Kathleen Ferrier Centenary Edition - The Complete Decca Recordings - Box Set 14CDs

Label : Decca
Format : Flac track
Cover : Yes

"The centennial of the marvelous contralto Kathleen Ferrier was celebrated recently. From humble roots as a telephone operator near Blackburn, England, Ferrier became one of Britain’s favorite singers, her rich, deep voice, with its unusually low range and remarkable expressive qualities, providing solace to a war-torn nation. Ferrier fans, and those curious to learn more, can enjoy the 14 discs included in a Decca box set, featuring trademark works by composers including Bach and Mahler, and the English songs she frequently sang." -- Vivien Schweitzer, The New York Times [11/20/2012]

It was a voice touched by the gods given mortal expression for all too brief a time. Yet in a professional career which spanned little more than a decade, Kathleen Ferrier left an indelible impression on music lovers the world over. It was a hauntingly beautiful voice, the rarest of female voices, a true contralto. Her vibrato was just a bit faster than most, but Ferrier used this to great emotional effect.

• April 2012 marks 100th anniversary of the birth of Kathleen Ferrier.
• Kathleen Ferrier was born on 22 April 1912 and died at the age of forty-one on 8 October 1953.
• She was an artist held in awe and affection by numerous colleagues and countless fans worldwide and her reputation is undiminished to this day. A true contralto, whose repertory encompassed English song as well as German Lieder, her recording of Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde with the Vienna Philharmonic under Bruno Walter [and tenor Julius Patzak] is one of the most celebrated classical recordings of all time and has been a staple of the Decca catalogue since it was first released in 1952. The majority of Ferrier’s studio recordings were made for DECCA and many from broadcast sources have also been published by DECCA.
• On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Kathleen Ferrier’s birth the DECCA legacy is brought together in a comprehensive 14-CD set with a bonus DVD.
• All the recordings have been remastered for this anniversary edition and will further demonstrate the unique qualities of this much-loved artist.

Complete tracklist : Kathleen Ferrier - The Complete Decca Recordings