Opera Scotland

Della Jones Suggest updates

Born Neath.

Welsh mezzo-soprano.

Della Jones had a notable international career, renowned initially for her Mozart and Rossini interpretations, later developing to sing some dramatic mezzo roles.

She spent much of her early career in London at ENO, later working with Welsh National and Scottish Opera as well as other British companies. Her Rossini parts at the Coliseum included both Zulma and Isabella The Italian Girl in Algiers, Rosina, Cinderella, Ninetta The Thieving Magpie and Isolier Count Ory. In 1987 her Rosina won her both an Evening Standard Opera Award and an Olivier Award.

Her repertoire ranged from Monteverdi (Nerone) and Handel, through Mozart (Donna Elvira, Dorabella, Second Lady), Bellini (Adalgisa), Verdi (Preziosilla), Berlioz (Dido), Humperdinck (Hansel) and Strauss (Herodias).

Foreign engagements took her frequently to the USA, USSR, France, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Greece, Germany and Czechoslovakia.

Her many recordings range from popular repertoire (Rosina) to include extremely unusual works (Aurelio in Donizetti's L'assedio di Calais).