Death of Covent Garden principal, 96
RIPThe death has belatedly been brought to our attention of Jeannette Sinclair, principal soprano at the Royal Opera House from 1956 to 1966. She died on April 11, her 96th birthday.
Jeannette sang Sister Constance in the UK premiere of Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmelites, as well as many leading roles in standard repetoire, featuring in multiple broadcasts and recordings. Among her conductors were Kubeli, Klemperer, Solti and Vittorio Gui.
After leaving Covent Garden she led a private, family life.
None of the national newspapers or opera magazines noted her passing, with the lone exception of the Jewish Chronicle, in August.
There is only one recording to be foundd on Youtube.
Sic transit harmoniae mundi.
And also this, a live recording of the same opera, conducted by Gui in Turin, in 1959! Jeannette as Alice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhlISlUvfyQ
Although Jeannette Sinclair recorded little commercially ( Peep Bo in The Mikado , Tebaldo in Don Carlos ) there are live recordings available from her time at Covent Garden .
These include Annchen in Der Freischutz, Nella in Gianni Schichi, Lisa in La Sonambula ( opposite Joan Sutherland’s Amina.) Also available are a Glyndebourne Nozze di Figaro where she is Barbarina and Belinda in Dido and Aeneas ( English Opera Group) conducted by Britten.
She was a singer who could be counted on to do whatever role she was alloted well. Her singing had a quality which is perhaps somewhat underrated these days and that is charm.
Sad to hear that, I recall an old recording of that Dialogues des Carmelites production (which sadly I no longer possess) which showed a beautiful and artistically shaped voice.
It is odd that she was dropped by Covent Garden so completely. I do know that she taught privately for many years, so I hope there are still those (or at least second generation singers) who reflect something of her artistry.