Rothwell, Evelyn (1911—)
Rothwell, Evelyn (1911—)
English oboist. Born in Wallingford, England, on January 24, 1911; studied under Leon Goossens at the Royal College of Music; married Sir John Barbirolli (the conductor), in 1939.
Women were rare in symphony orchestras until the 1930s, and those like Evelyn Rothwell were pioneers. After studying at the Royal College of Music, she joined the Covent Garden Opera touring orchestra (1931). She played with the Scottish Orchestra (1933–36), the Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra (1934–39), and the London Symphony Orchestra (1935–39). When she married the conductor John Barbirolli in 1939, Rothwell began a solo career. Many compositions were dedicated to her by such composers as Elizabeth Maconchy , Gordon Jacob, Arnold Cooke, Stephen Dodgson, Edmund Rubbra, and Arthur Benjamin. In 1934, she gave the first performance of the rediscovered Mozart Oboe Concerto. Rothwell has written several books on oboe technique and repertoire and was appointed a professor at the Royal Academy of Music, London, in 1971.
John Haag , Athens, Georgia