Anne Ziegler

About Anne Ziegler

Anne Ziegler (b. Irene Frances Eastwood, 1910, Liverpool, England, d. 15 October 2003), and Webster Booth (b. Leslie Webster Booth, 21 January 1902, Birmingham, England, d. 22 June 1984, Llandudno, Wales). From an early age Ziegler trained as a classical pianist, and later became a skilled accompanist. After studying with voice trainer John Tobin, she moved to London in 1934 and played in the chorus of the operetta By Appointment, and sang in restaurants and hotels. In 1936, after being chosen from 250 applicants to play the leading soprano role of Marguerita in an early colour film of Faust, she met the tenor, Webster Booth. He attended choir school at Lincoln Cathedral, and sang solos there at the age of seven. After his voice had broken when he was 13, he worked in accountant’s office before gaining a patron for his musical education. In 1924 he joined the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, and stayed with them for three years. Subsequently, he sang oratorios in every concert hall in Britain. He made his first recordings for HMV Records in 1928, and in the early 30s, performed at Drury Lane and Covent Garden. He married Ziegler in 1938, and, two years later, they formed a double act and toured UK variety theatres. During World War II and for some years afterwards, they were extremely popular on stage, radio and records. Like so many others, their appeal faded in the mid-50s and they emigrated to South Africa, where they lived and worked until 1978. Apart from their appearances there in concerts and operettas, Booth also played the part of comedian Tommy Handley for a year in a re-creation of the famous war-time radio series ITMA. On their return to the UK they settled in Penrhyn Bay, Llandudno, North Wales, where they taught music, and continued to appear together on stage, radio and television. They sang their last duet, ‘I’ll See You Again’, at a concert in June 1983. Booth died a year later in Llandudno. Ziegler passed away in November 2003.

HOMETOWN
Liverpool, England
BORN
June 22, 1910
GENRE
Pop

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