Thanks to the sterling work of music critic and broadcaster Michael White, the life and work of Jennifer Vyvyan, the much loved English soprano who died in 1974 at the tragically young age of 49, lives on. It is Michael who has created an exhaustive website about her life’s work – and it is Michael who organised, last week, the unveiling of a Heath and Hampstead Society plaque at her old home at 59 Fitzjohn’s Avenue.
Jennifer – or Jenny as she was always known – came of ancient, if impoverished, Cornish stock although she was actually brought up in Broadstairs. She entered the Royal Academy of Music aged 16 in 1941 and although the early years were a financial struggle, by 1947 she was singing with the Glyndebourne chorus.
By the early 1950s she was already well established and for the next 20 years was very much part of the post war flowering of British music – hugely in demand for recitals and concerts under all of the great conductors of the time. Although well known operatic arias feature in her recitals, her operatic focus was on the works contemporary composers such as Walton, Williamson and Benjamin Britten (for whom Vyvyan was often the soprano of choice) and the rediscovery of the baroque masterpieces of Handel and Purcell.
For her Britten created the roles of the governess in the Turn of the Screw, Titania in Midsummer Night’s Dream, Miss Wordsworth in Albert Herring, Lady Rich in Gloriana and Mrs Julian in Owen Wingrave. All of which needed to be fitted into a packed schedule of oratorios sung not only around the UK but around Europe and as far afield as the USSR – and even occasional fun appearances in Gilbert and Sulliavan and the legendary Hoffnung concerts.
This packed schedule continued into the early 1970s but the bronchial/asthmatic condition that had troubled her for many years was worsening. And in early April 1974 complications arose which were to cut short her career and her life – aged only 49 and at the height of her powers. She was buried in Hampstead cemetery.
If you are interested in her life in more detail, Michael’s website is a mine of rivetting information, including live interviews and recordings. It covers not only Vyvyan herself but the whole the musical scene of the 1950s and ’60s.
However, can I suggest that to get the best results if you should use Chrome as your browser.
Back to the plaque unveiling
It was the legendary counter tenor James Bowman, the perfect Oberon in Midsummer Night’s Dream, who joined our select group in Fitzjohn’s Avenue on Thursday to reveal the new plaque. As part of Britten’s company in Aldeburgh, James first sang with Jennifer (sorry, Jenny) in Purcell’s Faerie Queen before they went on together to create, among many other roles, the magic that is Britten’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. (For James’ interesting article on the counter tenor voice see this article in the Guardian in 2009.)
Do take a couple of minutes to listen to the delightful memories that he shared with us.
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This has all been very interesting as not only was a niece of Jennifer’s a pupil of mine but James Bowman a positive tour de force in my life when he was at his height. I was even able to persuade him to do a fundraiser for Lauderdale House with Robert Spencer in the Eighties. The latter helped again with his wife for an Armada evening, the following year attended by Lord and Lady Lauderdale. Not much money was raised but a lot of good will and awareness. I loved also the Handel Operas as well as Britten’s so frequently performed then. How sad Jennifer’s life was so curtailed. EN.
How fascinating, Elizabeth – and I so agree about James Bowman being a tour de force. He was my first introduction to counter tenors and I have loved that voice ever since.
And as you obviously already know – he is such a delight in person.
Very tragic indeed about Jennifer.
Thank you Michelle, we are obviously like – minded! Elizabeth.