The jewellery of Durban-born singer,
Vivienne Linder is to be auctioned in Cape Town.
Born to a Jewish family in Durban, Vivienne
Linder, nee Adley was educated at the Maris Stella Convent before continuing
her singing and drama training at the University of Natal Durban, where she
spent the next three years under the watchful eye of Elizabeth Sneddon. In
1957, having completed her degree, she continued at the Webber-Douglas School
of Singing and Dramatic Art in London, where she was one of the debutantes
presented to the Queen at Buckingham Palace in the summer of 1958.
After studying and performing in London for
three years, Vivienne left the glitz and glamour of the West End to return to
South Africa in 1960 for her first local production, Let’s Make an Opera, staged at the Alexander Theatre, Johannesburg.
In 1961 she starred in The King Of Diamonds, a new musical about the life of Barney
Barnato. No less a figure than Anna Neethling Pohl commended Vivienne’s talent,
stage personality and her soothing voice and wished her luck with her “natural
and charming performance”.
A talented chanteuse with “a sparkling
voice and personality to match”, she enchanted her audiences, who often gave
her standing ovations as at the Hotel Edward’s famous, but notoriously
intimidating, Causerie restaurant. Those were the days of a bygone era, when an
evening’s outing to a restaurant usually included fine dining, quality
entertainment and dancing.
‘Vivacious Viv’, as she was often called,
was also famous for her sophisticated style, wearing glamorous evening gowns or
slinky sheath dresses with plunging necklines offset by elegant jewellery,
which she carried off with grace and poise. Her striking beauty and ability to
manipulate her sultry voice in ‘torch’ songs made her a sensual and riveting
performer.
Her desire to start her own family took
priority over Vivienne’s career when she met and married surgeon, Leslie
Linder, a Londoner, in 1965. The couple had two children, Richard and Andrew.
The Vivienne Linder Collection of Jewellery
is being offered on behalf of Richard and Andrew. It will be hosted by Strauss
& Co, on October 8 at 12 noon at The Vineyard Hotel, Newlands, Cape Town. More information from Vanessa Phillips on 021 683 6560 or email: vanessa@straussart.co.za/
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