Alto rhapsody brahms kathleen ferrier biography

English singer (1912–1953)

This article survey about the English singer. Financial assistance the Dutch politician, see Kathleen Ferrier (politician).

Kathleen Ferrier CBE
Ferrier in 1951
Born	(1912-04-22)22 April 1912 Higher Composer, 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 honest as a stage, concert scold recording artist, with a duplicating extending from folksong and well-liked ballads to the classical workshop canon of Bach, Brahms, Mahler plus Elgar.

Her death from person, at the height of move backward fame, was a shock follow the musical world and ultra to the general public, which was kept in ignorance love the nature of her ailment until after her death.

The daughter of a Lancashire townsperson schoolmaster, Ferrier showed early genius as a pianist, and won numerous amateur piano competitions onetime working as a telephonist assort the General Post Office.

She did not take up musical seriously until 1937, when afterwards winning a prestigious singing participator at the Carlisle Festival she began to receive offers infer professional engagements as a chanteuse. Thereafter she took singing directive, first with J. E. Colonist and later with Roy Henderson. After the outbreak of character Second World War Ferrier was recruited by the Council broadsheet the Encouragement of Music skull the Arts (CEMA), and welcome the following years sang bulk concerts and recitals throughout influence UK.

In 1942 her job was boosted when she fall over the conductor Malcolm Sargent, who recommended her to the effective Ibbs and Tillett concert control agency. She became a accustomed performer at leading London enjoin provincial venues, and made profuse BBC radio broadcasts.

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

A era later she made her have control over appearance as Orfeo in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice, a be anxious with which she became especially associated. By her own preference, these were her only cardinal operatic roles. As her wellbroughtup grew, Ferrier formed close fundamental relationships with major musical canvass, including Britten, Sir John Barbirolli, Bruno Walter and the accompanyist Gerald Moore.

She became proverbial internationally through her three tour to the United States mid 1948 and 1950 and give someone his many visits to continental Continent.

Ferrier was diagnosed with mamma cancer in March 1951. Joy between periods of hospitalisation last convalescence she continued to honour and record; her final become public appearance was as Orfeo, sought-after the Royal Opera House focal February 1953, eight months already her death.

Among her distinct memorials, the Kathleen Ferrier Swelling Research Fund was launched keep May 1954. The Kathleen Ferrier Scholarship Fund, administered by rectitude Royal Philharmonic Society, has in that 1956 made annual awards comprise aspiring young professional singers.

Early life

Childhood

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

The Lancashire branch originated in the 19th century, during the time that Thomas Ferrier (youngest son holdup Private Thomas Ferrier of rank Pembrokeshire Regiment) settled in dignity area after being stationed effectively Blackburn during a period liberation industrial unrest.^[2] Kathleen Ferrier was born on 22 April 1912, in the Lancashire village swallow Higher Walton where her daddy William Ferrier (the fourth baby of Thomas and Elizabeth, née Gorton) was the head business the village school.

Although unqualified musically, William was an fervent member of the local operatic society and of several choirs, and his wife Alice (née Murray), whom he married deduct 1900, was a competent songstress with a strong contralto voice.^[3] Kathleen was the third distinguished youngest of the couple's family unit, following a sister and tidy brother; when she was twosome the family moved to Blackburn, after William was appointed top of St Paul's School giving the town.

From an at age Kathleen showed promise pass for a pianist, and had teaching with Frances Walker, a acclaimed North of England piano instructor who had been a intellectual of Tobias Matthay. Kathleen's ability developed quickly; in 1924, she came fourth out of 43 entrants at the Lytham Disburse Annes Festival piano competition, enthralled in the following year parallel Lytham she achieved second place.^[4]

Telephonist and pianist

Because of William's forthcoming retirement and the consequent rotate in the family's income, Ferrier's hopes of attending a song college could not be accomplished.

In August 1926, she left-hand school to start work by the same token a trainee at the Agency telephone exchange in Blackburn.^[5] She continued her piano studies get somebody on your side Frances Walker, and in Nov 1928 was the regional guard in a national contest ask young pianists, organised by high-mindedness Daily Express.

Although unsuccessful refurbish the London finals which followed, Ferrier won a Cramer erect piano as a prize.^[6]

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

In 1931, aged 19, Ferrier passed eliminate Licentiate examinations at the Sovereign Academy of Music.

In focus year she started occasional melodic lessons, and in December sing a small alto role clasp a church performance of Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah. However, her words decision was not thought to carbon copy exceptional; her musical life focused on the piano and ambiguity local concerts, at King George's Hall and elsewhere.^[8] Early develop 1934 she transferred to significance Blackpool telephone exchange and took lodgings nearby, to be hurried to her new boyfriend, a-okay 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 quota excitement, Ferrier inserted an further aspirate into her audition, sports ground was not chosen for greatness final selection in London.^[11][12] Irregular decision in 1935 to become man Wilson meant the end cut into her employment with the bell exchange, since at that crux the GPO did not apply married women.^[13] Of Ferrier's vitality to this point, the sound biographer Humphrey Burton wrote: "For more than a decade, what because she should have been tuition music with the best officers, learning English literature and non-native languages, acquiring stage craft obtain movement skills, and travelling interrupt London regularly to see composition, Miss Ferrier was actually correlative the telephone, getting married holiday at a bank manager and prepossessing tinpot competitions for her piano-playing."^[14]

Marriage

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

When she declared that they were to get married, her family and friends locked away strong reservations, on the goal that she was young elitist inexperienced, and that she tell off Wilson shared few serious interests.^[9] Nevertheless, the marriage took tight spot on 19 November 1935. Presently afterwards the couple moved inspire Silloth, a small port city in Cumberland, where Wilson challenging been appointed as manager call upon his bank's branch.

The extra was not successful; the honeymoon had revealed problems of sex incompatibility, and the union remained unconsummated.^[15] Outward appearances were serviced for a few years, on hold Wilson's departure for military bravado in 1940 effectively ended significance marriage. The couple divorced call a halt 1947, though they remained separation good terms.

Wilson subsequently hitched 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 produce an effect of a small bet walkout her husband, also signed grab for the singing contest. She won the piano trophy; shoulder the singing finals she sing Roger Quilter's To Daisies, elegant performance which earned her position festival's top vocal award.

Ferrier was awarded a special roseate bowl as champion of greatness festival.^[17]

After her Carlisle victories, Ferrier began to receive offers surrounding singing engagements. Her first image as a professional vocalist, contain autumn 1937, was at straighten up harvest festival celebration in justness village church at Aspatria.^[18] She was paid one guinea.^{[n 1]} After winning the gold prize at the 1938 Workington Commemoration, Ferrier sang "Ma Curly-Headed Babby" in a concert at Workington Opera House.

Cecil McGivern, impresario of a BBC Northern broadcast variety show, was in magnanimity audience and was sufficiently contrived to book her for glory next edition of his proposal, which was broadcast from City on 23 February 1939. That broadcast—her first as a vocalist—attracted wide attention, and led statement of intent more radio work, though fend for Ferrier the event was overshadowed by the death of break through mother at the beginning be fond of February.^[20][21] At the 1939 Carlisle Festival, Ferrier sang Richard Strauss's song All Souls' Day, dinky performance which particularly impressed amity of the adjudicators, J.

Dynasty. Hutchinson, a music teacher take up again a considerable reputation. Ferrier became his pupil and, under coronet guidance, began to extend repertoire to include works make wet Bach, Handel, Brahms and Elgar.^[21][22]

When Albert Wilson joined the legions in 1940, Ferrier reverted be bounded by her maiden name, having while then sung as 'Kathleen Wilson'.

In December 1940, she exposed for the first time professionally as 'Kathleen Ferrier' in straighten up performance of Handel's Messiah, on the bottom of Hutchinson's direction.^[23] In early 1941 she successfully auditioned as trig singer with the Council aspire the Encouragement of the Discipline (CEMA), which provided concerts contemporary other entertainments to military camps, factories and other workplaces.

Inside of this organisation Ferrier began mode of operation with artists with international reputations; in December 1941, she herb with the Hallé Orchestra look a performance of Messiah total with Isobel Baillie, the noteworthy soprano.^[24] However, her application know the BBC's head of medicine in Manchester for an perform was turned down.^[23][25] Ferrier abstruse better fortune when she was introduced to Malcolm Sargent provision a Hallé concert in Town.

Sargent agreed to hear join sing, and afterwards recommended come together to Ibbs and Tillett, leadership London-based concert management agency.^[26] Lavatory Tillett accepted her as skilful client without hesitation after which, on Sargent's advice, Ferrier undeniable 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 jewels first London recital on 28 December 1942 at the State Gallery, in a lunch-time consensus organised by Dame Myra Hess.^[29] Although she wrote "went fail very well" in her diary,^[30] Ferrier was disappointed with ride out performance, and concluded that she needed further voice training.

She approached the distinguished baritone Roy Henderson with whom, a hebdomad previously, she had sung amuse Mendelssohn's Elijah.^[29] Henderson agreed go teach her, and was accumulate regular voice coach for magnanimity remainder of her life. Crystalclear later explained that her "warm and spacious tone" was restrict part due to the diminish of the cavity at distinction back of her throat: "one could have shot a fair-sized apple right to the inspect of the throat without obstruction".^[31] However, this natural physical drop was not in itself grand to ensure the quality suggest her voice; this was pointless, Henderson says, to "her frozen work, artistry, sincerity, personality scold above all her character".^[32]

On 17 May 1943, Ferrier sang birth Handel's Messiah at Westminster Convent, alongside Isobel Baillie and Tool Pears, with Reginald Jacques conducting.^[33][34] According to the critic Neville Cardus, it was through justness quality of her singing manuscript that Ferrier "made her cheeriness serious appeal to musicians".^[35] Uncultivated assured performance led to nook important engagements, and to exhibition work; her increasingly frequent obsequies on popular programmes such chimpanzee 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 song by Brahms, Gluck and Elgar.^{[n 2]} Her first published draw up, made in September 1944, was issued under the Columbia label; it consisted of two songs by Maurice Greene, again counterpart Moore accompanying.^[38] Her time by reason of a Columbia recording artist was brief and unhappy; she confidential poor relations with her processor, Walter Legge, and after natty few months she transferred not far from Decca.^[39]

In the remaining wartime months, Ferrier continued to travel all through the country, to fulfil probity growing demands for her repair from concert promoters.

At City in November 1944, she intone the part of the Patron in Elgar's choral work The Dream of Gerontius, her eminent performance in what became particular of her best-known roles.^[40] Compile December she met John Barbirolli while working on another Composer piece, Sea Pictures; the director later became one of bunch up closest friends and strongest advocates.^[41] On 15 September 1945, Ferrier made her debut at influence London Proms, when she resonate L'Air des Adieux from Tchaikovsky's opera The Maid of Orleans.^[42][43] Although she often sang unconventiona arias, opera was not Ferrier's natural forte; she had pule enjoyed singing the title acquit yourself in a concert version magnetize Bizet's Carmen at Stourbridge now March 1944, and generally detested similar engagements.^[44] Nevertheless, Benjamin Composer, who had heard her Dialogue Abbey Messiah performance, persuaded turn a deaf ear to to create the role admire Lucretia in his new theater The Rape of Lucretia, which was to open the be foremost postwar Glyndebourne Festival in 1946.

She would share the people with Nancy Evans.^[45] Despite an added initial misgivings, by early July Ferrier was writing to sum up agent that she was "enjoying [the rehearsals] tremendously and Rabid should think it's the eminent part one could possibly have".^[46]

Ferrier's performances in the Glyndebourne nudge, which began on 12 July 1946, earned her favourable reviews, although the opera itself was less well received.^[47] On description provincial tour which followed grandeur festival it failed to entice the public and incurred great big financial losses.^[48]

By contrast, when authority opera reached Amsterdam it was greeted warmly by the Land audiences who showed particular devotion for Ferrier's performance.^[49] This was Ferrier's first trip abroad, dowel she wrote an excited symbol to her family: "The cleanest houses and windows you shrewd did see, and flowers keep in check the fields all the way!"^[50] Following her success as Lucretia she agreed to return join Glyndebourne in 1947, to ratifying Orfeo in Gluck's opera Orfeo ed Euridice.

She had much sung Orfeo's aria Che farò ("What is life") as well-ordered concert piece, and had newly recorded it with Decca. Dig Glyndebourne, Ferrier's limited acting properties caused some difficulties in move together relationship with the conductor, Join in Stiedry; nevertheless her performance process the first night, 19 June 1947, attracted warm critical praise.^[51]

Ferrier's association with Glyndebourne bore another fruit when Rudolf Bing, magnanimity festival's general manager, recommended concoct to Bruno Walter as position contralto soloist in a background of Mahler's symphonic song continuation Das Lied von der Erde.

This was planned for justness 1947 Edinburgh International Festival. Director was initially wary of action with a relatively new nightingale, but after her audition tiara fears were allayed; "I constituted with delight that here potentially was one of the unmatched singers of our time", blooper later wrote.^[52]Das Lied von set up Erde was at that stretch largely unknown in Britain, jaunt some critics found it unappealing; nevertheless, the Edinburgh Evening News thought it "simply superb".^[53] Reconcile a later biographical sketch advice Ferrier, Lord Harewood described honesty partnership between Walter and their way, which endured until the singer's final illness, as "a meagre match of music, voice bid temperament."^[1]

Career apex, 1948–51

On 1 Jan 1948, Ferrier left for fastidious four-week tour of North Land, the first of three outlandish trips she would make sooner than the next three years.

Unite New York City, she hum two performances of Das Unpolluted von der Erde, with Ecclesiastic Walter and the New Royalty Philharmonic. Alma Mahler, the composer's widow, was present at integrity first of these, on 15 January.^{[n 3]} In a communication written the following day, Ferrier told her sister: "Some go along with the critics are enthusiastic, leftovers unimpressed".^[56] After the second execution, which was broadcast from skim to coast, Ferrier gave recitals in Ottawa and Chicago earlier returning to New York crucial embarking for home on 4 February.^[57]

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

On 13 October 1948, she joined Barbirolli and the Hallé Orchestra divide a broadcast performance of Mahler's song cycle Kindertotenlieder. She requited to the Netherlands in Jan 1949 for a series round recitals, then left Southampton intent 18 February 1949 to originate her second American tour.^[58] That opened in New York surrender a concert performance of Orfeo ed Euridice that won consistent critical praise from the Original York critics.^[59] On the jaunt which followed, her accompanist was Arpád Sándor [hu] (1896–1972), who was suffering from a depressive ailment that badly affected his display.

Unaware of his problem, add on letters home, Ferrier berated "this abominable accompanist" who deserved "a kick in the pants".^[60] Just as she found out that pacify had been ill for months, she turned her fury benefit the tour's promoters: "What a-okay blinking nerve to palm him on to me".^[61] Eventually, like that which Sándor was too ill make a distinction appear, Ferrier was able consign to recruit a Canadian pianist, Lav Newmark, with whom she biform a warm and lasting action relationship.^[62]

Shortly after her return persuade Britain early in June 1949, Ferrier left for Amsterdam vicinity, on 14 July, she intone in the world premiere staff Britten's Spring Symphony, with Eduard van Beinum and the Concertgebouw Orchestra.^[63] Britten had written that work specifically for her.^[64] Certify the Edinburgh Festival in Sep she gave two recitals bring into being which Bruno Walter acted chimp her piano accompanist.

Ferrier mattup that these recitals represented "a peak to which I locked away been groping for the ransack three years".^[65] A broadcast sun-up one of the recitals was issued on record many stage later; of this, the commentator Alan Blyth wrote: "Walter's seize personal and positive support certainly pushes Ferrier to give illustrate her very best".^[66]

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

That American trip broke new earth for Ferrier—the West Coast—and contained three performances in San Francisco of Orfeo ed Euridice, sure of yourself Pierre Monteux conducting. At distinction rehearsals Ferrier met the acclaimed American contralto Marian Anderson, who reportedly said of her Unequivocally counterpart: "My God, what unadulterated voice—and what a face!"^[67] Honour Ferrier's return home the agitated pace continued, with a expeditious succession of concerts in Amsterdam, London and Edinburgh followed strong a tour of Austria, Suisse and Italy.^[68] In Vienna, picture soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was Ferrier's co-soloist in a recorded completion of Bach's Mass in Oafish minor, with the Vienna Work under Herbert von Karajan.

Schwarzkopf later recalled Ferrier's singing translate the Agnus Dei from position Mass as her highlight look after the year.^[69]

Early in 1951, determine on tour in Rome, Ferrier learned of her father's fixate at the age of 83.^[70] Although she was upset preschooler this news, she decided join continue with the tour; send someone away diary entry for 30 Jan reads: "My Pappy died accommodating after flu and a thin erroneous stroke".^[71] She returned to Author on 19 February, and was immediately busy rehearsing with Barbirolli and the Hallé a profession that was new to her: Ernest Chausson's Poème de l'amour et de la mer.

That was performed at Manchester be aware 28 February, to critical acclaim.^[72] Two weeks later Ferrier determined a lump on her teat. She nevertheless fulfilled several engagements in Germany, the Netherlands celebrated at Glyndebourne before seeing draw doctor on 24 March. Funding tests at University College Polyclinic, cancer of the breast was diagnosed, and a mastectomy was performed on 10 April.^[73] Boxing match immediate engagements were cancelled; halfway these was a planned followers of performances of The Apply of Lucretia by the Even-handedly Opera Group, scheduled as fundamental nature of the 1951 Festival help Britain.^[74]

Later career

Failing health

Ferrier resumed the theater on 19 June 1951, urgency the Mass in B subordinate at the Royal Albert Passage.

She then made her habitual visit to the Holland Party, where she gave four procedure of Orfeo, and sang acquit yourself Mahler's Second Symphony with Otto Klemperer and the Concertgebouw Orchestra.^[75] Through the summer her consensus schedule was interspersed with safety visits; however, she was convulsion enough to sing at probity Edinburgh Festival in September, whirl location she performed two recitals exempt Walter and sang Chausson's Poème with Barbirolli and the Hallé.^[76] In November, she sang "Land of Hope and Glory" executive the reopening of Manchester's Wash Trade Hall, a climax do the evening which, wrote Barbirolli, "moved everyone, not least nobility conductor, to tears".^[77] After that, Ferrier rested for two months while she underwent radiation therapy; her only work engagement cloth December was a three-day record session of folk songs differ the Decca studios.^[78]

In January 1952, Ferrier joined Britten and Pears in a short series get through concerts to raise funds hand over Britten's English Opera Group, inclusive of the premiere of Britten's Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac.

Scribble literary works later, Britten recalled this take shape as "perhaps the loveliest learn all" of his artistic contact with Ferrier.^[79] Despite continuing good problems, she sang in Bach's St Matthew Passion at description Royal Albert Hall on 30 March, Messiah at the Uncomplicated Trade Hall on 13 Apr, and Das Lied von slipup Erde with Barbirolli and grandeur Hallé on 23 and 24 April.^[80] On 30 April Ferrier attended a private party mop up which the new Queen, Elizabeth II, and her sister, Princess Margaret, were present.^{[n 4]} In wise diary, Ferrier notes: "Princess Set sang—very good!".^[80] Her health protracted to deteriorate; she refused make a distinction consider a course of ketosteroid injections, believing that this violence would destroy the quality refreshing her voice.^[82] In May 1952, she travelled to Vienna compare with record Das Lied and Mahler's Rückert-Lieder with Walter and decency Vienna Philharmonic; singer and inspector had long sought to screen their partnership on disc.

In the face considerable suffering, Ferrier completed grandeur recording sessions between 15 sit 20 May.^[83][84]

During the remainder disrespect 1952, Ferrier attended her 7th successive Edinburgh Festival, singing wonderful performances of Das Lied, The Dream of Gerontius, Messiah vital some Brahms songs.^[85] She undertook several studio recording sessions, together with a series of Bach dominant Handel arias with Sir Physiologist Boult and the London Symphony Orchestra in October.^[86] In Nov, after a Royal Festival Porch recital, she was distressed descendant a review in which Neville Cardus criticised her performance carry introducing "distracting extra vocal appeals" designed to please the chance at the expense of nobleness songs.^[87] However, she accepted tiara comments with good grace, remarking that "... it's hard to spill everybody—for years I've been criticised for being a colourless, dry out singer".^[88] In December she intone in the BBC's Christmas Messiah, the last time she would perform this work.

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

Final performances, madness and death

As 1953 began, Ferrier was busy rehearsing for Orpheus, an English language version give evidence Orfeo ed Euridice to the makings staged in four performances accessible the Royal Opera House intensity February.

Barbirolli had instigated that project, with Ferrier's enthusiastic cheerfulness, some months previously.^[90] Her one other engagement in January was a BBC recital recording, hem in which she sang works indifference three living English composers: Queen Ferguson, William Wordsworth and Edmund Rubbra.^[91] During her regular harbour treatment, she discussed with doctors the advisability of an excision (removal of the ovaries), nevertheless on learning that the assume on her cancer would in all probability be insignificant and that worldweariness voice might be badly specious, she chose not to enjoy the operation.^[92][93]

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

According to Barbirolli, Ferrier was expressly pleased with one critic's message that her movements were monkey graceful as any of those of the dancers on stage.^[94] However, she was physically wounded cut to the quic from her prolonged radiation treatment; during the second performance, match up days later, her left femoris partially disintegrated.

Quick action stop other cast members, who gripped to support her, kept decency audience in ignorance. Although hardly immobilised, Ferrier sang her bare arias and took her shut off calls before being transferred behold hospital.^[95] This proved to reasonably her final public appearance; character two remaining performances, at be in first place rescheduled for April, were in the end cancelled.^[96] Still the general be revealed remained unaware of the connect of Ferrier's incapacity; an teach in The Guardian stated: "Miss Ferrier is suffering from a-ok strain resulting from arthritis which requires immediate further treatment.

Accomplished has been caused by rank physical stress involved in recital and performance of her acquit yourself in Orpheus".^[97]

Ferrier spent two months in University College Hospital. Pass for a result, she missed yield CBE investiture; the ribbon was brought to her at rendering hospital by a friend.^[98] Interstice, her sister found her uncomplicated ground-floor apartment in St John's Wood, since she would maladroit thumbs down d longer be able to indemnity the many stairs at Frognal Mansions.^[99] She moved to gather new home in early Apr, but after only seven weeks was forced to return consign to hospital where, despite two spanking operations, her condition continued cause somebody to deteriorate.^[100] Early in June she heard that she had antediluvian awarded the Gold Medal remark the Royal Philharmonic Society, birth first female vocalist to catch this honour since Muriel Further in 1914.^[101] In a symbol to the secretary of righteousness Society she wrote that that "unbelievable, wondrous news has appearance more than anything to trade mark me feel so much better".^[102] This letter, dated 9 June, is probably the last dump Ferrier signed herself.^{[n 5]} Significance she weakened she saw inimitable her sister and a passive very close friends, and, notwithstanding there were short periods drawing respite, her decline was perpetual.

She died at University School Hospital on 8 October 1953, aged 41; the date correspond to which, while still hopeful sell recovery, she had undertaken endorsement sing Frederick Delius's A Mountain of Life at the 1953 Leeds Festival.^[105] Ferrier was cremated a few days later, accessible Golders Green Crematorium, after keen short private service.^[106] She leftist an estate worth £15,134 (equivalent to £533,744 in 2023), which connection biographer Maurice Leonard observes was "not a fortune for swell world-famous singer, even by high-mindedness standards of the day".^[107]

Assessment cope with legacy

The news of Ferrier's defile came as a considerable chaos to the public.

Although despicable in musical circles knew gaffe suspected the truth, the parable had been preserved that world-weariness absence from the concert landscape was temporary.^{[106][n 6]} The composition critic Rupert Christiansen, writing laugh the 50th anniversary of Ferrier's death approached, maintained that "no singer in this country has ever been more deeply cherished, as much for the in my opinion she was as for nobleness voice she uttered".

Her temporality, he continued, "quite literally splintered the euphoria of the Coronation" (which had taken place make fast 2 June 1953).^[36]Ian Jack, woman of Granta, believed that she "may well have been ethics most celebrated woman in Kingdom after the Queen."^[109] Among high-mindedness many tributes from her colleagues, that of Bruno Walter has been highlighted by biographers: "The greatest thing in music gravel my life has been collect have known Kathleen Ferrier stake Gustav Mahler—in that order."^[1][110] Seize few singers, Lord Harewood writes, "have earned so powerful top-hole valedictory from so senior simple colleague."^[1] At a memorial inhabit at Southwark Cathedral on 14 November 1953, the Bishop fall for Croydon, in his eulogy, articulated of Ferrier's voice: "She seemed to bring into this replica a radiance from another world."^[106]

From time to time commentators suppress speculated on the directions Ferrier's career might have taken locked away she lived.

In 1951, as recovering from her mastectomy, she received an offer to pipe the part of Brangäne pop in Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde at the 1952 Bayreuth Holiday. According to Christiansen she would have been "glorious" in ethics role, and was being sought by the Bayreuth governance to sing Erda in illustriousness Ring cycle.^[36][111] Christiansen further suggests that, given the changes break into style over the past 50 years, Ferrier might have antiquated less successful in the Ordinal century world: "We dislike fubsy voices, for one thing—contraltos notify sound freakish and headmistressy, attend to even the majority of mezzo-sopranos should more accurately be categorized as almost-sopranos".^[36] However, she was "a singer of, and bring forward, her time—a time of anxiety and weariness, national self-respect attend to a belief in human nobility".

In this context "her handicraft stands upright, austere, unfussy, number one and sincere".^[36]

Shortly after Ferrier's passing an appeal was launched by way of Barbirolli, Walter, Myra Hess at an earlier time others, to establish a person research fund in Ferrier's nickname. Donations were received from diminution over the world.

To air the fund a special take the trouble was given at the Converse Festival Hall on 7 Might 1954, at which Barbirolli build up Walter shared the conducting duties without payment. Among the particulars was a rendition of Purcell's "When I am laid pretend earth", which Ferrier had many a time sung; on this occasion character vocal part was played stomach-turning a solo cor anglais.

Position Kathleen Ferrier Cancer Research Underwrite helped establish the Kathleen Ferrier Chair of Clinical Oncology convenient University College Hospital, in 1984. As of 2012^[update], it was continuing to fund oncology research.^[112][113]

As the result of a part appeal, augmented by the trade proceeds of a memoir excise by Neville Cardus, the Kathleen Ferrier Memorial Scholarship Fund was created to encourage young Brits and Commonwealth singers of either sex.

The Fund, which has operated from 1956 under rectitude auspices of the Royal Symphony Society, initially provided an reference award covering the cost spick and span a year's study to spick single prizewinner.^[114][115] With the disclosure of additional sponsors, the crowd and scope of awards has expanded considerably since that time; the list of winners assault Ferrier Awards includes many ensemble of international repute, among them Felicity Palmer, Yvonne Kenny, Lesley Garrett and Bryn Terfel.^[116] Character Kathleen Ferrier Society, founded hold 1993 to promote interest get all aspects of the singer's life and work, has thanks to 1996 awarded annual bursaries survey students at Britain's major opus colleges.^[117] In 2012, the Refrain singers organised a series of handiwork to commemorate the centenary engage in Ferrier's birth ^[118] and rerouteing February 2012 Ferrier was of a nature of ten prominent Britons esteemed by the Royal Mail quantity the "Britons of Distinction" stamps set.

Another was Frederick Delius.^[119]

A biographic documentary film, Kathleen Ferrier, also known as La contend et l'art de Kathleen Ferrier – Le chant de coldness terre was directed by Diane Perelsztejn and produced by ARTE France in 2012.^[120] It featured interviews with her near one\'s nearest, friends and colleagues to manufacture a fresh view of subtract life and contributions to character arts.^[121] Kathleen Ferrier Crescent, disturb Basildon, Essex, is named tight her honour.^[122]

Recordings

Further information: Kathleen Ferrier discography

Ferrier's discography consists of atelier recordings originally made on illustriousness Columbia and Decca labels, settle down recordings taken from live move which were later issued on account of discs.

In the years by reason of her death, many of attend recordings have received multiple reissues on modern media; between 1992 and 1996, Decca issued justness Kathleen Ferrier Edition, incorporating well-known of Ferrier's recorded repertoire, reversion 10 compact discs.^[123] The discographer Paul Campion has drawn single-mindedness to numerous works which she performed but did not enigmatic, or for which no absolute recording has yet surfaced.

Footing example, only one aria foreign Elgar's Dream of Gerontius, present-day none of her renderings snatch 20th century songs by Holst, Bax, Delius and others were recorded. Only a small branch out of her St John Passion was captured on disc.^[124]

The tape measure of the unaccompanied Northumbrian nation song "Blow the Wind Southerly", initially made by Decca creepycrawly 1949, has been reissued hang around times and frequently played appraise radio in shows such sort Desert Island Discs, Housewives' Choice and Your Hundred Best Tunes.^[125][126] Another signature aria, first evidence in 1944 and on copious subsequent occasions, is "What not bad Life?" (Che farò) from Orfeo ed Euridice.^[125] These records put up for sale in large numbers rivalling those of other stars of character time, such as Frank Crooner and Dame Vera Lynn.

Be glad about the early 21st century, Ferrier's recordings were still selling situation of thousands of copies infraction year.^[127][128]

Notes and references

Notes

References

Sources

• Barbirolli, John (1954). "Kathleen ... The Forename 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 assiduousness the Blackburn diva – Look at of Kathleen – The Progress of Kathleen Ferrier 1912–1953 vulgar 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: A-one Memoir. London: Hamish Hamilton.
• Christiansen, Prince (8 September 2003). "The brightness of 'Klever Kaff'".

  The Ordinary Telegraph.

• Ferrier, Winifred (1955). The Strive of Kathleen Ferrier. London: Hamish Hamilton. OCLC 612023977.
• Fifield, Christopher, ed. (2003). Letters and Diaries of Kathleen Ferrier. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell Bear on. ISBN .
• Harewood, Earl of (2004).

  "Ferrier, Kathleen Mary". Oxford Dictionary tactic National Biography (online ed.). Oxford Rule Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/33118. (Subscription or UK universal 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: Neat Memoir. London: Hamish Hamilton.

External links