Originally posted by salymap
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It was very sad to think that she may have known about the cancer but chose to ignore it.
In the early 1950s the BBC had two weeks of Winter Proms. I think that is where my memory comes from. She was at a rehearsal at the RAH, it was a snowy morning, she came in, wrapt in a big fur coat, sat on the ledge at the side of the platform, swinging her booted legs and chatting and laughing with the waiting
orchestra and other soloist[s] I can't remember the work or anything but her vivacity on that day.
With the help of the Proms Archive, I've tracked it down to either 1949 or 1952 Winter Proms. If so she was singing Brahms Four Serious Songs in the then new Sargent orchestration.Probably 1949 [I was very young
]
In the early 1950s the BBC had two weeks of Winter Proms. I think that is where my memory comes from. She was at a rehearsal at the RAH, it was a snowy morning, she came in, wrapt in a big fur coat, sat on the ledge at the side of the platform, swinging her booted legs and chatting and laughing with the waiting
orchestra and other soloist[s] I can't remember the work or anything but her vivacity on that day.
With the help of the Proms Archive, I've tracked it down to either 1949 or 1952 Winter Proms. If so she was singing Brahms Four Serious Songs in the then new Sargent orchestration.Probably 1949 [I was very young
]
I enjoyed the programme and during the course of it I tumbled to why she affects me so, aside from her artistry - she 'sounds' like someone I might have known, if you see what I mean. I knew a woman down our road who worked in the GPO Telephone Exchange, my mother was a member of a local choir, etc etc. She never seemed 'distant'. I realise that's all about context and I just happen to love her voice too so that completes the circle.
The films of Alan Blythe and John Steane were nice to see too and I was partularly pleased to hear from Dame Janet Baker and Evelyn Rothwell who fleshed her out as a person and as a performer.
On the day that Fischer-Dieskau died, it gave me a double lump in my throat.
Like Mary I wish there had been more film of her but what we saw at that New York party suggests that she was a very warm 'human' human being. What eyes, what a face!
It's agood thing I've been building up my arsenal recently so I can return a few missiles!!
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