Eva Turner

Dame Eva Turner (10 March 1892 – 16 June 1990) was an English dramatic soprano. Determined from an early age to become an opera singer, she studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and then joined the chorus of the Carl Rosa Opera Company. She was allotted increasingly important solo roles, and by 1920 was the company's prima donna.

Talent spotted by an assistant to Arturo Toscanini, musical director of La Scala, Milan, Turner was engaged to sing there in 1924, and then had an international career in Continental Europe, North and South America and at Covent Garden. She sang in a wide range of operas, including those of Wagner and Verdi, but was known above all for her performances in the title role of Puccini's Turandot.

From the late 1940s, Turner was a voice teacher, first in the US and then in Britain. Among her pupils were Amy Shuard, Rita Hunter and Linda Esther Gray.

Birth and Death Data: Born Oldham (town in Greater Manchester, England), Died June 16, 1990 (London (capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1928

Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia (U.K.) WAX3925 12-in. between June and August 1928 O patria mia Thomas Beecham ; Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WAX3928 12-in. between June and August 1928 Suicidio Thomas Beecham ; Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WAX3929 12-in. between June and August 1928 Vissi d'arte Thomas Beecham ; Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WAX3930 12-in. between June and August 1928 Voi lo sapete Thomas Beecham ; Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WAX3931 12-in. between June and August 1928 Ritorna vincitor Thomas Beecham ; Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WAX3932 12-in. between June and August 1928 Ritorna vincitor Thomas Beecham ; Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WA7636 10-in. between July and September 1928 In questa reggia Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WA7637 10-in. between July and September 1928 O principi, che a lunghe carovane Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WBX28 12-in. 5/12/1926 La gioconda : Finale, Act III Bruno Carmassi ; Ferdinando Ciniselli ; Leone Paci ; Emilia Rubadi ; Eva Turner Vocal quintet, with orchestra and chorus vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WBX47 12-in. 9/23/1926 Voi lo sapete Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WBX48 12-in. September-December 1926 O cieli azzuri Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WBX49 12-in. 9/25/1926 Suicido Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WBX50 12-in. 9/25/1926 Vissi d'arte Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WBX53 12-in. 10/1/1926 O lovely night Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WBX54 12-in. 10/1/1926 Good-bye Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WB1022 10-in. 12/31/1926 Gran concertato finale II atto Bruno Carmassi ; Ferdinando Ciniselli ; Leone Paci ; Emilia Rubadi ; Teatro alla Scala Coro ; Eva Turner Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WB1073 10-in. approximately 1926 Ritorna vincitor Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WB1074 10-in. approximately 1926 Aïda Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WB1088 10-in. 9/25/1926 Because Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WB1089 10-in. 9/27/1926 Sometimes in my dreams Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WB1910 10-in. 4/26/1928 Ritorna vincitor Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WB1912 10-in. 4/26/1928 Ritorna vincitor Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WB1926 10-in. 4/28/1928 In questa reggia Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WB1928 10-in. 4/28/1928 O principi che a lunghe carovane Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Turner, Eva," accessed December 25, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/359587.

Turner, Eva. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 25, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/359587.

"Turner, Eva." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 25 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/359587

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