Heather Harper (1930-2019)

[bluestateprommer]

Just saw the news that Heather Harper died today. Obit from The Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/22/heather-harper-obituary

Never had the privilege of hearing her live, but do remember many a fine recording of Britten, RVW, Tippett and other composers from her.

[cloughie]

Another great singer whose name is on many a great recording. RIP Heather

[Richard Tarleton]

A lovely singer. I heard her live once - in Mahler 2 with the BBC SO/Maazel, in the RFH in 1972. As bluestateprommer says, many a fine recording.

[DracoM]

A lovely singer. I heard her live once - in Mahler 2 with the BBC SO/Maazel, in the RFH in 1972. As bluestateprommer says, many a fine recording.

Absolutely echo every syllable of that.

[Stanfordian]

Another great singer whose name is on many a great recording. RIP Heather

Heather Harper was a lovely singer. R-I-P

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

[Petrushka]

A lovely singer. I heard her live once - in Mahler 2 with the BBC SO/Maazel, in the RFH in 1972. As bluestateprommer says, many a fine recording.

I remember listening to that Mahler 2 on the radio, mostly because I believe it was the first time I'd ever heard the piece!

I saw Heather Harper twice, July 24 1978, in what was the first piece (Berg: 3 Scenes from Wozzeck) in the very first Prom I attended. The second time was in Britten's Our Hunting Fathers in the RFH with Haitink and the LPO (date unknown but not the one issued on the LPO label).

[BBMmk2]

One of the best singers around, Agreed with that. Have a few recordings featuring her as soloists. RIP

[Mary Chambers]

I admired her very much. I heard/saw her in War Requiem with Peter Pears, Thomas Helmsley and the RLPO. I think the conductor was Charles Groves. Britten was in the audience. I didn’t keep the programme, but I think that’s right.

[LMcD]

I admired her very much. I heard/saw her in War Requiem with Peter Pears, Thomas Helmsley and the RLPO. I think the conductor was Charles Groves. Britten was in the audience. I didn’t keep the programme, but I think that’s right.

This performance of the War Requiem is available on the BBC4 Archive collection, accessible via the iPlayer.

[Bryn]

This performance of the War Requiem is available on the BBC4 Archive collection, accessible via the iPlayer.

Could you offer a link, please? I have searched in vain for the performance you cite. I can only find the 1964 one in which Britten conducted the Melos Ensemble, and the main orchestra was the BBCSO, https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod...21/war-requiem

[Pulcinella]

My 'live' memory is of a Strauss Four Last Songs in the Colston Hall, Bristol, around 1987–1988.
I like her recording of them.
Another favourite is her recording of Britten's Les Illuminations (Northern Sinfonia/Marriner).

RIP

[LMcD]

Could you offer a link, please? I have searched in vain for the performance you cite. I can only find the 1964 one in which Britten conducted the Melos Ensemble, and the main orchestra was the BBCSO, https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod...21/war-requiem

Mea culpa - I clearly didn't read the post in question carefully enough!

[Alison]

I remember listening to that Mahler 2 on the radio, mostly because I believe it was the first time I'd ever heard the piece!

I saw Heather Harper twice, July 24 1978, in what was the first piece (Berg: 3 Scenes from Wozzeck) in the very first Prom I attended. The second time was in Britten's Our Hunting Fathers in the RFH with Haitink and the LPO (date unknown but not the one issued on the LPO label).

24 November 1978.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Mea culpa - I clearly didn't read the post in question carefully enough!

But still a very useful reminder that the performance is still available to watch - particularly appropriate at this time.