Obituary: Margaret Neville Passes Away at 86

By Afton Markay

Soprano Margaret Neville passed away on May 30.

Margaret Mould, née Smith, was born in St Marys, Southampton. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 1962, where she was the recipient of the Anne Lloyd scholarship for multiple years running. Once starting her performance career, she took the stage name Margaret Neville (her husband John’s middle name).

She made her professional opera debut as Erste Knabe/First Spirit in Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. This production was conducted by Otto Klemperer and featured Joan Sutherland  and Hans Hotter. She performed roles such as Gretel in Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel,” Frasquita in Bizet’s “Carmen,” the First Niece in Britten’s “Peter Grimes,” Despina in Mozart’s “Cosi Fan Tutte,” and many more.

Throughout her career Neville made appearances at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Scottish Opera, The London Coliseum, Oper Koln, Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, and Staatsopera Stuttgart. In 1967, Neville participate in a rare BBC radio broadcast of Gustav Holst’s “The Perfect Fool,” performing under the baton of Sir Charles Groves.

Neville was featured on several recordings such as “Hansel and Gretel” at Sadler’s Wells, Wagner’s “Das Rheingold,” and works by Händel. During her career she was awarded the Isobel Jay and Fred Walker prizes. Neville also spent a period of time as a vocal coach in Cologne.

Neville retired from the stage at the age of 50. Following her husband’s death in 2011, she moved from Southampton to Romsey. In February of this year she was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. She is survived by her daughter and four grandchildren. They will do at a private service.

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