Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

May 27, 1938 in Kettering, England

Death

:

June 21, 1990 in Fryerning

Period

:

Baroque

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

Elizabeth Harwood was a British soprano who was born on May 27, 1938, in Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire, England. She was the youngest of three children and grew up in a musical family. Her father was a church organist, and her mother was a singer. Harwood began singing at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. Harwood received her early education at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she studied under the tutelage of Flora Nielsen and Roy Henderson. She made her professional debut in 1954 at the age of 16, singing the role of the Shepherd Boy in Tosca at the Royal Opera House in London. She continued to perform in various operas and concerts throughout the 1950s and 1960s, building a reputation as a talented soprano. In 1960, Harwood made her debut at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, where she sang the role of Pamina in Mozart's The Magic Flute. This performance was a turning point in her career, as it led to many more opportunities to perform in major opera houses around the world. She went on to perform in many other operas, including La bohème, Don Giovanni, and The Marriage of Figaro. One of Harwood's most notable performances was in 1963, when she sang the role of Sophie in Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier at the Royal Opera House in London. Her performance was widely praised, and she received critical acclaim for her portrayal of the character. This performance helped to establish her as one of the leading sopranos of her time. Harwood also had a successful career as a concert singer, performing in many recitals and concerts throughout her career. She was known for her beautiful voice and her ability to connect with audiences through her performances. She was particularly renowned for her performances of Mozart's music, which she sang with great sensitivity and emotion. Throughout her career, Harwood received many awards and honors for her contributions to classical music. In 1963, she was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society's Singer of the Year award, and in 1964, she was awarded the Harriet Cohen International Music Award. She was also made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1986 for her services to music. Despite her success, Harwood's career was cut short by illness. In the late 1980s, she was diagnosed with cancer, and she passed away on June 21, 1990, at the age of 52. Her death was a great loss to the world of classical music, as she was widely regarded as one of the greatest sopranos of her time. In conclusion, Elizabeth Harwood was a talented soprano who made a significant contribution to the world of classical music. Her beautiful voice and her ability to connect with audiences through her performances made her one of the leading sopranos of her time. Her performances in operas and concerts around the world, as well as her many awards and honors, are a testament to her talent and dedication to music. Although her career was cut short by illness, her legacy lives on through her recordings and the memories of those who were fortunate enough to see her perform.

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