# Barbara Howitt

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{{short description|English mezzo-soprano}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
'''Barbara Sheila Howitt''' (30 Jan 1923 - 19 May 2011) was an English operatic [mezzo-soprano](/source/mezzo-soprano).  She is most remembered for appearing in the 1956 film ''[The Man Who Knew Too Much](/source/The_Man_Who_Knew_Too_Much_(1956_film))'' directed by [Alfred Hitchcock](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock) where she sings the solo in the ''[Storm Clouds Cantata](/source/Storm_Clouds_Cantata)'' by [Arthur Benjamin](/source/Arthur_Benjamin).

==Biography and career==
Barbara Howitt was born in Romford, Essex, on the 30 April 1923. Her parents were John E. Howitt, a school master, and Lilian E. Cuthbert.<ref>England & Wales Births, Marriages & Deaths 1837-2006, GRO</ref>

Barbara Howitt debuted in the role of Rosina in Rossini's ''[Il barbiere di Siviglia](/source/Il_barbiere_di_Siviglia)'' with the [Carl Rosa Opera Company](/source/Carl_Rosa_Opera_Company) in 1948, repeating the role in 1949.<ref>"Carl Rosa Opera Company," ''The Times'' (August 15, 1949), p. 7.</ref><ref>"Carl Rosa Opera Season," ''The Times'' (January 2, 1950), p. 4.</ref> Other roles performed in Scotland with various companies included Mercedes in ''[Carmen](/source/Carmen)'', Kate Pinkerton in ''[Madama Butterfly](/source/Madama_Butterfly)'', Angelina Semos in Luigi Cherubini's ''[The Water Carrier](/source/The_Water_Carrier)'' (1950),  Madam Wanton in ''[The Pilgrim's Progress](/source/The_Pilgrim's_Progress_(opera))'', the voice of the oracle and then Evadne in Walton's ''[Troilus and Cressida](/source/Troilus_and_Cressida_(opera))'', Suzuki in ''[Madama Butterfly](/source/Madama_Butterfly)'', Mamma Lucia in ''[Cavalleria Rusticana](/source/Cavalleria_Rusticana)'', the title role in ''[Carmen](/source/Carmen)'', Valencienne in ''[Die Lustige Witwe](/source/Die_Lustige_Witwe)'' (1959), and Marcellina in ''[Le nozze di Figaro](/source/Le_nozze_di_Figaro)''.<ref>[http://www.operascotland.org/person/1348/Barbara-Howitt "Barbara Howitt, mezzo-soprano" in ''OperaScotland.org'' (History).]</ref>

Howitt first appeared with the [Covent Garden Opera Company](/source/The_Royal_Opera) at [Covent Garden](/source/Covent_Garden) as Madam Bubble in the world premiere of Ralph Vaughan Williams's opera ''[The Pilgrim's Progress](/source/The_Pilgrim's_Progress_(opera))'' on 26 April 1951.<ref>J.P. Wearing, ''The London Stage 1950-1959: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel'', 2nd edition (Lanham : Rowman & Littlefield, 2014), p. 128.</ref><ref name=royalopera>[http://www.rohcollections.org.uk/SearchResults.aspx?searchtype=performance&page=0&person=barbara%20howitt ''Royal Opera House Collections Online''.]</ref> Other roles included the second Norn in ''[Götterdämmerung](/source/G%C3%B6tterd%C3%A4mmerung)'', Mercedes in ''[Carmen](/source/Carmen)'', a flower maiden in ''[Parsifal](/source/Parsifal)'', the governess in ''[The Queen of Spades](/source/The_Queen_of_Spades_(opera))'', a singer in Sadler's Wells production of Falla's ''[The Three-Cornered Hat](/source/The_Three-Cornered_Hat)'', Aninna in Strauss's ''[Der Rosenkavalier](/source/Der_Rosenkavalier)'', Giovanna in Verdi's ''[Rigoletto](/source/Rigoletto)'', one of the genii in Mozart's ''[Die Zauberflöte](/source/Die_Zauberfl%C3%B6te)'', Marcellina in Mozart's ''[The Marriage of Figaro](/source/The_Marriage_of_Figaro)'', the shepherd boy in Puccini's ''[Tosca](/source/Tosca)'', Amelfa in Rimsky-Korsakov's ''[The Golden Cockerel](/source/The_Golden_Cockerel)'', Maddelena in Verdi's ''[Rigoletto](/source/Rigoletto)'', Flora in Verdi's ''[La traviata](/source/La_traviata)'', a maid in Strauss's ''[Elektra](/source/Elektra_(opera))'', Suzuki in Puccini's ''[Madama Butterfly](/source/Madama_Butterfly)'', Nicklaus in Offenbach's ''[Les contes d'Hoffmann](/source/Les_contes_d'Hoffmann)'', Evadne and the Voice of the Oracle in ''Troilus and Cressida'', Grimgerde in Wagner's ''[Die Walküre](/source/Die_Walk%C3%BCre)'', and Countess Hurwitz in Lehar's ''[The Land of Smiles](/source/The_Land_of_Smiles)''. Her final performance with the Royal Opera took place on 3 December 1963 where she played Aksinya in Shostakovich's ''[Katerina Ismaillova](/source/Lady_Macbeth_of_the_Mtsensk_District_(opera))''.<ref>"Katerina Ismaillova, 3 December 1963," ''Royal Opera House Collections Online''.</ref> In all she was in 77 performances with the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden.<ref>"Barbara Howitt," ''Royal Opera House Collections Online''.</ref>

On 10 December 1959 Howitt appeared in the musical ''[The Demon Barber](/source/The_Demon_Barber)'', adapted from [George Dibdin Pitt](/source/George_Dibdin_Pitt)'s play of Sweeney Todd.  She played the part of Mrs. Lovett to Roy Godfrey's portrayal of Sweeney Todd.<ref>Robert L. Mack, editor, ''Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007), p. xxx. {{ISBN|978-0199543441}}</ref>

In 1964 she married Rex Russell Justham, an engineer, and retired from professional performance, living in Caversham, Reading, Berkshire, and they had two children.<ref>'How a happy opera star turned into a happy housewife' by Paula Goodman, Reading Evening Post, Tuesday Feb 23, 1971</ref> She died in Reading on 19 May 2011.<ref>England & Wales Births, Marriages & Deaths 1837-2006, GRO</ref>

==Critical appraisal==
As Howitt played primarily secondary characters, she generally received scant mention in published reviews. Reviewing her debut as Rosina, a critic mentioned both Howitt and Gwent Lewis (playing Almaviva) sang the "contour" of florid passages rather than executing them accurately.<ref>J.H.E., "Opera House," ''Manchester Guardian'' 30 May 1950, p. 3.</ref>

In a 1953 Covent Garden production of ''[Carmen](/source/Carmen)'' conducted by [John Pritchard](/source/John_Pritchard_(conductor)) and directed by [Anthony Asquith](/source/Anthony_Asquith), critic Philip Hope-Wallace found all the leads wanting except for Howitt.<ref>Philip Hope-Wallace, "New Production of Carmen: Royal Opera house," ''Manchester Guardian'' (4 November 1953), p. 10.</ref>  But in a new production of ''Tales of Hoffmann'', Eric Blom took Howitt (playing Niklaus) to task for her anxiety in overplaying her role.<ref>Eric Blom, "Romantic-Fantastical," ''Manchester Guardian'' (31 October 1954), p. 6.</ref> Reviewing the premiere of Walton's opera, a critic said Howitt "successfully" took on the role of Evadne.<ref>C.M., "Troilus and Cressida: Walton's New Opera in Manchester," ''Manchester Guardian'' (7 April 1955), p. 5.</ref> In a 1956 revival of ''[Rigoletto](/source/Rigoletto)'' with [Tito Gobbi](/source/Tito_Gobbi) where Howitt played Maddelena, Philip Hope-Wallace said hers was one of a handful of "minor parts from stock doing the company proud."<ref>Philip Hope-Wallace, "Gobbi's Greatness: Rigoletto at Covent Garden" ''Manchester Guardian'' (7 July 1956), p. 3.</ref>

In the recording issues of the live broadcast of ''Madama Butterfly'' from 1957, [Ira Siff](/source/Ira_Siff) criticized Howitt for "tending to scoop" although he noted she had "strong scenes" with the Pinkerton (John Lanigan) and the Sharpless ([Geraint Evans](/source/Geraint_Evans)).<ref>Ira Siff, "Recordings: Historical - Puccini: 'Madama Butterfly'," ''Opera News'' (December 2007).</ref>

==Recordings==
* ''Madama Butterfly'' (Victoria de los Angeles, Barbara Howitt, John Lanigan, Geraint Evans, and the Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden conducted by Rudolf Kempe, recorded 2 May 1957) Melodram 50058.
* ''De Falla: The Three Cornered Hat'' (Barbara Howitt - Soprano) Enrique Jorda conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. Classic Records/Everest – SDBR 3057, 2006, USA.

==Filmography==
*''[The Man Who Knew Too Much](/source/The_Man_Who_Knew_Too_Much_(1956_film))'' (1956) - Soloist / Herself
*''[This is Show Business](/source/This_Is_Show_Business)'' Tv Series - Self. Episode #6.2 (1956)
*''Castle Dangerous'' Tv Movie - Old Meg (1958)
*''The Petrified Princess'' Tv Movie - Voice (1959)

==References==
{{reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Howitt, Barbara}}
Category:English operatic mezzo-sopranos
Category:20th-century English women opera singers
Category:1923 births
Category:2011 deaths
Category:People from Romford
Category:Singers from Essex

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Barbara Howitt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Howitt) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Howitt?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.