Mezzo-soprano Nuala Willis has died at the age of 83.

Born on August 9, 1941, Willis trained and worked as a stage designer and costumer for nearly 10 years before retraining as a singer. She went on to have a performance career, appearing at the Glyndebourne Festival, Opera Integra, Scottish Opera, and Royal Opera House, among others.

She performed in several operas including “The Rake’s Progress,” “The Second Mrs Kong,” “Flight,” “The Queen of Spades,” ” The Cunning Little Vixen,” “Makropulos Affair,” and “The King Goes Forth to France.”

After she retired from the stage, Willis went on to write children’s books including “The Dog Who Could Speak Cat.” She also starred in Dustin Hoffman’s film “Quartet” alongside her husband baritone John Rawnsley, who survives her.