Olwen Price Mezzo-soprano opera singer

Born on 15 September 1903 in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales, Olwen Price enjoyed a distinguished career as a mezzo-soprano opera singer until her passing on 6 April 1999, also in Merthyr Tydfil.

The Independent's obituary highlights Price as an invaluable asset to any opera company, noting her extensive repertoire of character roles and a few major roles, where she consistently delivered excellent, idiomatic performances. Her versatility allowed her voice and style to seamlessly adapt to a wide range of composers, including Mozart, Menotti, Verdi, and Vaughan Williams. A significant portion of Price's career unfolded at Sadler's Wells Opera, though she also performed for the BBC—where she notably assisted the renowned tenor Beniamino Gigli in a recital—and with Welsh National Opera.

Price's singing journey began at age 18 when she took private lessons from W.J. Watkins in her hometown of Merthyr Tydfil. She furthered her studies at the University of Wales in Cardiff. Her talent was recognized at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1937, where she not only won the contralto solo prize but also the prestigious Blue Ribbon for the best vocalist. During World War II, Price joined Sadler's Wells Opera at a time when the company was without a permanent home, performing in various locations, including occasional appearances at the New Theatre in London. During this period, she met and later married fellow company member, Welsh character tenor David Tree. In 1947, Tree became part of the newly formed Covent Garden Opera Company, where he would perform over 1,000 times before retiring, while Price continued her work at Sadler's Wells.

Throughout the 1950s, Price maintained a busy schedule, sometimes performing as many as 50 times in a single season. For example, in the 1950/51 season, she showcased her talents as Marthe in Gounod's Faust, Mistress Quickly in Verdi's Falstaff (a role she also portrayed in Vaughan Williams's Sir John in Love), Aunt Jane in Vaughan Williams's Hugh the Drover, and La Frugola in Puccini's Il tabarro, among others. While many of these roles were comedic, Price also excelled in tragic opera, evidenced by her performances as Suzuki in Madam Butterfly and Azucena in Verdi's Il trovatore, the latter being one of her most celebrated interpretations during the 1951/52 season.

One of her standout roles was Filipievna, Tatyana's old Nurse in Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, which she performed several times. In 1953, she made a significant impression as Maurya in Vaughan Williams's Riders to the Sea, a role that resonated with her contralto-like tones. The composer was reportedly very pleased with her performance, which was considered one of her finest at Sadler's Wells. Additionally, she participated in two noteworthy 20th-century operas in 1954: Menotti's The Consul, where she portrayed John Sorel's Mother, and the world premiere of Lennox Berkeley's Nelson, in which she played Madame Serafin, a Neapolitan fortune-teller foreseeing Nelson's death.

Price's final new role at Sadler's Wells came in 1959, as Madelon in Giordano's Andrea Chenier, a character who offers her youngest son to fight for Revolutionary France. In 1961, she sang Azucena with Welsh National Opera, followed by performances in various roles, including Marcellina in The Marriage of Figaro, Berta in The Barber of Seville, Hedwige in Rossini's Guillaume Tell, and Sofia in Verdi's I Lombardi alla prima crociata for WNO, which brought the latter opera to Sadler's Wells in 1962.

Olwen Price's legacy as an opera singer endures through her extensive contributions to the art form. She was born in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan on 15 September 1903, married to David Tree (who passed away in 1972) and had one daughter. She died in Merthyr Tydfil on 6 April 1999. The obituary was penned by Elizabeth Forbes.