The first in an occasional series about the famous contralto

I’m writing this from the home of the most beautiful woman in the world, Hilary Scott, who is in another room sorting through letters and papers belonging to her Auntie Kath.

And that’s not just any old Auntie Kath, but probably the finest singer Britain has ever produced, and a bit of a stunner herself.

Hilary told me about her connection with Kathleen Ferrier some time ago, which, as a publisher, whetted my interest, with the result that I asked Hilary to write a book about her illustrious relation, hence the above mentioned sorting through.

The beautiful Kathleen and Hilary’s mother, Florence Wilson, first met at Blackburn High School in the 1920s and became close friends. So much so that Kathleen usually spent more time at the Wilson home than her own, which is where she met Florence’s brother Bert, who, at that time, was a handsome young pupil at Chorley Grammar School. There can be no doubt they were attracted to each other.

A fascinating little snippet that has come to light today is that after leaving Blackburn High Kath and Florence took part in a series of concert parties, which ironically had Florence doing a great deal of the singing, with Kath playing the piano – and of course she was at that time being trained as a classical pianist. As the future was to prove though she was a natural singer with a range and pitch that could, and does break your heart.

Let me quote you from Florence’s book, ‘Memories of Old Withnell Fold’ where she describes that “…other popular concerts held in the Reading Room [ part of Old Withnell Fold’s village hall] were given by Madame Annie Chadwick, a soprano singer of repute from Blackburn – and her pupils of whom I was one. Our solo pianist and accompanist for these concerts was none other Kathleen Ferrier, who at that time was making quite a name for herself as a pianist and broadcast from Manchester on several occasions…”

A few years later Kathleen was to marry Florence’s brother Bert, who by this time was working in a bank in Silloth, Cumberland.

More of this fascinating story to come.

Steve Newman

The Welsh opera superstar, Bryn Terfel, has triumphed in Covent Garden’s new Jonathan Kent production of Puccini’s Tosca. Critic David Mellor called the performance “the best Scarpia I have seen in the theatre.” He was more critical though of the other star of the night, Angela Gheorghiu.

“Bryn doesn’t see his talent as a reason to puff himself up like some artists. But I’ll come to Angela Gheorghiu later. Off-stage, he simply reverts to being the Welsh countryman who likes nothing more than to live the simple life with his family on his North Wales farm.”

And the “divine” Angela? “Even [she] mostly seemed to meet Kent’s requirements, although hers, after all the hype, was a disappointing evening. Tosca is a spoilt, wilful diva, which, on the face of it, shouldn’t have posed Miss Gheorghiu too many problems on the acting front. But hers is a sketchy assumption and, more fatally, her voice is too small for the part.”

Ouch! But a good Tosca overall.