| Biography | Joan Carlyle (born 6 April 1931) is an English opera singer. She was born in Upton on the Wirral, Cheshire. After studying singing with Madame Nicklass Kempner, she auditioned for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. She was put under contract by the musical director Rafael Kubelík and made her debut in 1955, appearing also under him in The Magic Flute in 1956.
She became one of the principal English-speaking singers who emerged at Covent Garden in the 1950s becoming an established member of the Covent Garden Opera Company. The conductor Rudolf Kempe was a powerful influence and nurtured her career. It was with him that she had her first successes in the 195859 season as Sophie in Luchino Viscontis production of Der Rosenkavalier , and then as Micaela in Carmen. Under a series of distinguished conductors, Carlyle sang throughout Europe and beyond, making her US debut in March 1963 in the Brahms's A German Requiem with Erich Leinsdorf.
Now retired, she lives in Wales and teaches singing privately. She has taught master classes and workshops at such institutions as the Royal College of Music in London. |