Mary Myfanwy Piper ( /məˈfɑːnwiː/;[1] Welsh: /məˈvanuj/; 28 March 1911 – 18 January 1997) was a British art critic and opera librettist.
Myfanwy Evans was born into a Welsh family 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.[2] 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 her home in Fawley Bottom in 1997.[3]
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