Elizabeth Connell

Elizabeth Connell, born on October 22, 1946, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, was an operatic mezzo-soprano, and later soprano. She studied at the London Opera Centre before making her debut at the Wexford Festival in 1972. Connell's career took off with her performance in War and Peace by Prokofiev during the inauguration of the Sydney Opera House in 1973, leading to a long association with Opera Australia. She performed extensively across Europe and North America, collaborating with notable conductors such as Claudio Abbado and Riccardo Muti. Connell's repertoire included roles like Kostelnička in Jenůfa, Ortrud in Lohengrin, and Isolde in Tristan und Isolde. Her final performance was a recital on November 27, 2011, in Hastings. Elizabeth Connell passed away on February 18, 2012, at the age of 65.