Kathleen Ferrier
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There are voices, which - when I heard them for the first time - made a deep and unforgettable impression at me. Magda Olivero with "Del sultano Amuratte" from Adriana Lecouvreur and Rosa Ponselle with the aria "Suicidio" from La Gioconda of Ponchielli for instance. But above all, in the fifties Kathleen Ferrier with the great aria from Gluck's Orfeo: What is life? (Che faro senza Euridici). A contralto with an exceptional beautiful voice, a voice that can move, as in Mahler's 'Abschied' from Das Lied der Erde, but also is capable to sing simply folk songs such as 'The stuttering lovers' or 'Blow the wind Southerly' on a way that is exemplary. A reviewer of the 'Punch' described, after a performance of Mahler's 'Das Lied von der Erde' the effect of her voice as follows .......' And in the 'Abschied' a knell tolls as if for the whole of creation. Days afterwards I still seemed to hear that haunting, heartbreaking Farewell and Kathleen Ferrier's glorious voice singing ... Ewig, ewig, ewig ... across time and space'. |
 Manchester Guardian Her first publicity leaflet, 1942 - The Cover |
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MANCHESTER TUESDAY CONCERTS Miss
Kathleen Ferrier, a new singer of remarkable talent, was heard
yesterday in the Houldsworth Hall, Manchester. A full, rich contralto
voice, flexible throughout its compass and capable of lovely
shades of tone and expression, is rare in these days, and as
the possessor of such a voice Miss Ferrier is far better equipped
by nature than are many contraltos who enjoy considerable fame.
And she sings with feeling and intelligence, using her vocal
gifts as the servant of her temperament. |
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LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL Whoever
induced Kathleen Ferrier to sing at the concert given by Leslie
Bridgewater and his salon orchestra on Saturday evening has my
gratitude. She is a great contralto, and one worthy to be mentioned
as a possible successor to Clara Butt. It is a long time since
we heard anyone sing Handel's "Where'er you walk" with
such telling simplicity and dignity. It was just plain, honest
singing without any frills, but with the effortless charm of
the artist. She has range and quality of tone. ORATORIO AND MISCELLANEOUS The
Messiah Performance was enriched by a beautiful rendering of
the contralto part by Kathleen Ferrier. Her voice had a lovely
creamy quality. The air "He shall feed His Flock" glowed
with tender conviction. The significance of "He was Despised"
was deepened by beauty and sincerity of expression. "ELIJAH" Miss
Kathleen Ferrier sang with great charm and sincerity. She was
good in the dramatic part of the Queen when singing with the
chorus, in the solo "Woe unto them," and in the aria
" O rest in the Lord." This was rendered with great
sympathy and expression. Miss Ferrier has one of the purest contralto
voices, and she left the impression that she will be one of the
country's leading oratorio singers in the near future. Miss
Kathleen Ferrier, who has a very beautiful contralto voice, sang
Brahms and modern British songs with considerable finish and
imagination. EXTRACTS FROM PRESS NOTICES sources: The life of Kathleen Ferrier, by her sister Winifred Ferrier, 1955 Hamish Hamilton Ltd. London Kathleen - The life of Kathleen Ferrier, Maurice Leonard, 1988 Hutchinson Ltd. London
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