Muriel Dickson

Muriel Dickson (12 July 1903 – 11 March 1990) was a Scottish soprano who was particularly known for her performances in the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. After performing with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company for seven years, she sang for four seasons with the Metropolitan Opera and went on to a concert career. In later years, she taught singing at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and privately.

Born Constance Muriel Dickson in Edinburgh, she studied singing in Florence, Italy with Luigi Ricci.

In March 1928 she became a member of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, initially as a member of the chorus, performing in the company's repertory of Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Her nickname with the company was "Poppy". She had the opportunity, during her first season, to fill in as the principal soprano, Mabel, in The Pirates of Penzance. Soon, she was given the small roles of Fleta in Iolanthe, and, the next year, Ada in Princess Ida. In 1931, she was also given the small part of Ruth in Ruddigore, but she understudied and occasionally performed the leading roles of Mabel in Pirates, the title role in Patience, Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Elsie Maynard in The Yeomen of the Guard, and both Casilda and Gianetta in The Gondoliers.

After the departure from the company of Winifred Lawson in 1931, Dickson more regularly performed several of the leading roles, including Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore, Mabel in Pirates, the title role in Patience, Phyllis in Iolanthe, Lady Psyche in Princess Ida, Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Rose Maybud in Ruddigore, Elsie in Yeomen, and Gianetta in The Gondoliers. In 1932, she exchanged Psyche for the title role in Princess Ida and took on the new part of Aline in The Sorcerer. She continued to play most of these roles until June 1935. She recorded six of her roles for HMV: Gianetta (1931), Mabel (1931), Rose Maybud (1931), Elsie Maynard (1931), Princess Ida (1932) and Aline (1933). She also sang roles in the company's live and studio broadcasts, including Yum-Yum (1932 and 1933), Elsie (1932 and 1935) and Giannetta (1932).

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