Neil Howlett facts for kids
Neil Howlett (born July 24, 1934 – died May 21, 2020) was a talented English opera singer. He was a baritone, which means he had a deep, rich singing voice. Neil sang important roles in famous opera houses and festivals around the world. These included the Royal Opera House in London and the Teatro Colón in Argentina. For 17 years, he was the main baritone at the English National Opera. People said his voice was "vibrant" and strong. He knew how to sing over 80 different opera roles!
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Neil Howlett's Life Story
Neil Howlett was born in a place called Mitcham in England. He went to school at St Paul's Cathedral School and then studied at King's College, Cambridge, a famous university. He also studied music in Germany at the Hochschule für Musik in Stuttgart.
In 1957, while still at Cambridge, he won the Kathleen Ferrier Award. This is a special prize for young singers. In 1964, he performed for the very first time in a new opera called Curlew River by Benjamin Britten.
Singing at the English National Opera
The most important part of his singing career was the 17 years he spent as the main baritone at the English National Opera (ENO). A "principal baritone" is like a lead singer who gets many of the main roles.
At the ENO, he helped create new roles in operas. He played The Mirador in The Story of Vasco (1974) and the main character in Toussaint (1977).
Neil Howlett could sing many different types of opera roles. He was especially good at the strong, dramatic parts in operas by Verdi and Puccini. Some of his famous roles included:
Later in his career, he also sang the very challenging roles of Wotan and Wanderer in Wagner's huge opera series, the Ring cycle. He also performed as Prince Andrei in Prokofiev's War and Peace.
Teaching Music
Besides singing, Neil Howlett also loved to teach. He was a professor at the Guildhall School of Music. Later, after he stopped performing full-time, he became the Head of Vocal Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music. He also taught singing lessons privately in London and Lincolnshire.
Neil Howlett passed away on May 21, 2020, when he was 85 years old.
Neil Howlett's Recordings
Neil Howlett also made several recordings of his opera performances. This means his voice and performances can still be heard today! Some of his recordings include:
- Singing as the First Soldier in Strauss's Salome (1968).
- Playing Iago in Verdi's Otello with the English National Opera (1983).
- Singing as The Emperor in Stravinsky's Le rossignol.
- Performing as Laski in Chabrier's Le roi malgré lui (1975).
- Playing Lord Mountjoy in Britten's Gloriana with the English National Opera (1984).
