Above: Pauline Tinsley
~ Author: Oberon
British soprano Pauline Tinsley was a mainstay of both the Welsh National Opera and the English National Opera during the 1960s and 1970s.
In 1972, she appeared with the New York City Opera as Elizabeth I opposite the Mary Stuart of Beverly Sills in Donizetti's MARIA STUARDA. I caught one of her performances, and she was so engrossing both to hear and to watch: she looked a lot like the famous Tudor queen. Tinsley also sang this role, in English, opposite Dame Janet Baker at the ENO in 1973.
Above: Pauline Tinsley backstage @ the NYC Opera with Patricia Brooks (1972)
Other American appearances by the soprano included Donizetti's Anna Bolena at Santa Fe in 1970 opposite Donald Gramm as Henry VIII (photo above). Showing a bent for comedy, Tinsley sang Lady Billlows in Britten's ALBERT HERRING, telecast nationwide from Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in 1978.
Though not a sound of enormous amplitude, Tinsley's voice was excitingly projected. Thus she could tackle the great dramatic roles of Turandot, Abigaille (NABUCCO), Lady Macbeth, and Elektra.
Pauline Tinsley - ELEKTRA ~ Monolog - in English - Cardiff 1977
Ms. Tinsley sings a poetic Liebestod here. As of this writing, she is still with us.
~ Oberon
