna, Cecilia studied with Hasse, in whose Ruggiero she appeared in Naples in 1772. Following appearances in other Italian cities, she sang in London (1773–74; 1776–77) before pursuing her career on the Continent. She gave concerts in London and other British cities in 1787 and 1791, but her career then waned and she ended her days in poverty.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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Davies, Cecilia

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