Felicity Lott, who has died aged 79 of cancer, enchanted audiences with a succession of Strauss and Mozart roles that she might have been born to sing. The mellifluous tone with just a hint of metal to give it that lustrous gleam, the effortlessly floated high notes, pin-sharp diction and captivating stage presence all combined to make her one of the most endearingly popular sopranos of her day.
At Glyndebourne she was a particular favourite, appearing every season from 1976 until 1990 and then again in 1998 and 2002. In addition to Strauss and Mozart roles she sang those of Anne in The Rake’s Progress, Elle in La Voix Humaine and Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream there.
