Leading soprano Margaret Price dies

THE opera singer Dame Margaret Price, considered to be one of the world's leading sopranos, has died at her home in Wales. She was 69.

Funeral director Paul Jenkins confirmed that her funeral is expected to be held this week but had no further details.

The famed soprano, known particularly for her exquisite renditions of Mozart's complicated music, died of heart failure on Friday.

Price, who rose to prominence after her debut as Cherubino in Mozart's Marriage of Figaro at the Welsh National Opera in 1962, had performed in most of the world's great opera houses by the time she retired in 1999.

She was known for the striking purity and beauty of her voice.

After her debut in Wales, Price went on to play Cherubino at the Royal Opera House at Convent Garden, London's glittering showcase for world-class talent.

An early triumph in the United States was in Mozart's The Magic Flute in San Francisco, which Price followed up with stunning performances of other Mozart works in Germany.

Over the course of her career, the singer was honoured in many countries, receiving honorary degrees from some of the world's top universities and being made a Dame Commander of the British Empire by the Queen in 1993.

Price also made numerous recordings and has performed for television programmes.