Celebrate the enduring legacy of contralto Kathleen Ferrier with this comprehensive 14-CD set, released by Decca Music Group Ltd. in 2012 to commemorate the centenary of her birth. This meticulously curated collection brings together all of Ferrier's Decca recordings, remastered to pristine quality, offering both longtime admirers and newcomers an unparalleled opportunity to explore her remarkable artistry.
Spanning a vast repertoire, the album features iconic works such as Gluck's "Orfeo ed Euridice," Bach's "St. Matthew Passion," Handel's "Rodelinda" and "Serse," Mendelssohn's "Elijah," and Schubert's song cycle "Frauenliebe und -leben." The set also includes the deeply moving "Stabat Mater" and other cherished pieces that showcase Ferrier's powerful and expressive voice.
The collection is further enriched by a bonus DVD, providing a visual complement to the audio experience. The digital booklet included with the set offers insightful notes and historical context, enhancing the listener's appreciation of Ferrier's contributions to the world of classical music.
With a total duration of over 14 hours and 41 minutes, this extensive set is a testament to Kathleen Ferrier's enduring influence and the timeless beauty of her performances. Whether you are a seasoned classical music enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this collection is an essential addition to any music library, offering a profound and enriching listening experience.
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 1: Coro: "Ah, se intorno a quest'urna funesta" - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 1: Euridice! Ah! questo nome sanno le spiaggie - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Kathleen Ferrier, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 1: Piango il mi ben così - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Kathleen Ferrier, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 1: Della cetra tua a'dolci suoni - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Zoe Vlachopoulos, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 1: Aria: "Gli sguardi trattieni" - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Zoe Vlachopoulos, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 1: Recitativo: "Che disse? che ascoltai?" - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Kathleen Ferrier, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 2: Ballo (Maestoso) - Coro: "Chi mai dell'Erebo" - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 2: "Deh! placatevi con me" - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Kathleen Ferrier, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 2: Coro: "Misero giovane" - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 2: Arioso: "Che puro ciel, che chiaro sol" - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Kathleen Ferrier, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 2: Coro: "Vieni a' regni del riposo" - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 3: Ah! vieni, o diletta - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Kathleen Ferrier, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 3: Vieni, vieni con ma, vieni, o cara - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Kathleen Ferrier, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 3: Ah! potess'io saper perchè ei tace tanto! - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Ann Ayars, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 3: Aria: "Che fiero momento" - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Ann Ayars, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 3: Ah! per me il duol ricomincia! - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Kathleen Ferrier, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Eurydice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 3: "Che farò senza Euridice?" - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Kathleen Ferrier, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 3: Recitativo: "A finisca e per sempre" - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Kathleen Ferrier, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 3: Gaudio, gaudio son al cuore - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Ann Ayars, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 3: Coro: "Trionfi Amore!" - Remastered 2011Christoph Willibald Gluck, Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Stiedry
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Ed. Elgar, Atkins. Trans. Troutbeck. - Part One: Come ye daughtersJohann Sebastian Bach, The Bach Choir, The Jacques Orchestra, Reginald Jacques
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Ed. Elgar, Atkins. Trans. Troutbeck. - Part One: My Master and my Lord...Grief for sinJohann Sebastian Bach, Kathleen Ferrier, The Jacques Orchestra, Reginald Jacques
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Ed. Elgar, Atkins. Trans. Troutbeck. - Part One: Behold, my saviourJohann Sebastian Bach, Elsie Suddaby, Kathleen Ferrier, The Bach Choir, The Jacques Orchestra, Reginald Jacques
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Ed. Elgar, Atkins. Trans. Troutbeck. - Part Two: Ah! now is my Saviour goneJohann Sebastian Bach, Kathleen Ferrier, The Bach Choir, The Jacques Orchestra, Reginald Jacques
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Ed. Elgar, Atkins. Trans. Troutbeck. - Part Two: Have mercy Lord on me...Lamb of God, I fall....Johann Sebastian Bach, Kathleen Ferrier, The Jacques Orchestra, Reginald Jacques
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Ed. Elgar, Atkins. Trans. Troutbeck. - Part Two: O gracious God!...If my tears be unavailing...Johann Sebastian Bach, Kathleen Ferrier, The Jacques Orchestra, Reginald Jacques
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Ed. Elgar, Atkins. Trans. Troutbeck. - Part Two: O Sacred headJohann Sebastian Bach, The Bach Choir, The Jacques Orchestra, Reginald Jacques
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Ed. Elgar, Atkins. Trans. Troutbeck. - Part Two: Ah, Golgotha!...See ye! See the Saviour's...Johann Sebastian Bach, Kathleen Ferrier, The Jacques Orchestra, Reginald Jacques
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Ed. Elgar, Atkins. Trans. Troutbeck. - Part Two: Be near me, LordJohann Sebastian Bach, The Bach Choir, The Jacques Orchestra, Reginald Jacques
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 - Ed. Elgar, Atkins. Trans. Troutbeck. - Part Two: And now the Lord...In tears of griefJohann Sebastian Bach, Elsie Suddaby, Kathleen Ferrier, Eric Greene, William Parsons, The Bach Choir, The Jacques Orchestra, Reginald Jacques
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Eurydice): "What is life?"Christoph Willibald Gluck, Kathleen Ferrier, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent
Rodelinda / Act 1: "Art thou troubled?"George Frideric Handel, Kathleen Ferrier, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 / Part Two: "Have mercy, Lord on me."Johann Sebastian Bach, Kathleen Ferrier, David Mccullum, The National Symphony Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent
Serse / Act 1: "Ombra mai fù"George Frideric Handel, Kathleen Ferrier, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent
Elijah, Op. 70, MWV A25 / Part 1: "Woe, woe unto them who forsake Him!"Felix Mendelssohn, Kathleen Ferrier, Boyd Neel Orchestra, Boyd Neel
Elijah, Op. 70, MWV A25 / Part 2: "Oh rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him"Felix Mendelssohn, Kathleen Ferrier, Boyd Neel Orchestra, Boyd Neel
Stabat Mater: Stabat MaterGiovanni Battista Pergolesi, The Nottingham Oriana Choir, Boyd Neel Orchestra, Roy Henderson
Stabat Mater: Cujus animamGiovanni Battista Pergolesi, Joan Taylor, Boyd Neel Orchestra, Roy Henderson
Stabat Mater: O quam tristisGiovanni Battista Pergolesi, The Nottingham Oriana Choir, Boyd Neel Orchestra, Roy Henderson
Stabat Mater: Quae moerebatGiovanni Battista Pergolesi, Kathleen Ferrier, Boyd Neel Orchestra, Roy Henderson
Stabat Mater: Quis est homoGiovanni Battista Pergolesi, Joan Taylor, Kathleen Ferrier, The Nottingham Oriana Choir, Boyd Neel Orchestra, Roy Henderson
Stabat Mater: Vidit suum dulcem natumGiovanni Battista Pergolesi, Joan Taylor, Boyd Neel Orchestra, Roy Henderson
Kathleen Ferrier, the renowned English contralto, captivated audiences worldwide with her powerful and emotive voice. Born Kathleen Mary Ferrier, she seamlessly blended folksongs and popular ballads with classical masterpieces by composers such as Bach, Brahms, Mahler, and Elgar. Her versatility shone on stage, in concert halls, and through her recordings, earning her an international reputation. Tragically, her career was cut short by cancer, but her legacy endures, continuing to inspire and move fans of opera and classical music alike.