Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Mass in B minor, BWV 232: No. 10: Qui sedes *
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244: Part I, No. 10: Grief for sin (Buß und Reu)
St. John Passion, BWV 245: Part 2, No. 30: All is fulfilled (Es ist vollbracht!) **
Mass in B minor, BWV 232: No. 26: Agnus Dei
George Frederic Handel (1685-1759)
Samson, HWV 57: Part 1, No. 4: Return, O God of Hosts
Messiah, HWV 56: Part 1, No. 9: O Thou, that tellest good tidings to Zion
Judas Maccabaeus, HWV 63: Part 3, No. 1: Father of Heaven
Messiah, HWV 56: Part 2, No. 23: He was despised
Kathleen Ferrier, contralto, Michael Dobson (oboe d’amore)*, Ambrose Gauntlet (viola da gamba)** Basil Lam (harpsichord continuo)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Adrian Boult
Recorded on 7th (tracks 1-4) and 8th October (tracks 5-8), 1952 in Kingsway Hall, London
Kathleen Ferrier’s highly individual, plangent voice, natural musicianship and high level of personal professionalism made her one of England’s most popular singers during her all-too-brief career.
This disc compiles a large number of her recordings of arias by Bach and Handel, to whose music she brought breadth, nobility and deep emotional commitment. She is accompanied by Sir Adrian Boult and Reginald Jacques, both major figures in England’s post-war musical life.
The Cantata recording appears on CD for the first time.
