Anne Sharp
A soprano whose crystalline voice became a defining instrument for Benjamin Britten's most demanding and ethereal operatic heroines.
1916–2011 (age 95)·Scottish soprano opera singer·Birthday: October 24·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Anne Sharp's voice was a thing of precision and luminous clarity, a perfect vehicle for the intricate, challenging music of 20th-century British opera. The Scottish soprano emerged as a central figure in the post-war musical scene, forging a particularly close artistic partnership with composer Benjamin Britten. She didn't just sing his roles; she helped breathe life into them, originating or championing parts that required both vocal agility and deep dramatic intelligence. Her performances, whether at the Glyndebourne Festival or with the English Opera Group, were marked by a cool, focused intensity that could convey both fragility and steely resolve. While her repertoire extended beyond Britten, it is her connection to his sound world—a blend of lyricism and stark modernity—that secured her place in operatic history, leaving behind recordings that capture a voice of remarkable purity and purpose.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Anne was born in 1916, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Anne Was Born
The biggest hits of 1916
#1 Movie
Intolerance
Anne's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1916Born
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Started school
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1929Became a teenager
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1932Could drive
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1934Could vote
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Turned 21
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1946Turned 30
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1956Turned 40
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 50
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 60
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 70
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 80
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2011Died at 95
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
Key Achievements
- Created the role of Miss Wordsworth in Benjamin Britten's opera 'Albert Herring' at its 1947 premiere.
- Was a favored interpreter of Britten's works, performing major roles like the Governess in 'The Turn of the Screw' and Titania in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.
- Enjoyed a long association with the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, appearing in numerous productions throughout the 1950s and 60s.
- Recorded definitive versions of Britten's vocal works, preserving her interpretations for future generations.
Did You Know?
She studied at the Royal College of Music in London before launching her professional career.
Sharp was known for her performances in Mozart operas as well as modern works.
She performed under the baton of many famous conductors, including Britten himself and Sir John Barbirolli.
Her voice is described as a coloratura soprano, a type known for agility and high, florid passages.
“My voice must serve the composer's exact intention, with absolute clarity and control.”
