Neil Howlett

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

Neil Howlett (born 24 July 1934) is a retired English operatic baritone who has sung leading roles in major opera houses and festivals in the UK and abroad, including the Royal Opera House, Teatro Colón, and the English National Opera, where he was the Principal Baritone for seventeen years.[1] Described by John Steane as "a vibrant voice somewhat in the Amato/Franci line",[2] Howlett's repertoire included over 80 roles.


Howlett was born in Mitcham and was educated St Paul's Cathedral School and King's College, Cambridge followed by further studies at the Hochschule für Musik in Stuttgart.[1] In 1957, while still at Cambridge, he won the Kathleen Ferrier Award,[3] and in 1964 made his debut in the world premiere performance of Benjamin Britten's Curlew River.

The peak of his career was the seventeen years he spent as principal baritone with the English National Opera, where he created the role of The Mirador in Gordon Crosse's The Story of Vasco (1974) and the title role David Blake's Toussaint (1977). His wide range of repertoire included the heaviest Verdi and Puccini roles, especially Iago in Otello and Scarpia in Tosca, and many Heldenbaritone roles, such as Amfortas in Parsifal and Jokanaan in Salome. Late in his career he also sang Wotan/Wanderer in Wagner's Ring cycle. Amongst his other roles were Prince Andrei in Prokofiev's War and Peace[4] and Golaud in Pelléas et Mélisande.[5]

Howlett was a professor at the Guildhall School of Music, and later, after retiring from full-time performance, Head of Vocal Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music. He still teaches privately in London and Lincolnshire.[6]

Recordings and broadcasts[edit]

Howlett's recordings include:

  • Britten: GlorianaSarah Walker (Queen Elizabeth I), Anthony Rolfe Johnson (Earl of Essex), Jean Rigby (Countess of Essex), Neil Howlett (Lord Mountjoy), Alan Opie (Sir Robert Cecil), Elizabeth Vaughan (Lady Rich), Richard Van Allan (Sir Walter Raleigh), Malcolm Donnelly (Henry Cuffe); English National Opera Chorus and Orchestra; Mark Elder (conductor). Live recording, London 1984 (also broadcast on the BBC). Label: ArtHaus Musik DVD[8]

Notes and references[edit]

  1. ^ a b Cummings (2000) p. 268
  2. ^ Steane (December 1980) p. 108. Steane is referring here to the Italian baritones, Pasquale Amato (1878-1942) and Benvenuto Franci (1891–1985).
  3. ^ Kathleen Ferrier Awards
  4. ^ Henahan (29 June 1984)
  5. ^ Cariaga (26 April 1991)
  6. ^ Neil Howlett, official biography
  7. ^ Chandos Records (2001)
  8. ^ Blyth (December 2006) p. 119


External links[edit]