Opera Singer. Born in Higher Walton, Lancashire, her father sang in the local choir and many members of her family followed a keen interest in music. Kathleen's early musical intersts lay in the piano, having won several competetions by the time of her 18 birthday, when she worked as a telephone operator. Having had her vocal talents spotted and nurtured by Thomas Duerdon, she later moved to London to study with Roy Henderson. Her operatic debut came in 1946, appearing in Britten's "The Rape of Lucretia". She was often accompanied by Gerald Moore, but more famously with Bruno Walters. The memory of Kathleen Ferrier and her voice is maintained by her recordings which include Brahms' "Alto Rhapsody" and Bach's "St.Matthew Passion" as well as English folk songs and others such as "The Stuttering Lovers", "Blow the Wind Southerly" and "Down by the Sally Gardens". She died following a fight with cancer at the age of 41.
Opera Singer. Born in Higher Walton, Lancashire, her father sang in the local choir and many members of her family followed a keen interest in music. Kathleen's early musical intersts lay in the piano, having won several competetions by the time of her 18 birthday, when she worked as a telephone operator. Having had her vocal talents spotted and nurtured by Thomas Duerdon, she later moved to London to study with Roy Henderson. Her operatic debut came in 1946, appearing in Britten's "The Rape of Lucretia". She was often accompanied by Gerald Moore, but more famously with Bruno Walters. The memory of Kathleen Ferrier and her voice is maintained by her recordings which include Brahms' "Alto Rhapsody" and Bach's "St.Matthew Passion" as well as English folk songs and others such as "The Stuttering Lovers", "Blow the Wind Southerly" and "Down by the Sally Gardens". She died following a fight with cancer at the age of 41.
Bio by: Kieran Smith
Advertisement
