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everything you need to know about Kathleen Ferrier Great lyric contralto whose career began after winning the contralto class at the Carlisle Festival. A war-time favourite, she toured the country, loved for her 'classical dignity'. Championing the work of Mahler she inspired Britten and Bliss to write for her. Listen [in RealAudio] need audio help? What is Life from Gluck's 'Orfeo et Euridice', with the London Symphony Orchestra (DECCA 433 470-2) He Was Despised from Handel's 'Messiah', with the London Philharmonic (DECCA, 414 623-2) Born: 1912 Died: 1953 I consider myself one of the most fortunate people to take part for three years now in the Edinburgh Festival... Ferrier talks about what the festival did for her career. within bbc.co.uk music: Ferrier biography Classical CD Search: Look for Ferrier CDs Classical news, reviews and listings Profiles A-Z listing elsewhere on bbc.co.uk: Ferrier at BBC FOUR Hear Ferrier perform the Messiah elsewhere on the web: The Kathleen Ferrier Awards Ferrier Portraits from the National Portrait Gallery The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites. FERRIER IN ONE MINUTE She was brought up in Blackburn and had to leave school at 14 to become a telephonist. Her husband bet her a shilling that she would not enter the 1937 Carlisle Festival as a singer as well as a pianist. She won both categories, and was discovered. She had no formal training, but her voice caught the attentions of Bruno Walter and Gerald Moore. On the advice of conductor Sir Malcolm Sargent, she moved to London from Cumberland in 1942. She loved painting, always signing her pictures KK, initials for "Klever Kaff". She had a close artistic relationship with Barbirolli, and her performances as the Angel in The Dream of Gerontius under him were peculiarly radiant. Mainly a concert artist, her only operatic roles were Gluck’s Orpheus and Britten's Lucretia. She would often close her recitals with a Northumbrian folksong. She died from breast cancer aged 41. Annual Scholarships are awarded in her memory by the Katherine Ferrier Memorial Fund. related by time: Maggie Teyte Biography Bartok profile Enesco composer profile Furtwangler biography David Oistrakh biography Heifetz biography Elman biography related by location: Britten profile Bliss biography related by genre: Handel profile Mahler profile Schubert profile Schumann profile Brahms profile Classical Music Homepage Quick Guide to the singing voice The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites. Kathleen Ferrier GOOD RECORDINGS A GOOD READ Kathleen Ferrier: a Tribute DECCA 4750782 Collection of her best recordings The World of Kathleen Ferrier DECCA 4300962 Ferrier's favourite composers and folksongs Letters and Diaries of Kathleen Ferrier by Christopher Fifield (The Boydell Press, 2003) Recollections from the woman herself More Like This? Try the artists by A-Z page (listed by surname or group name) or find artists grouped by genre of music Artist Search: Search for profiles, biographies and discographies on 15 000 artists across all genres. Enter a name: Album Search Advanced Classical Search How to get about the Music site: Music: for all the latest happenings in the world of music Home | News | Reviews | Concerts/Gigs | TV/Radio More Music: delving a little deeper into the world around music Profiles | Features Search: If you're looking for a particular artist, composer, or group Try the search box to the right, or the Artist Profiles. Music » Artist Profiles All pictures are copyrighted - picture credits

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