Autograph
Marie Brema
1914

Marie Brema, born 28 February 1856, was a British dramatic mezzo-soprano, who performed at the Halle regularly between 1897 and 1904. She made her stage debut in 1891, with her first showing a professional interest in singing at 18 after her marriage. Queen Victoria described her as “a wonderfully fine singer” and “a most admirable actress” in her journal on 28th July, 1898.

After she retired from performing, she became the director of the opera class at the Royal Manchester College of Music, and her and her daughter Helen (known under the stage name Tita Brand) created a workshop called “Brema Looms” that was meant to employ young disabled women from London’s east end.

Fun fact: she is the great grandmother of Michael Morpurgo!