Kathleen Ferrier The Historic Decca RecordingsUPC: DECCA AKF.1AKF.7Product Details:Label: Decca Format: 7-LP Box Set, Vinyl, Stereo, 33 RPM, Microgroove, Full Frequency Range Recording Country: United Kingdom Released: 1950s1960s (compilation) Genre: Classical Vocal / Song RecitalProduct FeaturesComprehensive Retrospective:Seven LPs showcasing Kathleen Ferriers definitive recordings for Decca, from English folk songs to Baroque arias, Romantic Lieder, and Mahlers masterpieces.Renowned Collaborators:Accompanied by pianists Phyllis Spurr, Frederick Stone, John Newmark, Max Gilbert; Boyd Neel and London Symphony orchestras under Sir Malcolm Sargent; Vienna Philharmonic under Bruno Walter; and more.Wide Repertoire:Folk Songsby Vaughan Williams, Warlock, PurcellBaroque & Classical Ariasby Purcell, Handel, Gluck, Bach, Handel, MendelssohnRomantic Liederby Brahms, Schumann, SchubertMahler: Rckert Lieder &Das Lied von der ErdeHistoric Sound:Full-frequency-range Decca engineering preserves Ferriers rich contralto timbre and emotional nuance.OverviewKathleen Ferrier (19121953) remains one of the 20th centurys most beloved contraltos. This seven-LP Decca box set collects all her landmark studio recordings, from the simple beauty of English folk songs to the dramatic intensity of MahlersDas Lied von der Erde. Ferriers warm, expressive voice is captured in intimate recital settings and full orchestral forces alike. Whether interpreting Vaughan Williamss pastoral Silent Noon, Handels aria He was despised, Brahmss meditativeVier ernste Gesnge, or the sublime final movement of MahlersRckert-Lieder, Ferriers artistry shines.Track ListingAKF.1(LP 12)Sides 12:English Folksongs (piano: Phyllis Spurr)AKF.2(LP 34)Side 3:Songs by Stanford, Perry, Vaughan Williams, Bridge, Warlock (piano: Frederick Stone)Side 4:Songs by Purcell, Handel, Wolf (piano: Phyllis Spurr)AKF.3(LP 56)Side 5:Arias from BachsSt. Matthew Passion(Bach Choir & Orchestra; Reginald Jacques)Side 6:Arias by Purcell, Handel, Gluck, Mendelssohn (LSO/Sargent; Boyd Neel Orchestra/Neel)AKF.4(LP 7)Side 7:Bach: Arias fromMass in B-minor,St. Matthew&St. JohnPassionsSide 8:Handel: Arias fromSamson,Messiah,Judas Maccabeus(London Philharmonic; Sir Adrian Boult)AKF.5(LP 8)Side 9:Brahms:Vier ernste Gesnge& Two Songs (pianos: John Newmark, Phyllis Spurr)Side 10:Brahms: Two Songs Op. 91 (piano/viola) &Alto RhapsodyOp. 53 (LPO/Choir; Clemens Krauss)AKF.6(LP 9)Side 11:Schumann:Frauenliebe und -lebenOp. 42 (piano: John Newmark)Side 12:Schubert: Four Songs (piano: Phyllis Spurr); Mahler: ThreeRckert-Lieder(Vienna Phil.; Bruno Walter)AKF.7(LP 10)Sides 1314:Mahler:Das Lied von der Erde(with Julius Patzak; Vienna Phil.; Bruno Walter)Key CreditsContralto: Kathleen Ferrier Pianists: Phyllis Spurr, Frederick Stone, John Newmark, Max Gilbert Viola: Max Gilbert Choirs & Orchestras: Bach Choir & Orchestra (Reginald Jacques), London Symphony (Sir Malcolm Sargent), Boyd Neel Orchestra, London Philharmonic (Sir Adrian Boult), LPO & Choir (Clemens Krauss), Vienna Philharmonic (Bruno Walter) Label & Engineering: Decca ffrrBOX #59