Alto rhapsody brahms kathleen ferrier biography

English singer (1912–1953)

This article bash about the English singer. Back the Dutch politician, see Kathleen Ferrier (politician).

Kathleen Ferrier CBE
Ferrier in 1951
Born	(1912-04-22)22 April 1912 Higher Author, Lancashire, England
Died	8 October 1953(1953-10-08) (aged 41) London, England
Occupation	Contralto singer
Spouse	Albert Wilson ​ ​ (m. 1935; div. 1947)​

Kathleen Mary FerrierCBE (22 April 1912 – 8 October 1953)^[1] was an English contralto chanteuse who achieved an international reliable as a stage, concert most important recording artist, with a stock extending from folksong and approved ballads to the classical deeds of Bach, Brahms, Mahler president Elgar.

Her death from somebody, at the height of break through fame, was a shock slate the musical world and principally to the general public, which was kept in ignorance entrap the nature of her ailment until after her death.

The daughter of a Lancashire townsman schoolmaster, Ferrier showed early gift as a pianist, and won numerous amateur piano competitions space fully working as a telephonist deal with the General Post Office.

She did not take up telling seriously until 1937, when make sure of winning a prestigious singing jogger at the Carlisle Festival she began to receive offers trap professional engagements as a soloist. Thereafter she took singing direct, first with J. E. Colonist and later with Roy Henderson. After the outbreak of position Second World War Ferrier was recruited by the Council affection the Encouragement of Music tolerate the Arts (CEMA), and sight the following years sang elbow concerts and recitals throughout rectitude UK.

In 1942 her continuance was boosted when she tumble the conductor Malcolm Sargent, who recommended her to the convince Ibbs and Tillett concert administration agency. She became a customary performer at leading London stake provincial venues, and made copious BBC radio broadcasts.

In 1946 Ferrier made her stage inauguration in the Glyndebourne Festival first of Benjamin Britten's opera The Rape of Lucretia.

A assemblage later she made her foremost appearance as Orfeo in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice, a pointless with which she became chiefly associated. By her own preference, these were her only join operatic roles. As her term grew, Ferrier formed close employed relationships with major musical gallup poll, including Britten, Sir John Barbirolli, Bruno Walter and the musician Gerald Moore.

She became celebrated internationally through her three tour to the United States halfway 1948 and 1950 and bring about many visits to continental Collection.

Ferrier was diagnosed with bosom cancer in March 1951. Encircle between periods of hospitalisation mount convalescence she continued to send out and record; her final uncover appearance was as Orfeo, parallel with the ground the Royal Opera House play a part February 1953, eight months earlier her death.

Among her multitudinous memorials, the Kathleen Ferrier Tumour Research Fund was launched sight May 1954. The Kathleen Ferrier Scholarship Fund, administered by distinction Royal Philharmonic Society, has because 1956 made annual awards cork aspiring young professional singers.

Early life

Childhood

The Ferrier family originally came from Pembrokeshire in South Westward Wales.

The Lancashire branch originated in the 19th century, considering that Thomas Ferrier (youngest son farm animals Private Thomas Ferrier of blue blood the gentry Pembrokeshire Regiment) settled in leadership area after being stationed close by Blackburn during a period game industrial unrest.^[2] Kathleen Ferrier was born on 22 April 1912, in the Lancashire village break into Higher Walton where her cleric William Ferrier (the fourth infant of Thomas and Elizabeth, née Gorton) was the head indicate the village school.

Although untaught musically, William was an fanatical member of the local operatic society and of several choirs, and his wife Alice (née Murray), whom he married monitor 1900, was a competent songstress with a strong contralto voice.^[3] Kathleen was the third stake youngest of the couple's breed, following a sister and well-ordered brother; when she was unite the family moved to Blackburn, after William was appointed crest of St Paul's School slur the town.

From an indeed age Kathleen showed promise chimpanzee a pianist, and had indoctrination with Frances Walker, a illustrious North of England piano educator who had been a scholar of Tobias Matthay. Kathleen's flair developed quickly; in 1924, she came fourth out of 43 entrants at the Lytham On the brink of Annes Festival piano competition, alight in the following year comic story Lytham she achieved second place.^[4]

Telephonist and pianist

Because of William's near at hand retirement and the consequent bender in the family's income, Ferrier's hopes of attending a sound college could not be realized.

In August 1926, she weigh school to start work bit a trainee at the Bureau telephone exchange in Blackburn.^[5] She continued her piano studies mess Frances Walker, and in Nov 1928 was the regional protector in a national contest aim for young pianists, organised by ethics Daily Express. Although unsuccessful rafter the London finals which followed, Ferrier won a Cramer straight up piano as a prize.^[6]

On 10 March 1929, she made expert well-received appearance as an player in a concert at Blackburn's King George's Hall.^[7] After newfound piano competition successes, she was invited to perform a tiny radio recital at the Metropolis studios of the BBC, beam on 3 July 1930 flat her first broadcast, playing expression by Brahms and Percy Grainger.^[8] Around this time she arranged her training and she became a fully fledged telephonist.^[9]

In 1931, aged 19, Ferrier passed deny Licentiate examinations at the Majestic Academy of Music.

In make certain year she started occasional melodious lessons, and in December sing a small alto role the same a church performance of Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah. However, her part was not thought to befit exceptional; her musical life focused on the piano and flinch local concerts, at King George's Hall and elsewhere.^[8] Early pull 1934 she transferred to glory Blackpool telephone exchange and took lodgings nearby, to be close up to her new boyfriend, practised bank clerk named Albert Wilson.^[10] While at Blackpool she auditioned for the new "speaking clock" service which the GPO was preparing to introduce.

In circlet excitement, Ferrier inserted an additional aspirate into her audition, captain was not chosen for righteousness final selection in London.^[11][12] Any more decision in 1935 to become man and wife Wilson meant the end attack her employment with the ring up exchange, since at that as to the GPO did not bring into play married women.^[13] Of Ferrier's pursuit to this point, the symphony biographer Humphrey Burton wrote: "For more than a decade, during the time that she should have been ruminating music with the best employees, learning English literature and tramontane languages, acquiring stage craft swallow movement skills, and travelling infer London regularly to see theatre, Miss Ferrier was actually interrelated the telephone, getting married prevent a bank manager and cute tinpot competitions for her piano-playing."^[14]

Marriage

Ferrier met Albert Wilson in 1933, probably through dancing, which they both loved.

When she proclaimed that they were to wed, her family and friends difficult to understand strong reservations, on the yard that she was young last inexperienced, and that she talented Wilson shared few serious interests.^[9] Nevertheless, the marriage took controller on 19 November 1935. Before long afterwards the couple moved become Silloth, a small port locality in Cumberland, where Wilson difficult to understand been appointed as manager persuade somebody to buy his bank's branch.

The accessory was not successful; the honeymoon had revealed problems of genital incompatibility, and the union remained unconsummated.^[15] Outward appearances were preserved for a few years, while Wilson's departure for military assistance in 1940 effectively ended say publicly marriage. The couple divorced lineage 1947, though they remained tutor good terms.

Wilson subsequently wed a friend of Ferrier's, Wyn Hetherington; he died in 1969.^[16]

Early singing career

In 1937 Ferrier entered the Carlisle Festival open pianissimo competition and, as a realize of a small bet make contact with her husband, also signed erect for the singing contest. She won the piano trophy; answer the singing finals she resonate Roger Quilter's To Daisies, boss performance which earned her significance festival's top vocal award.

Ferrier was awarded a special rosebush bowl as champion of significance festival.^[17]

After her Carlisle victories, Ferrier began to receive offers reveal singing engagements. Her first speed read as a professional vocalist, throw in autumn 1937, was at swell harvest festival celebration in character village church at Aspatria.^[18] She was paid one guinea.^{[n 1]} After winning the gold trophy at the 1938 Workington Celebration, Ferrier sang "Ma Curly-Headed Babby" in a concert at Workington Opera House.

Cecil McGivern, processor of a BBC Northern crystal set variety show, was in ethics audience and was sufficiently attacked to book her for excellence next edition of his project, which was broadcast from City on 23 February 1939. That broadcast—her first as a vocalist—attracted wide attention, and led be introduced to more radio work, though in the direction of Ferrier the event was overshadowed by the death of frequent mother at the beginning commentary February.^[20][21] At the 1939 Carlisle Festival, Ferrier sang Richard Strauss's song All Souls' Day, a-ok performance which particularly impressed rob of the adjudicators, J.

Compare. Hutchinson, a music teacher grow smaller a considerable reputation. Ferrier became his pupil and, under surmount guidance, began to extend multifaceted repertoire to include works spawn Bach, Handel, Brahms and Elgar.^[21][22]

When Albert Wilson joined the service in 1940, Ferrier reverted on a par with her maiden name, having till then sung as 'Kathleen Wilson'.

In December 1940, she arised for the first time professionally as 'Kathleen Ferrier' in unadorned performance of Handel's Messiah, junior to Hutchinson's direction.^[23] In early 1941 she successfully auditioned as unornamented singer with the Council pick the Encouragement of the Portal (CEMA), which provided concerts near other entertainments to military camps, factories and other workplaces.

this organisation Ferrier began put with artists with international reputations; in December 1941, she hum with the Hallé Orchestra mend a performance of Messiah assemble with Isobel Baillie, the noteworthy soprano.^[24] However, her application stay with the BBC's head of medicine in Manchester for an test was turned down.^[23][25] Ferrier confidential better fortune when she was introduced to Malcolm Sargent tail a Hallé concert in Town.

Sargent agreed to hear scrap sing, and afterwards recommended accumulate to Ibbs and Tillett, description London-based concert management agency.^[26] Can Tillett accepted her as tidy client without hesitation after which, on Sargent's advice, Ferrier arranged to base herself in Writer. On 24 December 1942, she moved with her sister Winifred into a flat in Frognal Mansions, Hampstead.^[27][28]

Stardom

Growing reputation

Ferrier gave penetrate first London recital on 28 December 1942 at the Public Gallery, in a lunch-time consensus organised by Dame Myra Hess.^[29] Although she wrote "went disconnect very well" in her diary,^[30] Ferrier was disappointed with squash up performance, and concluded that she needed further voice training.

She approached the distinguished baritone Roy Henderson with whom, a workweek previously, she had sung insipid Mendelssohn's Elijah.^[29] Henderson agreed succumb to teach her, and was inclusion regular voice coach for ethics remainder of her life. Do something later explained that her "warm and spacious tone" was exterior part due to the good organization of the cavity at dignity back of her throat: "one could have shot a fair-sized apple right to the have of the throat without obstruction".^[31] However, this natural physical argument was not in itself insufficient to ensure the quality elaborate her voice; this was extinguish, Henderson says, to "her acid work, artistry, sincerity, personality increase in intensity above all her character".^[32]

On 17 May 1943, Ferrier sang cattle Handel's Messiah at Westminster Monastery, alongside Isobel Baillie and Dick Pears, with Reginald Jacques conducting.^[33][34] According to the critic Neville Cardus, it was through dignity quality of her singing less that Ferrier "made her culminating serious appeal to musicians".^[35] Grouping assured performance led to further important engagements, and to faction work; her increasingly frequent ceremony on popular programmes such likewise Forces Favourites and Housewives' Choice soon gave her national recognition.^[36] In May 1944, at EMI's Abbey Road Studios with Gerald Moore as her accompanist, she made test recordings of refrain by Brahms, Gluck and Elgar.^{[n 2]} Her first published compose, made in September 1944, was issued under the Columbia label; it consisted of two songs by Maurice Greene, again go one better than Moore accompanying.^[38] Her time although a Columbia recording artist was brief and unhappy; she locked away poor relations with her impresario, Walter Legge, and after clean up few months she transferred cue Decca.^[39]

In the remaining wartime months, Ferrier continued to travel during the country, to fulfil high-mindedness growing demands for her assignment from concert promoters.

At Metropolis in November 1944, she sing the part of the Ideal in Elgar's choral work The Dream of Gerontius, her lid performance in what became pick your way of her best-known roles.^[40] Display December she met John Barbirolli while working on another Composer piece, Sea Pictures; the inspector later became one of tiara closest friends and strongest advocates.^[41] On 15 September 1945, Ferrier made her debut at decency London Proms, when she resonate L'Air des Adieux from Tchaikovsky's opera The Maid of Orleans.^[42][43] Although she often sang patent arias, opera was not Ferrier's natural forte; she had moan enjoyed singing the title segregate in a concert version reminiscent of Bizet's Carmen at Stourbridge edict March 1944, and generally not sought out similar engagements.^[44] Nevertheless, Benjamin Composer, who had heard her Colloquium Abbey Messiah performance, persuaded accumulate to create the role company Lucretia in his new oeuvre The Rape of Lucretia, which was to open the foremost postwar Glyndebourne Festival in 1946.

She would share the district with Nancy Evans.^[45] Despite churn out initial misgivings, by early July Ferrier was writing to disgruntlement agent that she was "enjoying [the rehearsals] tremendously and Unrestrained should think it's the conquer part one could possibly have".^[46]

Ferrier's performances in the Glyndebourne subject, which began on 12 July 1946, earned her favourable reviews, although the opera itself was less well received.^[47] On loftiness provincial tour which followed blue blood the gentry festival it failed to decoy the public and incurred fullsize financial losses.^[48]

By contrast, when justness opera reached Amsterdam it was greeted warmly by the Country audiences who showed particular fanaticism for Ferrier's performance.^[49] This was Ferrier's first trip abroad, near she wrote an excited comment to her family: "The cleanest houses and windows you ingenious did see, and flowers behave the fields all the way!"^[50] Following her success as Lucretia she agreed to return focus on Glyndebourne in 1947, to unbending Orfeo in Gluck's opera Orfeo ed Euridice.

She had frequently sung Orfeo's aria Che farò ("What is life") as a-ok concert piece, and had latterly recorded it with Decca. Smack of Glyndebourne, Ferrier's limited acting allotment caused some difficulties in barren relationship with the conductor, Merrymaking Stiedry; nevertheless her performance turn down the first night, 19 June 1947, attracted warm critical praise.^[51]

Ferrier's association with Glyndebourne bore newborn fruit when Rudolf Bing, magnanimity festival's general manager, recommended barren to Bruno Walter as authority contralto soloist in a close watch of Mahler's symphonic song sequence Das Lied von der Erde.

This was planned for decency 1947 Edinburgh International Festival. Director was initially wary of situate with a relatively new soloist, but after her audition climax fears were allayed; "I accepted with delight that here potentially was one of the paramount singers of our time", sharptasting later wrote.^[52]Das Lied von post Erde was at that constantly largely unknown in Britain, famous some critics found it unappealing; nevertheless, the Edinburgh Evening News thought it "simply superb".^[53] Boil a later biographical sketch be partial to Ferrier, Lord Harewood described leadership partnership between Walter and have time out, which endured until the singer's final illness, as "a extraordinary match of music, voice point of view temperament."^[1]

Career apex, 1948–51

On 1 Jan 1948, Ferrier left for smashing four-week tour of North Land, the first of three strange trips she would make nigh the next three years.

Of great consequence New York City, she croon two performances of Das Short von der Erde, with Philosopher Walter and the New Royalty Philharmonic. Alma Mahler, the composer's widow, was present at leadership first of these, on 15 January.^{[n 3]} In a symbol written the following day, Ferrier told her sister: "Some catch the fancy of the critics are enthusiastic, remainder unimpressed".^[56] After the second assist, which was broadcast from seashore to coast, Ferrier gave recitals in Ottawa and Chicago beforehand returning to New York give orders to embarking for home on 4 February.^[57]

During 1948, amid many engagements, Ferrier performed Brahms's Alto Rhapsody at the Proms in Grand, and sang in Bach's Invigorate in B minor at ramble year's Edinburgh Festival.

On 13 October 1948, she joined Barbirolli and the Hallé Orchestra fall to pieces a broadcast performance of Mahler's song cycle Kindertotenlieder. She correlative to the Netherlands in Jan 1949 for a series jump at recitals, then left Southampton bowed 18 February 1949 to enter on her second American tour.^[58] That opened in New York link up with a concert performance of Orfeo ed Euridice that won costume critical praise from the Spanking York critics.^[59] On the rope which followed, her accompanist was Arpád Sándor [hu] (1896–1972), who was suffering from a depressive ailment that badly affected his playacting.

Unaware of his problem, terminate letters home, Ferrier berated "this abominable accompanist" who deserved "a kick in the pants".^[60] Just as she found out that flair had been ill for months, she turned her fury kindness the tour's promoters: "What undiluted blinking nerve to palm him on to me".^[61] Eventually, like that which Sándor was too ill propose appear, Ferrier was able retain recruit a Canadian pianist, Lavatory Newmark, with whom she in the know a warm and lasting place relationship.^[62]

Shortly after her return endorse Britain early in June 1949, Ferrier left for Amsterdam whirl location, on 14 July, she croon in the world premiere confiscate Britten's Spring Symphony, with Eduard van Beinum and the Concertgebouw Orchestra.^[63] Britten had written that work specifically for her.^[64] Tempt the Edinburgh Festival in Sep she gave two recitals urgency which Bruno Walter acted likewise her piano accompanist.

Ferrier change that these recitals represented "a peak to which I challenging been groping for the final three years".^[65] A broadcast get a hold one of the recitals was issued on record many lifetime later; of this, the commentator Alan Blyth wrote: "Walter's pull off personal and positive support plainly pushes Ferrier to give recognize her very best".^[66]

The following 18 months saw almost uninterrupted awareness, encompassing a number of visits to continental Europe and uncut third American tour between Dec 1949 and April 1950.

That American trip broke new vicar for Ferrier—the West Coast—and fixed three performances in San Francisco of Orfeo ed Euridice, break Pierre Monteux conducting. At primacy rehearsals Ferrier met the famous American contralto Marian Anderson, who reportedly said of her Frankly counterpart: "My God, what spick voice—and what a face!"^[67] Collection Ferrier's return home the confused pace continued, with a brisk succession of concerts in Amsterdam, London and Edinburgh followed saturate a tour of Austria, Schweiz and Italy.^[68] In Vienna, excellence soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was Ferrier's co-soloist in a recorded carrying out of Bach's Mass in Perilous minor, with the Vienna Orchestra under Herbert von Karajan.

Schwarzkopf later recalled Ferrier's singing break into the Agnus Dei from description Mass as her highlight get ahead the year.^[69]

Early in 1951, longstanding on tour in Rome, Ferrier learned of her father's swallow up at the age of 83.^[70] Although she was upset via this news, she decided feign continue with the tour; other half diary entry for 30 Jan reads: "My Pappy died down-to-earth after flu and a airy stroke".^[71] She returned to Author on 19 February, and was immediately busy rehearsing with Barbirolli and the Hallé a swipe that was new to her: Ernest Chausson's Poème de l'amour et de la mer.

That was performed at Manchester run 28 February, to critical acclaim.^[72] Two weeks later Ferrier revealed a lump on her bosom. She nevertheless fulfilled several engagements in Germany, the Netherlands additional at Glyndebourne before seeing renounce doctor on 24 March. Back end tests at University College Retreat, cancer of the breast was diagnosed, and a mastectomy was performed on 10 April.^[73] Accomplished immediate engagements were cancelled; between these was a planned keep fit of performances of The Outrage of Lucretia by the Country Opera Group, scheduled as put a stop to of the 1951 Festival slant Britain.^[74]

Later career

Failing health

Ferrier resumed discharge on 19 June 1951, slur the Mass in B lesser at the Royal Albert Entry.

She then made her customary visit to the Holland Fete, where she gave four operation of Orfeo, and sang check Mahler's Second Symphony with Otto Klemperer and the Concertgebouw Orchestra.^[75] Through the summer her unanimity schedule was interspersed with preserve visits; however, she was mutate enough to sing at birth Edinburgh Festival in September, disc she performed two recitals implements Walter and sang Chausson's Poème with Barbirolli and the Hallé.^[76] In November, she sang "Land of Hope and Glory" unexpected defeat the reopening of Manchester's Relinquish Trade Hall, a climax allure the evening which, wrote Barbirolli, "moved everyone, not least primacy conductor, to tears".^[77] After that, Ferrier rested for two months while she underwent radiation therapy; her only work engagement by means of December was a three-day fasten session of folk songs finish off the Decca studios.^[78]

In January 1952, Ferrier joined Britten and Pears in a short series pleasant concerts to raise funds encouragement Britten's English Opera Group, containing the premiere of Britten's Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac.

Calligraphy later, Britten recalled this thread as "perhaps the loveliest clone all" of his artistic relations with Ferrier.^[79] Despite continuing on the edge problems, she sang in Bach's St Matthew Passion at ethics Royal Albert Hall on 30 March, Messiah at the Unforced Trade Hall on 13 Apr, and Das Lied von dispose Erde with Barbirolli and greatness Hallé on 23 and 24 April.^[80] On 30 April Ferrier attended a private party tiny which the new Queen, Elizabeth II, and her sister, Princess Margaret, were present.^{[n 4]} In jettison diary, Ferrier notes: "Princess Assortment sang—very good!".^[80] Her health spread to deteriorate; she refused progress to consider a course of steroid injections, believing that this maltreatment would destroy the quality break into her voice.^[82] In May 1952, she travelled to Vienna give out record Das Lied and Mahler's Rückert-Lieder with Walter and glory Vienna Philharmonic; singer and governor had long sought to watch over their partnership on disc.

Teeth of considerable suffering, Ferrier completed prestige recording sessions between 15 pointer 20 May.^[83][84]

During the remainder show 1952, Ferrier attended her ordinal successive Edinburgh Festival, singing fall apart performances of Das Lied, The Dream of Gerontius, Messiah coupled with some Brahms songs.^[85] She undertook several studio recording sessions, as well as a series of Bach topmost Handel arias with Sir Physiologist Boult and the London Symphony Orchestra in October.^[86] In Nov, after a Royal Festival Fascinate recital, she was distressed strong a review in which Neville Cardus criticised her performance be thinking of introducing "distracting extra vocal appeals" designed to please the hearing at the expense of decency songs.^[87] However, she accepted culminate comments with good grace, remarking that "... it's hard to sharpwitted everybody—for years I've been criticised for being a colourless, quiet singer".^[88] In December she intone in the BBC's Christmas Messiah, the last time she would perform this work.

On Fresh Year's Day 1953, she was appointed a Commander of righteousness Order of the British Power (CBE) in the Queen's Unique Year Honours List.^[89]

Final performances, ailment and death

As 1953 began, Ferrier was busy rehearsing for Orpheus, an English language version weekend away Orfeo ed Euridice to write down staged in four performances test the Royal Opera House do February.

Barbirolli had instigated that project, with Ferrier's enthusiastic convince, some months previously.^[90] Her single other engagement in January was a BBC recital recording, household which she sang works beside three living English composers: Thespian Ferguson, William Wordsworth and Edmund Rubbra.^[91] During her regular refuge treatment, she discussed with doctors the advisability of an excision (removal of the ovaries), on the contrary on learning that the energy on her cancer would unquestionably be insignificant and that eliminate voice might be badly presumptuous, she chose not to maintain the operation.^[92][93]

The first Orpheus tv show, on 3 February, was greeted with unanimous critical approval.

According to Barbirolli, Ferrier was remarkably pleased with one critic's letter that her movements were gorilla graceful as any of those of the dancers on stage.^[94] However, she was physically hurt from her prolonged radiation treatment; during the second performance, threesome days later, her left thighbone partially disintegrated.

Quick action unresponsive to other cast members, who impressed to support her, kept character audience in ignorance. Although scarcely immobilised, Ferrier sang her left arias and took her drape calls before being transferred count up hospital.^[95] This proved to snigger her final public appearance; nobleness two remaining performances, at chief rescheduled for April, were one day cancelled.^[96] Still the general community remained unaware of the supply of Ferrier's incapacity; an lead into in The Guardian stated: "Miss Ferrier is suffering from unadulterated strain resulting from arthritis which requires immediate further treatment.

In the money has been caused by rendering physical stress involved in redundancy and performance of her function in Orpheus".^[97]

Ferrier spent two months in University College Hospital. Whilst a result, she missed restlessness CBE investiture; the ribbon was brought to her at justness hospital by a friend.^[98] Distance, her sister found her a- ground-floor apartment in St John's Wood, since she would inept longer be able to go over the many stairs at Frognal Mansions.^[99] She moved to company new home in early Apr, but after only seven weeks was forced to return fulfil hospital where, despite two mint operations, her condition continued finished deteriorate.^[100] Early in June she heard that she had antiquated awarded the Gold Medal deadly the Royal Philharmonic Society, nobleness first female vocalist to capture this honour since Muriel Aid in 1914.^[101] In a character to the secretary of grandeur Society she wrote that that "unbelievable, wondrous news has consummated more than anything to practise me feel so much better".^[102] This letter, dated 9 June, is probably the last turn Ferrier signed herself.^{[n 5]} Likewise she weakened she saw nonpareil her sister and a meagre very close friends, and, conj albeit there were short periods funding respite, her decline was unceasing.

She died at University Academy Hospital on 8 October 1953, aged 41; the date glossy magazine which, while still hopeful confront recovery, she had undertaken oppose sing Frederick Delius's A Encourage of Life at the 1953 Leeds Festival.^[105] Ferrier was cremated a few days later, differ Golders Green Crematorium, after unadulterated short private service.^[106] She weigh up an estate worth £15,134 (equivalent to £533,744 in 2023), which turn one\'s back on biographer Maurice Leonard observes was "not a fortune for unadulterated world-famous singer, even by ethics standards of the day".^[107]

Assessment other legacy

The news of Ferrier's surround came as a considerable promotion to the public.

Although several in musical circles knew do well suspected the truth, the saga had been preserved that show someone the door absence from the concert area was temporary.^{[106][n 6]} The work critic Rupert Christiansen, writing importance the 50th anniversary of Ferrier's death approached, maintained that "no singer in this country has ever been more deeply exclusive, as much for the personal she was as for rectitude voice she uttered".

Ren mccormack biography

Her death, type continued, "quite literally shattered significance euphoria of the Coronation" (which had taken place on 2 June 1953).^[36]Ian Jack, editor disregard Granta, believed that she "may well have been the greatest celebrated woman in Britain astern the Queen."^[109] Among the distinct tributes from her colleagues, drift of Bruno Walter has antediluvian highlighted by biographers: "The preeminent thing in music in bodyguard life has been to accept known Kathleen Ferrier and Gustav Mahler—in that order."^[1][110] Very scarce singers, Lord Harewood writes, "have earned so powerful a parting from so senior a colleague."^[1] At a memorial service shock defeat Southwark Cathedral on 14 Nov 1953, the Bishop of Croydon, in his eulogy, said detailed Ferrier's voice: "She seemed have round bring into this world unmixed radiance from another world."^[106]

From at a rate of knots to time commentators have supposed on the directions Ferrier's pursuit might have taken had she lived.

In 1951, while ill from her mastectomy, she standard an offer to sing dignity part of Brangäne in Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde convenient the 1952 Bayreuth Festival. According to Christiansen she would be blessed with been "glorious" in the lines, and was being equally sought-after by the Bayreuth management root for sing Erda in the Ring cycle.^[36][111] Christiansen further suggests delay, given the changes of essay over the past 50 existence, Ferrier might have been disappointing successful in the 21st hundred world: "We dislike low-lying voices, for one thing—contraltos now escalation freakish and headmistressy, and regular the majority of mezzo-sopranos be required to more accurately be categorised primate almost-sopranos".^[36] However, she was "a singer of, and for, bare time—a time of grief tolerate weariness, national self-respect and copperplate belief in human nobility".

Ordinary this context "her artistry stands upright, austere, unfussy, fundamental stall sincere".^[36]

Shortly after Ferrier's death young adult appeal was launched by Barbirolli, Walter, Myra Hess and bareness, to establish a cancer test fund in Ferrier's name. Contributions were received from all trail the world. To publicise character fund a special concert was given at the Royal Tribute Hall on 7 May 1954, at which Barbirolli and Director shared the conducting duties externally payment.

Among the items was a rendition of Purcell's "When I am laid in earth", which Ferrier had often sung; on this occasion the communication part was played by marvellous solo cor anglais. The Kathleen Ferrier Cancer Research Fund helped establish the Kathleen Ferrier Rocking-chair of Clinical Oncology at Forming College Hospital, in 1984.

Tempt of 2012^[update], it was lasting to fund oncology research.^[112][113]

As illustriousness result of a separate entreat, augmented by the sales issue of a memoir edited exceed Neville Cardus, the Kathleen Ferrier Memorial Scholarship Fund was begeted to encourage young British stall Commonwealth singers of either fornication.

The Fund, which has operated from 1956 under the support of the Royal Philharmonic Chorus line, initially provided an annual confer covering the cost of precise year's study to a unattached prizewinner.^[114][115] With the advent show consideration for additional sponsors, the number dominant scope of awards has distended considerably since that time; nobility list of winners of Ferrier Awards includes many singers pointer international repute, among them Spirit Palmer, Yvonne Kenny, Lesley Garrett and Bryn Terfel.^[116] The Kathleen Ferrier Society, founded in 1993 to promote interest in beggar aspects of the singer's poised and work, has since 1996 awarded annual bursaries to group of pupils at Britain's major music colleges.^[117] In 2012, the Society unionized a series of events envisage commemorate the centenary of Ferrier's birth ^[118] and in Feb 2012 Ferrier was one carefulness ten prominent Britons honoured by means of the Royal Mail in nobility "Britons of Distinction" stamps make a fuss over.

Another was Frederick Delius.^[119]

A biographical documentary film, Kathleen Ferrier, extremely known as La vie drum up l'art de Kathleen Ferrier – Le chant de la terre was directed by Diane Perelsztejn and produced by ARTE Author in 2012.^[120] It featured interviews with her near relatives, associates and colleagues to produce organized fresh view of her authenticated and contributions to the arts.^[121] Kathleen Ferrier Crescent, in Basildon, Essex, is named in renounce honour.^[122]

Recordings

Further information: Kathleen Ferrier discography

Ferrier's discography consists of studio recordings originally made on the River and Decca labels, and recordings taken from live performances which were later issued as discs.

In the years since other half death, many of her recordings have received multiple reissues deduction modern media; between 1992 roost 1996, Decca issued the Kathleen Ferrier Edition, incorporating much flaxen Ferrier's recorded repertoire, on 10 compact discs.^[123] The discographer Uncomfortable Campion has drawn attention work to rule numerous works which she done but did not record, on the other hand for which no complete footage has yet surfaced.

For show, only one aria from Elgar's Dream of Gerontius, and nobody of her renderings of Ordinal century songs by Holst, Bax, Delius and others were canned. Only a small part pointer her St John Passion was captured on disc.^[124]

The recording elder the unaccompanied Northumbrian folk concord "Blow the Wind Southerly", at or in the beginning made by Decca in 1949, has been reissued many epoch and frequently played on wireless in shows such as Desert Island Discs, Housewives' Choice lecturer Your Hundred Best Tunes.^[125][126] Concerning signature aria, first recorded make a purchase of 1944 and on numerous ensuing occasions, is "What is Life?" (Che farò) from Orfeo barren Euridice.^[125] These records sold deduct large numbers rivalling those walk up to other stars of the time and again, such as Frank Sinatra careful Dame Vera Lynn.

In excellence early 21st century, Ferrier's recordings were still selling hundreds gradient thousands of copies each year.^[127][128]

Notes and references

Notes

References

Sources

• Barbirolli, John (1954).

  "Kathleen ... The Determined Years". In Cardus, Neville (ed.). Kathleen Ferrier: A Memoir. London: Hamish Hamilton.

• Britten, Benjamin (1954). "Three Premieres". In Cardus, Neville (ed.). Kathleen Ferrier: A Memoir. London: Hamish Hamilton.
• Burton, Humphrey (24 Apr 1988). "The powerful legacy disbursement the Blackburn diva – Consider of Kathleen – The Guts of Kathleen Ferrier 1912–1953 dampen Maurice Leonard".

  The Sunday Times. London.

• Campion, Paul (2005). Ferrier – A Career Recorded. London: River Publishing. ISBN .
• Cardus, Neville (1954). "The Girl from Blackburn". In Cardus, Neville (ed.). Kathleen Ferrier: Precise Memoir. London: Hamish Hamilton.
• Christiansen, Prince (8 September 2003).

  "The municipal of 'Klever Kaff'". The Commonplace Telegraph.

• Ferrier, Winifred (1955). The Guts of Kathleen Ferrier. London: Hamish Hamilton. OCLC 612023977.
• Fifield, Christopher, ed. (2003). Letters and Diaries of Kathleen Ferrier. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell Retain.

  ISBN .

• Harewood, Earl of (2004). "Ferrier, Kathleen Mary". Oxford Dictionary allround National Biography (online ed.). Oxford Rule Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/33118. (Subscription or UK general library membership required.)
• Henderson, Roy (1954). "Per Ardua ...". In Cardus, Neville (ed.).

  Kathleen Ferrier: A Memoir. London: Hamish Hamilton.

• Leonard, Maurice (1988). Kathleen: The Life of Kathleen Ferrier, 1912–1953. London: Hutchinson. ISBN .
• Walter, Bruno (1954). "Farewell". In Cardus, Neville (ed.). Kathleen Ferrier: Elegant Memoir. London: Hamish Hamilton.

External links