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Jean Hindmarsh (born 1934Leng, Laurence. "The D'Oyly Carte Interviews – Jean Hindmarsh", via YouTube, 8 August 2025) is a retired English singer and actress. She is best known as a principal soprano with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in the 1950s and 1960s.
After attending the Royal Manchester College of Music, Hindmarsh joined D'Oyly Carte in 1956 as principal soprano. She played the leading roles in six of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas with the company over the next five years and occasionally thereafter until 1969. Hindmarsh sings the lead soprano roles on four D'Oyly Carte recordings. She married in 1960, raised a family and, after leaving the opera company for the last time in 1969, worked for Building society for more than 20 years. Later in life, she gave performances and talks at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival.
Hindmarsh was engaged by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in March 1956 as principal soprano. Over the next four years, she played the title role in Princess Ida, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, Elsie Maynard in The Yeomen of the Guard, Gianetta in The Gondoliers and Josephine in HMS Pinafore, soon adding the small role of Lady Ella in Patience. In 1959, she began instead to play the title role in Patience.Stone, David. Jean Hindmarsh at the Who's Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company website, 2002, accessed 4 November 2008 Hindmarsh married in 1960 and left the D'Oyly Carte organisation when she was expecting her first child. She rejoined the Company as a guest artist in her old roles for parts of the company's seasons in 1961–62, 1962–63, in the spring of 1963, 1963–64, and in the spring of 1969. These included two London seasons, one provincial tour and one American tour.Taylor, Roy. Profile of Jean Hindmarsh at the Memories of the D'Oyly Carte website, accessed 4 November 2008 In reviewing Princess Ida in 1961, The Times wrote that, in the title role, "Hindmarsh charms, amuses and ... moves the audience"."Anti-Romantic Work Rich in Romance", The Times, 28 December 1961, p. 12, col. D That paper commented on a 1962 performance of The Gondoliers: "Outstanding among last night's cast was Miss Jean Hindmarsh, a winning Giannetta both in appearance and voice.""The Gilbert and Sullivan Cycle Completed", The Times, 16 January 1962, p. 5, col. F
Several years after leaving the company, as her children grew older, Hindmarsh worked for Building society for more than 20 years, including the Leeds and Holbeck and the Leeds Permanent Building Society. In later years, she has performed and given talks at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival.Bourke, Kevin. "Music festivals 2004: Buxton Gilbert & Sullivan Festival", Manchester Evening News, 29 July 2004, accessed 4 November 2008Marshall, Trevor. "Ian Smith's 'Stars on Sunday'", 1998, accessed 4 November 2008 At the Festival, in 1999, Hindmarsh and baritone Michael Rayner gave the world premiere performance of "Reflect, my child", a song cut from H.M.S. Pinafore before the opera opened in 1878 and reconstructed in 1998. "Gilbert & Sullivan Rarities: Music from the Cutting-Room Floor" , Festival review, Day 2: 29 July 1999, accessed 4 November 2008Miller, Bruce and Helga J. Perry. "Lost Pinafore Song Found" , The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive, 15 April 1999, accessed 4 November 2008
Recordings
Hindmarsh sings the lead soprano roles on four D'Oyly Carte recordings: Yum-Yum in The Mikado (1957),Shepherd, Marc. "The 1957 D'Oyly Carte Mikado", A Gilbert and Sullivan Discography, 2005, accessed 4 November 2008 Mabel in Pirates (1957), Josephine in Pinafore (1960),Shepherd, Marc. "The 1960 D'Oyly Pinafore", A Gilbert and Sullivan Discography, 2003, accessed 4 November 2008 and Rose Maybud in Ruddigore (1962),Shepherd, Marc. "The 1962 D'Oyly Carte Ruddigore", A Gilbert and Sullivan Discography, 2003, accessed 4 November 2008 even though she never played Yum-Yum or Rose with the company. Of the 1957 Pirates, reviewer Mel Moratti wrote, "The highlights must be the pairing of Thomas Round and Jean Hindmarsh as Frederic and Mabel. Their solos and duets are most delightful".Shepherd, Marc, quoting Moratti. "The 1957 D'Oyly Carte Pirates", A Gilbert and Sullivan Discography, 2003, accessed 4 November 2008 The Rough Guide to Opera comments that she "is a uniquely charming Josephine" in Pinafore.Boyden et al., p. 318
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