A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Williams, Anna

WILLIAMS, Anna, born in London, daughter of Mr. William Smith Williams, reader to Messrs. Smith Elder & Co., to whose insight the publication of 'Jane Eyre' was due. She was taught singing by Mr. H. C. Deacon and Mr. J. B. Welch, and on June 29, 1872, took the first soprano prize at the National Prize Meeting Festival at the Crystal Palace. She afterwards studied for fifteen months at Naples with Domenico Scafati, and on Jan. 17, 1874, reappeared at the Crystal Palace. Since then she has taken a very high position as an oratorio and concert singer at the Principal Festivals and Musical Societies of the United Kingdom. Her voice is powerful and 2½ octaves in compass, and she sings like a thorough musician. She has occasionally played in opera in the provinces, but it is as a versatile, refined and accomplished concert singer that she is best known and appreciated. Her repertoire embraces music of all schools, from the classical composers to Wagner, Liszt, Sgambati, Parry, etc.

[ A. C. ]