Opera Scotland

Edith Coates Suggest updates

Born Lincoln, 31 May 1908.

Died Worthing, 7 January 1983.

English mezzo-soprano.

Edith Coates studied in London (Trinity College of Music) and with Clive Carey and Dino Borgioli. She was awarded the OBE in 1977.

Her career began in 1924 as a straight actress with Lilian Baylis's Old Vic Shakespeare Company. in A Midsummer Night's Dream. She soon transferred to the opera company, initially in the chorus. Her first small role was Giovanna in Rigoletto.  At this period she also sang Lazarillo (Maritana), Frédéric (Mignon), and Siébel in Faust. She soon progressed to heavier roles such as Azucena, Giulietta and Queen of the Gipsies.

The opera company transferred from the Old Vic to Sadler's Wells in 1931, and Coates sang a long series of leading roles including Delilah, Carmen, Amneris, Ortrud and Fricka. Russian roles included Olga (Eugene Onegin), the Nurse (Boris Godunov) and Lel (The Snow Maiden). British roles in her repertoire included Aunt Jane (High the Drover), Thirza (The Wreckers) and Dido.

In 1947 she joined the new company at Covent Garden, staying until 1963. To her earlier repertoire of Bizet, Verdi and Wagner she added parts such as Herodias and Klytemnestra.

She created Auntie (Peter Grimes 1945), Madame Bardeau (The Olympians 1949), and Grandma in The Parlour by Grace Williams (Welsh National Opera 1966).. 

Late in her career she sang character roles with Sadler's Wells such as the Countess (The Queen of Spades) and Mother Goose (The Rake's Progress). As late as 1971 she sang the Hostess in Boris Godunov with Welsh National Opera.