Sad passing of an English mezzo, 70
RIPSingers are sharing their sadness at the death of mezzo-soprano Claire Powell.
Claire won the Richard Tauber memorial prize in 1978. She sang various roles at Glyndebourne between 1978 and 1988 and was a member of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, 1979–85.
She appears to have lost touch with friends in the profession and died last week at a dementia care home in Lostwithiel, Cornwall.
Such a versatile and reliable singer I especially remember her Nicklause as pictured with Domingo in Hoffmann I don’t think I’ve ever heard the part bettered RIP
Remembering Claire Powell from a Wagner production in France some years ago. Such a wonderful singer and charming person in conversation. May she rest in peace.
How tremendously sad. Dementia seems doubly cruel when it strikes early. I worked with Claire on many of her projects at ROH in the 1980s, and she was always a delight.
Claire was so sweet and fun. She was a real brick to me, especially is my early years in the UK. And she was a damn good singer.
Beautiful girl with a beautiful voice. Rest in peace, Claire.
A beautiful woman indeed
I’m deeply saddened to read this news about Claire.
She was a very fine singer and a M ch treasured colleague during my ten seasons at Glyndebourne.
May she rest in peace.
It seems so often singers lose touch with other singers in the profession after retirement. I remember having this conversation with Neil Howlett, my last singing teacher for 10.years. He heard from no one in his old age, particularly from ENO after spending so many years there. It can end up a lonely life afterwards. As for Claire, dementia is cruel. She was such a fine singer, my own age, but I didn’t know her personally. So sorry to hear this news as thank her for her wonderful singing and amazing contribution to the profession. May she always rest in peace.
My mother-in-law had dementia – caused endless tensions between her and my father-in-law.
From Pen Marland. Really sad to see this news of Clair’s death, Ive been in touch with her by phone over the years and even visited her in her beloved Cornwall but lost touch after she moved. we spoke last year when I rang her on her birthday but I couldnt get through to her this year,
It seems most us lost touch recently, sadly. Many fond memories though.