Leila Mégane and T. Osborne Roberts Papers and Correspondence

Papers, [early 20 cent.]-1979, of or relating to the contralto Margaret Jones (afterwards Roberts) (Leila Mégane), Pwllheli, and her husband the composer and musician Thomas Osborne Roberts.

The operatic singer Leila Mégane was born Margaret Jones in Bethesda, Caernarvonshire in 1891. She made her first solo appearance at the age of sixteen and soon afterwards received her first contract to sing in concert This was followed by successes at both local and national eisteddfodau and her renown in the next few years led to her entering the London Royal Academy of Music. At the end of her time at the Royal Academy of Music Margaret studied for a further six years in Paris under the world-famous singer Jean de Reszke and it was de Reszke who advised his talented student to adopt the name Leila Mégane. Under her new title, Leila received her first professional contract while still at Paris, which was soon to lead to worldwide renown and international tours. In 1924 Leila married composer and musician Thomas Osborne Roberts, with whom she had worked professionally for some time and would continue to do so by popularising several of her husband's song compositions. Thomas Osborne Roberts died in 1948. In 1956 a scholarship bearing Leila Mégane's name was established to aid young Welsh singers studying at the Royal Academy of Music. Leila died in 1960.

Arranged at NLW as follows: Leila Mégane manuscripts; T. Osborne Roberts manuscripts.

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NLW MSS 15281C, 15284-15310: Mrs Effie Isaura Osborne Hughes, daughter of Leila Mégane and T. Osborne Roberts; Purchase; February 1980.
NLW MSS 15282-15283: Mrs Effie Isaura Osborne Hughes; Bequest; August 1996.

The operatic singer Leila Mégane was born Margaret Jones in Bethesda, Caernarvonshire in 1891. She made her first solo appearance at the age of sixteen and soon afterwards received her first contract to sing in concert This was followed by successes at both local and national eisteddfodau and her renown in the next few years led to her entering the London Royal Academy of Music. At the end of her time at the Royal Academy of Music Margaret studied for a further six years in Paris under the world-famous singer Jean de Reszke and it was de Reszke who advised his talented student to adopt the name Leila Mégane. Under her new title, Leila received her first professional contract while still at Paris, which was soon to lead to worldwide renown and international tours. In 1924 Leila married composer and musician Thomas Osborne Roberts, with whom she had worked professionally for some time and would continue to do so by popularising several of her husband's song compositions. Thomas Osborne Roberts died in 1948. In 1956 a scholarship bearing Leila Mégane's name was established to aid young Welsh singers studying at the Royal Academy of Music. Leila died in 1960.

Title based on contents of fonds.

November 2010.

Description compiled by Bethan Ifan for the retrospective conversion project of NLW MSS

Usual copyright laws apply.

A typescript copy of Leila Mégane's autobiography included in the 1996 bequest, together with eisteddfod programmes and other miscellaneous items included in the 1980 purchase are NLW ex 1763-1764; two albums of photographs and a printer's block and plate have been transferred to the Department of Pictures and Maps.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales