Jennifer Brigit Vyvyan (13 March 1925 – 5 April 1974) was a British classical soprano who had an active international career in operas, concerts, and recitals from 1948 up until her death in 1974.
She frequently collaborated with the Royal Choral Society, often under conductor Malcolm Sargent, and sang countless performances of Messiah throughout Britain and abroad – not least, with the Berlin Philharmonic.
In 1952 Vyvyan joined the roster of principal sopranos at the Sadler's Wells Opera, making a triumphant debut with the company as Konstanze in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail.
On 8 June 1953 she made her Royal Opera, London debut as Lady Penelope Rich in the world premiere of Britten's Gloriana, a production organised by the EOG.
Vyvyan sang in many more world premieres during her career, including Tytania in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream (Aldeburgh Festival, 1960), the Countess de Serindan in Malcolm Williamson's The Violins of Saint-Jacques (1966, Sadler's Wells), various roles in Williamson's Lucky-Peter's Journey (1969, Sadler's Wells) and Mrs. Julian in Britten's Owen Wingrave (1971, BBC television).
She excelled in Handel and played a major role in the revival of his operas/oratorios – with pioneering performances of Athalia, Samson, Amadigi, Rinaldo, Saul, and the first known staging in modern times of Radamisto (Sadlers Wells, 1960).
Britten wrote four great roles specifically for Vyvyan: Penelope Rich (Gloriana), The Governess (The Turn of The Screw), Tytania (A Midsummer Night's Dream), and Mrs Julian (Owen Wingrave).
She collaborated with Beecham and the Royal Choral Society on a recording of Beethoven's Mass in C with fellow singers Monica Sinclair and Marian Nowakowski.