author
Dame Clara Butt
1872–1936
A towering contralto with a famously rich voice, she became one of Britain’s best-loved concert singers and an early star of recordings and broadcasts. Her career stretched from the 1890s into the 1920s, winning admiration from audiences and composers alike.
1 Audiobook
How to Become a Successful Singer
by Dame Clara Butt, Enrico Caruso, Ben Davies, Dame Nellie Melba
About the author
Born in Southwick, Sussex, on February 1, 1872, Clara Butt grew up in Bristol and went on to study at the Royal College of Music. She became known as an English dramatic contralto, with a powerful stage presence and a voice that made her one of the most popular singers of her era.
Her main career was as a recitalist and concert singer, and she was especially celebrated in ballads and oratorios. She remained widely admired from the 1890s through the 1920s, and her success in recordings helped make her one of the early musical celebrities of the modern media age.
Clara Butt died on January 23, 1936. She is still remembered for the scale of her voice, her commanding performances, and the way she helped bring classical and concert singing to a broad public.