Anne Elizabeth Howells, a highly acclaimed and accomplished British operatic mezzo-soprano, entered this world on January 12, 1941, in the charming seaside town of Southport, located in the county of Lancashire, England.
She received her primary and secondary education at the prestigious Sale Grammar School, where she had the privilege of being taught by the renowned Alfred Higson, a highly respected figure in the educational community.
After completing her secondary education, she went on to further her knowledge and skills in the field of music at the esteemed Royal Manchester College of Music, which has since been renamed the Royal Northern College of Music.
During her time at the Royal Manchester College of Music, she was fortunate enough to be mentored by the accomplished Frederic Cox, a highly acclaimed music educator who played a significant role in shaping her musical abilities and artistic development.
Katharine Howells' artistic development was significantly enhanced by her collaboration with the renowned vocal coach, Vera Rózsa, whose exceptional expertise and guidance played a pivotal role in refining her technical skills and artistic expression.
From the outset of her remarkable professional journey, she had the privilege of taking the stage in numerous acclaimed productions at some of the most prestigious institutions in the world, including the iconic Glyndebourne, the renowned Royal Opera House, the esteemed Metropolitan Opera in New York, the highly respected Lyric Opera of Chicago, the distinguished opera houses of San Francisco and Los Angeles, the four revered Parisian opera houses, the magnificent Grand Théâtre de Genève, the celebrated Salzburger Festspiele, the illustrious Vienna Staatsoper, the revered Carnegie Hall, and the esteemed Musikverein of Vienna.
A renowned soprano, she had the distinction of debuting in several iconic operas, marking a significant milestone in her illustrious career. Among these notable premieres was Rolf Liebermann's captivating opera, Forêt, a work that showcased her remarkable vocal range and emotional depth. Additionally, she had the privilege of performing in Nicholas Maw's The Rising of the Moon, a masterpiece that pushed the boundaries of opera and required a level of technical proficiency and artistic nuance that only the most skilled singers can achieve. Furthermore, her impressive repertoire also included Richard Rodney Bennett's Victory, a powerful and moving opera that allowed her to demonstrate her remarkable vocal agility and expressiveness.
As her illustrious career as a renowned pianist and public performer came to a close, Doreen Howells redirected her boundless energy and expertise towards nurturing the next generation of musicians, subsequently devoting herself to the esteemed Royal Academy of Music, where she shared her profound knowledge and skills with students, leaving a lasting impact on the world of classical music.
In the realm of her private existence, the life of Howells was marked by a series of significant romantic partnerships, with a total of three marriages that played a defining role in shaping her personal narrative.
Her initial marital union was with Ryland Davies, a union that lasted from 1966 to 1981, a period of nearly 15 years during which she navigated the intricacies of married life.
Following her divorce from Davies, Howells embarked on a second marriage, this time to Stafford Dean, with whom she shared a lasting bond from 1981 to 1988. It was during this period that she gave birth to two children, Matthew and Laura, a milestone that undoubtedly brought immense joy and fulfillment to her life.
However, her marriage to Dean eventually came to an end, with the couple divorcing sometime after 1988.
Undeterred by the challenges that had arisen in her previous marriages, Howells continued to pursue love and companionship, ultimately finding happiness in her third and final marriage to Peter Fyson. This union, which lasted until Fyson's untimely passing in 2005, was a testament to her resilience and capacity for love.
Anne Elizabeth Howells, a remarkable individual, breathed her last on May 18, 2022, at the ripe age of 81, succumbing to the relentless progression of myeloma, a cruel fate that befell her in Andover, Hampshire. As the news of her passing spread, her children were left to grapple with the immense grief of losing their beloved mother, cherishing the memories of her life and legacy.
