Death of a busy American soprano, 91
mainThe fine US soprano Marilyn Tyler died on December 20 in New Mexico.
She worked with the leading US orchestras and was a favourite at the Holland Festival and Netherlands Opera, creating roles in new works by Hauer, Bandings and Sütermeister. She also appeared at the BBC Proms.
Invited to Iran in the late 1970s to set up a national opera, she was trapped by the revolution and had to make her way out nine months later through Pakistan.
In later years, she taught at the University of New Mexico.
who is Sütermeister?
Sad to read about Miss Tyler’s decease. A wonderful singer. When she was living in Amsterdam we were opposite neighbors. So in summer we were treated for free on her exercises and singing. It was her performance in Amsterdsm of Britten’s song cycle Les Illuminations which made me ‘hooked’ for the rest of my life by this work.
RIP and quoting Steven Isserlis better read: Revive in Paradise.
I became friends of Marilyn when she arrived in Florida with her 2nd husband, a Pakistani Inductrialist whom she had married in Iran. She had been married to a conductor in Germany earlier in her career.
Not too long after, he abruptly left her and she was desparate for work. I introduced her to the President of Jacksonville University, Fran Kinne, who hired her, immediately. She taught there for 2 years, and then went to the University of Mexico.
We collaborated on the Magic Flute there when I designed the sets. Our Tamino was the wonderful tenor, Kurt Steit, who had been encouraged to study opera by Marilyn.
She was a complete musician, performing on the harp and the piano. She was also a survivor, who, with intelligence and imagination, carried on with her talent in many venues throughout Europe. It is unfortunate, that Americans did not hear her sing here when she was in her prime.
I am so very sad to hear that she is no longer with us. I am so grateful for all the musical knowledge she shared with me, as well as her musical taste. I will miss her, greatly.
Thank you for sharing your memories of a fascinating woman–what a life she led !!!
So glad to have been coached by Marilyn Tyler. Wonderful peronsality and wonderful talent. I saw her recently and she was glamorous as ever. I will miss her being part of the music community in Albuquerque. Peter Tras Bass
Marilyn Tyler died on Wednesday December 20th around 7:30pm MST not on the 21st as is posted her, in Wikipedia and numerous other posts.
We appreciate your reflections and kind words.
Mitchell and Marilyn Simson
I met Marilyn Tyler in Albuquerque, NM when I was attending the Santa Fe Opera Festival. She was a wonderful artist–I had heard several of her recordings–and she was by all reports an excellent teacher. So sorry to hear of her passing.