Myfanwy Piper
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Myfanwy Piper (28 March 1911 – 18 January 1997, pronounced /məˈvan.ʊiː/ — ma'vanwi) was an English art critic and opera librettist.
Mary Myfanwy Evans was born in London. She attended North London Collegiate School and read English Language and Literature at St Hugh's College, Oxford. She married the artist John Piper, with whom she lived in rural surroundings at Fawley Bottom near Henley-on-Thames for much of her life. She collaborated with the British composer Benjamin Britten on several of his operas as well as with Welsh composer Alun Hoddinott on most of his operatic works.
She was a friend of the poet John Betjeman who wrote several poems addressing her, such as Myfanwy and Myfanwy at Oxford.
Together, John and Myfanwy Piper started an artistic dynasty. The most important was their eldest son, Edward Piper (1938–1990). Also son Sebastian Piper (painter and musician), and their grandchildren, Luke Piper (painter) and Henry Piper (sculptor).
She died at Fawley Bottom.
[edit] Opera libretti
- The Turn of the Screw, Benjamin Britten, 14 September 1954, Teatro La Fenice, Venice (based on the work of Henry James)
- Owen Wingrave, Benjamin Britten, 16 May 1971, BBC (based on the work of Henry James)
- Death in Venice, Benjamin Britten, 16 June 1973, Aldeburgh Festival, Snape, Suffolk (based on Der Tod in Venedig by Thomas Mann)
- Easter, Malcolm Williamson
- What the Old Man Does is Always Right, Alun Hoddinott, 1977
- The Rajah's Diamond, Alun Hoddinott, 1979
- The Trumpet Major, Alun Hoddinott, 1981
[edit] External links
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