Canadian-born soprano and teacher Ludmilla “Milla” Andrew has passed away.

Andrew, writes Alexander Campbell for ClassicalSource, “is probably best remembered for her mettlesome dramatic voice that was heard to advantage in the dramatic corners of the repertoire.” She made her Canadian Opera Company debut in 1955 as the Foreign Woman in Menotti’s “The Consul” after completing her studies at Toronto Conservatory.

She graced the stages of Sadler’s Wells (later English National Opera), San Francisco Opera, the Royal Opera, Scottish Opera, and Welsh National Opera, to name just a few. Her roles included Donna Elvira (which she performed alongside Joan Sutherland in Vancouver), Cio-Cio-San, Leonora, Tosca, Aida, Rosalinda, Turandot, Anna Bolena (at the Glyndebourne Festival), Lady Macbeth, Player Queen (in Searle’s “Hamlet”), and many more.

In addition to being a remarkable singer, Andrew was beloved as an educator. She was well known for her expertise of the Russian language, and shared her knowledge with her students at the Royal Academy of Music.

Royal Academy of Music shared the following statement via Twitter: “We’re very sad to hear of Ludmilla Andrew’s death. Milla was an Academy staff member for many years and became an Honorary Associate in 1995. She will be remembered by many for her inspirational and generous teaching.”

Opera Rara also tweeted about the loss: “We are very sad to hear the news about Ludmila Andrew. She has been a committed member of Opera Rara’s Board of Directors for nearly 20 years and a loyal champion of our work. Our thoughts go to her family and many friends.”

You can hear the soprano at 46 minutes in a clip from Donizetti’s rarely performed work “Gabriella di Vergy.”