Leigh, Adèle (1928–2004)

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Leigh, Adèle (1928–2004)

English soprano. Name variations: Adele Leigh. Born June 15, 1928, in London, England; died May 24, 2004; studied at Juilliard with Maggie Teyte; m. James Pease (American baritone, died 1967); m. Kurt Enderl (Austrian ambassador, died); no children.

Principal soprano at Covent Garden for 8 years (1948–56), debuted there as Xenia in Boris Godunov (1948); appeared often in the works of Mozart, including as Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro, Pamina in The Magic Flute; also sang Marzelline in Fidelio, the page Oscar in Un Ballo in Maschera, Susanna in Figaro, Aennchen in Der Freischutz, Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier and title role in Manon; was principal soprano at Vienna Volksoper (1963–72); often appeared on BBC radio and tv.