Open Features: Jennifer Vyvyan
Peter Wintersgill outlines the career of Jennifer Vyvyan who created roles in Benjamin Britten operas.
Born
13th March 1925 in Broadstairs, Kent.
Adolescence
Studied at the Royal Academy of Music and also with Roy Henderson.
Adult life
Joined Glyndebourne chorus, then sang solo part in at Beggar's Opera 1948. Studied with Carpi in Switzerland 1950. Joined Sadlers Wells Opera 1952, singing Mozart roles. Created Penelope Rich in Britten's Gloriana Covent Garden 1953. Sang Electra in Mozart's Idomeneo Glyndebourne 1954. Created the governess in Britten's Turn of the Screw, Venice 1954, also Tytania in his Midsummer Nights Dream Aldburgh 1960, and Mrs. Julian in Owen Wingrave TV 1971 and Covent Garden 1973.
She also sang very successfully in concerts, especially Elgar's oratorios and Howells' Hymnus Paradisi.
She died in 1974 in London aged 49.
