Judith Anne Buckle is a soprano of tremendous range, secure intonation and, in addition, has an exceptional voice. It is naturally beautiful both sensuous and always appealing. And yet, she is not yet as well known as she deserves to be.
When I first encountered Judith I was immediately taken with her voice ... so much so, that I could not believe that she not a household name. How had she been missed, or passed over? I sent a copy of a cassette of her singing to six fellow professionals who all shared my enthusiasm and with genuine sincerity. Professor James Brown spoke of her impeccable tone!, the composer, John Veale was full of praise as well. "An incredible voice both able to be lyrical and dramatic; a voice of such a quality the like of which I have not heard in decades," he said.
And so I could go on. These are not opinions but factual objective appraisals by senior professionals.
Judith was born in Stockton-on-Tees on 24 July 1953 to Thomas Bernard Buckle and May (nee Croft). Both were school teachers. There are three other children all of which are, or have been. competent pianists. Kathleen is a school teacher, Elizabeth was a policewoman and David is an administrator for a charity organisation.
Leadership has always been one of Judith's many strengths. Her schools were Frederick Nattrass School (1957-64), Grangefield Grammar School for Girls (1964-9 and Stockton and Billingham Technical College (1969-71) she has been a form prefect and head girl, a good table tennis player and, from an early age, a fine singer.
Among her singing teachers were Helga Mott (1976) Rudolf Piernay (1982) and Dennis Wicks (1982) and her piano teachers included Joyce Newton and Terence Beccles. Upon leaving school she went directly to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She speaks of her mother's tremendous influence encouraging her daughter to become a musician. Added to this was the good effect of her Methodist upbringing (her father is a lay preacher). She was surrounded by music at an early age both in church and domestic settings. She did not take to opera at first but to oratorio and by the time she was fifteen she was giving lunchtime concerts in the Middlesborough Town Hall. Her professional debut was with the Stockton Choral Society in 1970 with Vivaldi's Gloria. She appeared at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon in 1977 and with a London Mozart Players' performance of Beethoven's Choral Symphony. She sang the role of Nancy in Flotow's Martha with the North London Opera in 1978 and appeared with Tommy Steele in a ITV production of The Yeoman of the Guard. She has appeared in a vocal quartet in a Dick Emery Christmas show!
She sang Peep-Bo in The Mikado with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at the Proms in 1978 and sang the role of Kate in a Live Radio 2 performance of The Pirates of Penzance from the Royal Albert Hall.. She has worked with and had successful associations with Benjamin Luxon, Donald McIntyre, Elizabeth Bainbridge. Petter Gellhorn and Adrian Leyer. She has premiered the role of Sally in Quel Weekend by Ken Roberts performed at the White Rock Theatre in Hastings and also premiered the roles of Mrs Medlock and Lilias in The Secret Garden composed by Helen Glavin. She seems to be doing less with the small touring opera companies and singing significant roles with orchestra such as Richard Strauss's sublime Four Last Songs, Britten's Les Illuminations and War Requiem and Howell's Hymnus Paradisi.
She has a desire to perform more recital work and wants musical challenges. In her spare time she plays table tennis and the piano, enjoys gardening and walking the dog with her husband Matthew Craven whom she married in October 1992 at St. Marys Church, Teynham. Sittingbourne. He is a retired agronomist and is an administrator for a touring opera company.
But why is such an obvious talent not widely known? She has a truly unique voice and undeniable ability. Is it because she is not a pushy person being the extremely pleasant and charming a person that she truly is.
It is the musical public that are being deprived of hearing an exceptional singer.
© Copyright - David C F Wright, 1998
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