When soprano Jill Gomez died on August 11, I was strangely silent. Ordinarily, I’m on the computer and pounding out an obituary or an appreciation as soon as I’m possibly able. But Gomez played such colorful, at times controversial parts, that I had a hard time figuring out how to write about some of them. I don’t even know if I can use certain words on Facebook without having the post removed or suppressed by the algorithm.

At any rate, this writer (uncredited!) does such a marvelous job of encapsulating her roles and sketching in her personality, I now need only link the article (see below), which originally ran in the British publication The Telegraph (there paywalled).

It’s interesting to note that her career also crossed several times with that of Ileana Cotrubaș, who died on Thursday at 86. (They both sang Britten’s Tytania and alternated in a production of Debussy’s “Pelléas et Mélisande”.) If not for Cotrubaș’ passing, I’m not sure I would have returned to Gomez. I am glad to finally be able to honor her and put it to rest.

https://www.aol.com/articles/jill-gomez-soprano-went-topless-105557000.html

From Britten’s “Les Illuminations”

She could sing Mozart, too.

Jill Gomez was 83 years old. R.I.P.