Gwen Catley

The British soprano Gwen Catley had blonde hair and blue eyes, and was just a little over five feet tall; her voice was exceptionally pure and clear, and is instantly recognisable - her personal charm and simplicity is strongly reflected in her style of singing. She was a very popular radio and recording artist, and she made a few operatic appearances (most notably as Gilda in RIGOLETTO). Through her hundreds of radio broadcasts she became a household name, and her singing career lasted through the 1930s, '40s and '50s. She then enjoyed a long and happy retirement, and had a number of singing pupils - including some famous names from the world of theatre and film.