Mina Foley (9 March 1930 – 21 January 2007) was a New Zealand

coloratura soprano A coloratura soprano is a type of operatic soprano voice that specializes in music that is distinguished by agile runs, leaps and trills. The term '' coloratura'' refers to the elaborate ornamentation of a melody, which is a typical component o ...

, who rose to prominence in the 1950s. She was the first of many to study under the acclaimed singing teacher Dame

Sister Mary Leo Dame Sister Mary Leo Niccol (3 April 18955 May 1989) was a New Zealand religious sister who is best known for training some of the world's finest sopranos, including Dames Malvina Major, Kiri Te Kanawa, and Heather Begg. She was born as Kathl ...

. Other prominent singers who studied with Mary Leo included the internationally renowned soprano Dame

Kiri Te Kanawa Dame Kiri Jeanette Claire Te Kanawa , (; born Claire Mary Teresa Rawstron, 6 March 1944) is a retired New Zealand opera singer. She had a full lyric soprano voice, which has been described as "mellow yet vibrant, warm, ample and unforced". Te ...

, soprano Dame Malvina Major, and mezzo-soprano Heather Begg. Foley's voice was dubbed "The voice of the century" by some. On her 1955 New Zealand tour every concert was sold out. She studied abroad, and performed in Ireland, Italy, England, USA and Australia, returning to New Zealand in 1960. Foley had a severe mental breakdown in 1961, forcing her retirement after only one year performing in New Zealand. She spent the next 16 years in Oakley Psychiatric Hospital. In 1978 she staged a return concert. However, her return to singing was short-lived, and ill-health continued to plague her until her death in 2007.

Recordings

There are three Mina Foley albums in print on the New Zealand label Ode Records. ''The Early Years'' (CDMANU1062) was released in 1991 and is a compilation of some of Foley's earliest recordings from the period 1949-1953. These recordings were made in New Zealand. Included are recordings of Verdi's 'Sempre Libera', Mozart's 'Der Holle Rache' (performed in English), Bellini's 'Casta Diva'and Donizetti's 'O luce di quest'anima'. ''Songs For You'' (CDMANU1529) was released in 1996 and is an eighteen track compilation of classics including 'Ave Maria', 'How Great Thou Art' and 'The Lord's Prayer'. ''Mina Foley and Michael Tarawhiti McGifford'' (CDMANU2061) was released on compact disc for the first time in 2007. It features a selection of songs for solo voice and duets performed by Foley with Michael Tarawhiti McGifford.

References

Obituary: Mina FoleyNiccol, Mary Leo 1895 - 1989
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foley, Mina 1930 births 2007 deaths New Zealand operatic sopranos 20th-century New Zealand women opera singers