The protecting male


In the centre of this 1978 magazine cover is the unmistakable figure of John Tavener. But who is the lady towering above him?

And there is another mystery lady here.
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Comments

The Wound Dresser said…
Oh St Theresa, at the very least.
4:42 pm
Pliable said…
TWD, pretty close. John Tavener's opera Thérèse was given its first performance at Covent Garden in October 1979, just ten months after that magazine cover appeared.

But I'm afraid it is not St. Theresa. She was busy with rehearsals when the photo was taken.
5:15 pm
ddavewes said…
Arianna Huffington?
2:32 pm
Drew80 said…
The woman in question looks like Arianna Stassinopoulos, who DID live in London at the time.
3:41 pm
Pliable said…
Well done ddavewes and Drew80.

Yes, the mystery lady was Arianna Stassinopoulos, now Arianna Huffington.

She was an item with Bernard Levin for quite a while, and John Tavener dated her sister Agape.

http://www.overgrownpath.com/2006/12/arianna-huffingtons-classical-music.html

For completeness the other party people, from left to right, are Michael Hastings, Angela Huth, Josceline Dimblebey and Gaia Servadio,
3:52 pm
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