Kathleen Ferrier
Her story mixes fairytale and tragedy. She is also a paradox: if Kathleen Ferrier remains very much a presence in the hearts of music lovers more than 65 years after her death; her career was very brief, 6 years in all; and she made very few records. But the story of the young, beautiful postal telephonist who became an adored singer cut down in her prime by sickness remains a tangible example of the injustice of fate. Kathleen Ferrier was above all an exceptional contralto, warm, profound, strong and natural: she inspired emotion. She started her performances in small recitals as a pianist. Then, as she accompanied and listened to singers, she learned to sing for her own amusement, without taking things seriously, and with a modesty that she would retain throughout her period of fame and success.
It was in the middle of the Second World War that Kathleen Ferrier began to emerge. In 1943, she sang Handel's Messiah alongside Peter Pears in Westminster Abbey, an appearance which marked the start of her recognition. Presented to the great pianist Gerald Moore, she made sallies into recording with him, working on Brahms's Lieder for EMI, but Kathleen didn't get along with Walter Legge, the firms all-powerful producer. She would then head to DECCA, who would record her touchstone pieces which are the pride of today's serious record collections: Gustav Mahler's Kindertotenlieder and Das Lied von der Erde, under the direction of the composer's great friend and disciple, Bruno Walter.
In 1946, after much hesitation, she agreed to sing the title role in the Rape of Lucretia by Benjamin Britten at the Glyndebourne festival, under the direction of Ernest Ansermet. The following year, this same festival would mark Kathleen Ferrier's début when Bruno Walter, who was reticent at first, agreed to take her on to sing Das Lied von der Erde, under his direction. A great friendship was kindled between the two and Bruno Walter opened all the doors of the world of Mahler, and those of New York the following year, by introducing her to Kindertotenlieder of which she would deliver a stunning rendition, as if Mahler had thought of her voice when he wrote the piece. It is rare that any work has been so permanently marked by a performer.
Her career sped up rapidly in the USA and in Europe: New York, London, Glyndebourne, Amsterdam, Paris, Vienna where she sang the Mass in B Minor with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf under Karajan's baton. She began to record for studios. The future looked bright - but breast cancer, incurable at the time, cut short the young woman's life at the age of 41. The rest is history: and her rare records bear witness today to her art and the fervour of her performances.
© FH / Qobuz
Similar artists
-
Kathleen Ferrier & Janet Baker Sing British Songs (Recorded 1949-1962)
Classical - Released by IDIS on 27/08/2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The World of Kathleen Ferrier Vol.2
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 26/11/1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kathleen Ferrier Remembered
Classical - Released by SOMM Recordings on 2/06/2017
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Mass in B Minor, BWV 232
Kathleen Ferrier, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Wiener Symphoniker, Herbert von Karajan
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 16/10/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kathleen Ferrier (Vol. 10) : Brahms - Mahler
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1/01/1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kindertotenlieder
Kathleen Ferrier, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Desi Halban, Bruno Walter, New York Philharmonic
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Naxos on 30/06/2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kathleen Ferrier Vol. 7 - Bach / Handel
Kathleen Ferrier, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1/01/1953
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Very Best of Kathleen Ferrier Centenary Collection
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Musical Concepts on 5/06/2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Complete EMI Recordings. Handel, Mahler, Gluck, Purcell...
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 16/04/2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
BRAHMS: Alto Rhapsody / SCHUMANN: Frauenliebe und leben (Ferrier) (1947-1950)
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Naxos on 30/08/2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Finest Brahms Recordings (Remastered)
Classical - Released by Andromeda on 1/06/2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Kindertotenlieder and Drei Rückert Liederen - Brahms: Four Serious Songs and Other Works
Classical - Released by Regis Records on 1/01/2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Forever Gold - Blow The Wind Southerly (Remastered)
Classical - Released by Play Digital on 28/01/2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Passio Sedundum Matthaeum
Irmgard Seefried, Kathleen Ferrier, Walther Ludwig
Classical - Released by Urania on 1/01/2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kathleen Ferrier Vol. 9 - Schubert / Brahms / Schumann
Kathleen Ferrier, Bruno Walter
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1/01/1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kathleen Ferrier Vol. 3 - Gluck / Handel / Bach / Mendelssohn / Pergolesi
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1/01/1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice (Live)
Kathleen Ferrier, Greet Koeman, Netherlands Opera Orchestra, Charles Bruck
Opera - Released by Warner Classics on 1/01/1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Passion selon Saint Matthieu, BWV244 - Cantate, BWV67
Choral Music (Choirs) - Released by Naxos on 30/01/2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kathleen Ferrier (Vol. 4) : Schumann - Schubert - Brahms
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1/01/1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The World of Kathleen Ferrier
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1/01/1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kathleen Ferrier sings Mahler
Kathleen Ferrier, Julius Patzak, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Bruno Walter
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Musical Concepts on 14/09/2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo