Article

Augusta Beverley Robinson

Published Online June 26, 2007

Last Edited December 15, 2013

Augusta (Louise) Beverley Robinson. Mezzo-soprano, b Toronto 12 Feb 1859, d there 9 Sep 1935. Her grandfather, Sir John Beverley Robinson, was chief justice of Upper Canada.

Robinson, Augusta Beverley

Augusta (Louise) Beverley Robinson. Mezzo-soprano, b Toronto 12 Feb 1859, d there 9 Sep 1935. Her grandfather, Sir John Beverley Robinson, was chief justice of Upper Canada. After study with Emilio Agramonte in New York, Rosine Laborde in Paris, and Alberto Randegger and George Henschel in London, she began her career in England ca 1890 and quickly established herself as an admired exponent of the sentimental ballads (especially those by her friend Maude Valérie White) then so much in vogue. She toured Canada 1896-7 as a member of Emma Albani's concert party and thereafter confined her appearances to Canada, retiring in 1898, soon after her marriage. She possessed a light, well-schooled voice.

Robinson's husband, Stewart Field Houston of Waterdown, Ont, served 1900-10 as manager of Massey Hall, Toronto, and managed the Canadian tours of many leading artists of the day.