Douglas and Estelle de Niese: World-Class Singing Duo in the Mid-20th Century-by Michael Roberts Item at https://denieseduo.wordpress.com/?fbclid=IwAR1LfVAlI1IlacdEhxwyMgAPGr77rtYBPplA-kvMYdV2rh4itBN9NnHIhSg Douglas and Estelle de Niese Douglas and Estelle, singing duo affectionately referred to as the Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy of Sri Lanka, met while entertaining the troops during the Second World War.  Born into artistic families, Estelle is the daughter of the late Esme Joseph nee Van Twest, Sri Lanka’s leading soprano of the 1920s to the 1950s; Douglas was the son of the late George de Niese one of Sri Lanka’s prominent portrait and landscape artists. As duettists Estelle’s rich vibrant, effortlessly produced crystalline voice blended beautifully with Douglas’ Baritone voice of immense power and nobility. This vocal duo provided joy, entertainment and happiness to thousands of people. Specialising in the Western Art Music repertoire they sang German Lieder, solo and duo arias from the Orotorios of Handel and Bach and the Operas of Mozart, Puccini and Verdi. The ...

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