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334:. Britten wrote this role with Deller specifically in mind, although he was dropped from staged revivals of the work against the composer's wishes, largely because of poor acting technique. The smallness of his voice was also a negative factor in the casting process at Covent Garden. He did record the opera, with the composer conducting in 1967. The 1960 premiere, broadcast by the BBC, is now commercially available and finds Deller in fresher voice;
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Throughout the 19th century, it was only in the tradition of all-male cathedral choirs that the countertenor voice had survived. Deller's voice sounded remarkably high. Misconceptions about the countertenor voice were common at the time Deller was first gaining significant notice as a singer, which
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held a concert to celebrate Deller's 100th birthday. There was also an exhibition of paintings and drawings by John Ward, who illustrated many of the early programmes for the music festival. After the concert, the countertenor
278:. The group recorded music from as early as the 13th century and significantly expanded popular notions of the Baroque repertoire, producing high-quality authentic period performances of the works of
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tells the story that once, a French woman, upon hearing Deller sing, exclaimed "Monsieur, vous êtes eunuque"—to which Deller replied, "I think you mean 'unique', Madam."
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Deller made at least 136 recordings from 1949 to his death in 1979. His first were for HMV – His Master's Voice
Recordings 1949–1954. Then followed 13 years with
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when this station was launched in 1946. He concentrated on popularising and recording the music of
English Baroque and Renaissance music by composers such as
227:, who heard him while at Canterbury and recognised the unique beauty of his voice. Tippett introduced him to the public as a countertenor, rather than a male
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170:: an early proponent of "original instrument performance" and one of the first to bring this form to the popular consciousness through his broadcasts on the
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436:. Another son, Simon, trained as a music teacher during the 1960s and taught at Guildford Cathedral choir school, eventually becoming its headmaster.
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Despite his experience directing the consort, Deller's conducting of chamber orchestras attracted some adverse comment regarding technique.
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199:. As a boy, he sang in his local church choir. When his voice broke, he continued singing in his high register, eventually settling as a
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1954–1967, under the labels The Bach Guild in Europe and Amadeo in the US. Then following a concert in
Avignon in 1967 where Deller met
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517:(with Robert Spencer, lute & The Consort of Six), Harmonia Mundi, 1978, re-released June 2012, hmGold HMG50244.45
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140:(31 May 1912 – 16 July 1979), was an English singer and one of the main figures in popularising the return of the
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and extemporised ornamentation, was seen as radical and controversial in his day but is now considered the norm.
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From this choral tradition, Deller emerged as a soloist, largely as a result of the admiration of the composer
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Deller married
Kathleen Margaret ('Peggy') Lowe (1913–2006) in 1937. They had three children; the eldest,
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performed with him, initially as a guitarist; other accompanists included harpsichordist and musicologist
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Membership of the Deller
Consort changed over the years, particularly the top line (sopranos
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Michael Chance interviewed in a documentary entitled 'Countertenors,' originally shown on
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He is sometimes referred to as the "godfather of the countertenor". His style in singing
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398:(1921–2013), who is favoured by critic Richard Lawrence for his magnificent voice.
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in 1962, one of the first and most important early music festivals in the world.
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361:. His recordings include the lute songs of Dowland, operas by Handel, Britten's
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planted a tree in memory of Deller in the churchyard where he is buried.
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812:'Recording' with Alfred Deller; Michael Powell @ www.phoenixlodger.co.uk
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459:, a tablet in the south quire aisle commemorates Deller and his work.
305:) and tenors (especially Philip Todd). From 1964, Alfred Deller's son
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In 1960, Deller sang the role of Oberon in the first production of
695:"Alfred Deller - Historical records and family trees - MyHeritage"
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643:, 3 November 1972, David Noble, "16th century music approachable"
552:"Stour Music Festival celebrates Alfred Deller's 100th birthday"
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In 1948, Deller formed the Deller
Consort, a group dedicated to
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in Italy. Deller and his wife are buried in the churchyard of
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was a member. In 1972, the Deller
Consort performed for the
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Alfred Deller (1912–1979) – A discography (Early Music FAQ)
491:, Deller spent his remaining years with the French label.
231:. He also became better known with a radio broadcast of
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Deller was an influential figure in the renaissance of
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and Henry
Purcell Odes like "Sound the trumpet" from
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338:described his singing of Oberon as "unearthly".
394:with the other great counter-tenor of the day,
211:from 1940 to 1947, before joining the choir of
859:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
770:Peter Giles and J.B. Steane: "Countertenor,"
8:
446:Commander of the Order of the British Empire
371:), traditional English folk songs, works by
301:. It included various baritones (especially
258:was only a matter of decades after the last
365:, songs and semioperas by Purcell (such as
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349:. In later years, he worked with lutenist
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286:, Purcell, Dowland, and even folk songs.
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884:20th-century British male opera singers
756:ed L. Macy (Accessed 6 February 2007),
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680:Obituary: John Whitworth, countertenor
795:Alfred Deller: A Singularity of Voice
406:On 16 July 1979, Deller died after a
203:. Deller was initially employed as a
7:
464:All Saints' Church, Boughton Aluph
416:All Saints' Church, Boughton Aluph
128:All Saints' Church, Boughton Aluph
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874:British performers of early music
550:Chrissie Daniels (22 June 2012).
276:historically informed performance
98:, Boughton Aluph, Kent, England
1:
791:Michael & Mollie Hardwick
410:suffered whilst working in
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363:A Midsummer Night's Dream
331:A Midsummer Night's Dream
152:during the 20th century.
126:Alfred Deller's grave at
684:Gramophone, 5th Sep 2013
159:, with extensive use of
889:Harmonia Mundi artists
864:Operatic countertenors
797:(Littlehampton, 1968).
787:(subscription access).
767:, subscription access.
195:, a seaside resort in
174:. He also founded the
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489:Harmonia Mundi France
450:1970 New Year Honours
444:Deller was appointed
311:Peabody Mason Concert
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752:: "Deller, Alfred,"
475:Selected discography
457:Canterbury Cathedral
353:and harpsichordists
209:Canterbury Cathedral
176:Stour Music Festival
134:Alfred George Deller
51:Alfred George Deller
27:English countertenor
879:Musicians from Kent
869:People from Margate
783:16 May 2008 at the
763:16 May 2008 at the
607:The South Bank Show
392:Come Ye Sons of Art
243:BBC Third Programme
238:Come Ye Sons of Art
213:St Paul's Cathedral
191:Deller was born in
773:Grove Music Online
754:Grove Music Online
727:on 3 December 2011
701:on 30 January 2019
313:series in Boston.
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96:All Saints' Church
678:Charlotte Smith:
497:Shakespeare Songs
386:Deller also sang
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113:Years active
16:(Redirected from
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723:. Archived from
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558:. Archived from
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481:Vanguard Records
462:On 31 May 2012,
359:William Christie
326:Benjamin Britten
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621:"Alfred Deller"
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562:on 4 March 2016
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368:The Fairy Queen
347:Walter Bergmann
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182:Life and career
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654:"Purcell Odes"
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381:Harmonia Mundi
379:Classics, and
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295:Honor Sheppard
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564:. Retrieved
560:the original
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512:John Dowland
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469:James Bowman
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408:heart attack
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247:John Dowland
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201:countertenor
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187:Church music
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142:countertenor
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107:Countertenor
78:(1979-07-16)
76:16 July 1979
29:
849:1979 deaths
844:1912 births
750:J.B. Steane
731:27 November
663:20 November
428:Mark Deller
299:Mary Thomas
219:Solo career
215:(1947–62).
168:early music
146:Renaissance
61:31 May 1912
838:Categories
744:References
658:Gramophone
515:Lute Songs
262:had died;
103:Occupation
57:1912-05-31
626:18 August
556:KOS Media
505:Folksongs
433:Folksongs
388:John Blow
341:Lutenist
328:'s opera
205:lay clerk
157:lute song
144:voice in
116:1940–1979
781:Archived
761:Archived
705:26 April
418:, Kent.
377:Vanguard
260:castrato
820:Discogs
721:"EMFAQ"
448:in the
440:Honours
412:Bologna
241:on the
193:Margate
86:, Italy
84:Bologna
65:Margate
595:Steane
566:8 July
422:Family
284:Handel
161:rubato
522:Notes
402:Death
253:Style
829:IMDb
733:2007
707:2018
665:2017
628:2013
568:2012
508:1972
500:1967
357:and
307:Mark
297:and
280:Bach
229:alto
197:Kent
148:and
73:Died
47:Born
827:at
455:In
235:'s
207:at
172:BBC
138:CBE
40:CBE
840::
793::
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588:^
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530:^
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383:.
293:,
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
