The soprano Marion Studholme, who died on 6 January 2016, was a stalwart of the Sadler’s Wells Opera in the 1950s, which moved to the London Coliseum in 1968 and became the English National Opera in 1974. She was also frequently engaged for the many popular music programmes that were common on radio and television at the time, as well as on the stage and concert platform. She was born in Blackpool, the daughter of a water board engineer, and at 17 won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London and studied with Rodolfo Mele, who also taught Ian Wallace. After touring with Thomas Round in Lilac Time she joined the chorus of Sadler’s Wells Opera in 1949, but was soon given leading roles. In 1950 she was Zerlina in Geoffrey Dunn’s production of Don Giovanni, where her vocal expertise was particularly commented on. MORE
VIDEO: Marion Studholme - Caro Nome from Verdi's Rigoletto. Marion was a former principal soprano of the English National Opera when it was at Sadlers Wells. She can also be found on the recording of Peter Grimes conducted by it's composer Benjamin Britten.