A hardworking English mezzo has died

We have been informed of the death of Carol Rowlands, who had a 30-year career mostly in UK opera houses, and a secondary line as a cabaret singer.

Carol,who died in her sleep yesterday, started out in chorus and small roles with Scottish Opera.   She went on to sing  Mrs Grose in The Turn of the Screw, Baba the Turk in The Rake’s Progress for English Touring Opera, Judy in Punch and Judy by Sir Harrison Birtwistle and Goneril in Toshio Hosokawa’s Vision of Lear. 

She was in Gloriana ar ROH and sang Annina, Mrs Gross and Miss Sedley at Holland’s Reisopera.  She sang Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana for Scottish Opera-go-round and was Carmen at Holland Park. In her 60s, she was stricken by cancer, which she dealt with in a very private way. Few knew the severity of her condition. She was widely loved. 

Our sympathies to Carol’s family and friends.