MIRAN, Mira [WILMSHURST, Mira Dashwood] (b parish of St Mary at the Walls, Colchester, Essex, 15 July 1826; d 1 Lisle Terrace, St Peter Port, Guernsey, 19 August 1884)

This chapter presents a biography of mid- to late-19th-century vocalist Mira Miran. Miss Miran appeared, apparently from nowhere, as one of the operatic debutantes in Jullien's famous season as impresario at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in 1847-8. The other young stars of this season included Mr Sims Reeves and Miss Charlott Ann Birch - two of the future greats of British music - the very consequent bass Henry Whitworth, and the young Mrs Georgina Weiss, yet none among the vocalists won more praise than the 21-year-old contralto Miss Miran. In fact, 'Miss Miran' had not quite come from 'nowhere'. She had come, like Miss Birch, Mrs Weiss and Whitworth, from the Royal Academy of Music. But she had changed her name between school and stage. Miss Miran took the score and sang her way through Act I as Donizetti's heroine, until Sophia Messent could take over.