Jennifer Vyvyan becomes sixth woman with a Hampstead plaque

Jennifer Vyvyan, who died in 1974 aged 49, was closely associated with the composer Benjamin Britten, who wrote major roles for her in his operas.

Celebrated countertenor James Bowman was among guests at the unveiling of a plaque to his old friend "Jenny" at 59 Fitzjohn's Avenue on Thursday (December 8).

The house, still owned by the family, is where she lived during the last 13 years of her life.

Jennifer Vyvyan's black plaque at 59 Fitzjohn's Avenue in Hampstead (Image: Polly Hancock)

The plaque was organised by the Heath & Hampstead Society with the help of music critic Michael White.

Vyvyan ranked among the chief interpreters of the music of Benjamin Britten, who composed some of his most prominent female roles for her including the Governess in Turn of the Screw, Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lady Rich in Gloriana, Mrs Julian in Owen Wingrave.

Many of her recordings have been reissued by Decca and there have been lectures, exhibitions and other commemorative events, including a concert in her memory during this year’s Highgate Festival.

James Bowman unveils the plaque in Hampstead honouring soprano Jennifer Vyvyan, who died aged 49, in 1974 (Image: Polly Hancock)

Mr Bowman said: "I always called her Jenny, I never ever heard her called Jennifer. Thank you for keeping her memory alive.

"I first saw her at the Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester Cathedral in 1962 singing a piece called Hymnus Paradisi by Herbert Howells and she was wonderful.

"She had a wonderful way of standing on the platform, she looked like an angel from another planet."

Jennifer Vyvyan, a leading soprano who died aged 49 (Image: Michael White/jennifervyvyan.org/)

He continued: "We got to know each other when we were recording The Fairy-Queen and performing it in various venues around England.

"We also did A Midsummer Night's Dream together because she was the original Tytania and she was very very nervous about doing that.

"She took her singing very seriously. Every note she sang was committed, she sang as if her life depended on it."

Music critic Michael White has built an extensive website about the life and work of soprano Jennifer Vyvyan (Image: Polly Hancock)

Michael White, who has compiled a extensive website of her scores and diaries, said: "Jennifer Vyvyan was a key figure in the life and work of Ben Britten.

"He wrote major roles for her in his operas. The most important role that she sang was the governess, lead role in The Turn Of The Screw. 

"She sang that role worldwide as well as on television back in the days when they put operas on television. 

"She sang with incredible purity and elegance and beauty. She sang loads of Handel.

"If she was alive today, she wouldn't be here because it's cold, but because she would be on tour. 

"This is December and December is the month when she sang a performance of the Messiah nearly every single day." 

Frank Harding, chair of the plaque selection panel at the Heath & Hampstead Society said he heard her sing but never met her.

"She was well known at the time," he said.  "It was a joy to listen to her and it's a joy that we have a plaque for her."  

Following the unveiling, a reception was held at Heath Street Kitchen.

Josephine Crown, who was married to the singer's son Jonathan, who died in 2020, told the Ham&High: "I'm thrilled. John for years had wanted to commemorate his mother. He would have pushed for this. He was very proud of his mother's legacy."

Ana Fernandez, who knew Vyvyan's husband Leon Crown and managed Jonathan's business, said: "It was a good day. It is nice that she is going to remain present at the house forever."

There are now 36 black plaques in Hampstead, memorialising six buildings and 30 people.

Juliette Sonabend, a member of the commemorative plaques panel, said: "I'm happy that it's done, and I'm happy it's another woman."

Vyvyan joins Gracie Fields, Jacqueline de Pre, Daphne De Maurier, Marie-Louise von Motesiczky and Marie Stopes on the list.

The other musicians with Hampstead plaques are Jacqueline du Pre, Sir Thomas Beecham, Sir Edward Elgar and Sir William Walton.

Marc Hutchinson, chair of the Heath & Hampstead Society, said: "It was a lovely occasion. We're committed to have important 20th century singers among our plaques and it was wonderful that we were joined by James Bowman and Sir Nicholas Kenyon."