Classical Music: Classical Singers active in 1992 (what)

[yesthatnagia]

Hey all! I'm looking for a male classical singer active in England and Scotland in 1992. Not knowing much about the classical music scene twenty years ago, I'm really not sure where to even start looking.

Specifically, I need a baritone capable of handling Spohr's 6 Songs, Op. 154 and most especially Spohr's Erlkoenig. For those who have never

Comments

[starry_diadem]

Thomas Allen springs to mind, although I have never heard him sing Spohr. Wonderful voice.

[chickenfeet2003]

Oddly enough that was my first thought too. A superb art song singer. Gerry Finley was around too, just! Another mainstream British baritone of the period would be John Rawnsley.

[starry_diadem]

Your icon! The Durham Cathedral sanctuary knocker - from my home town. Makes me feel homesick.

[chickenfeet2003]

What else could I use for a reference to our our university's chancellor? FWIW I'm in the middle of organising a group of Durham grads in Toronto to go see Tom sing Don Alfonso at COC in January.

[janewilliams20]

Would a bass-baritone do you?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryn_Terfel

[alivion]

In 1992, Terfel was only just getting his career started, so it would depend on how well known your singer would need to be at this point. Terfel's voice is perfect for the songs linked, though.

There's also Samuel Ramey, who was definitely popular in 1992, though he tends to sing villains and devils more than art songs.

[yesthatnagia]

I'd prefer that the singer be well-known, but as the major draw is 'relatively obscure lieder repertoire,' I don't mine hedging to Terfel.

Problem is... when in '92 did Terful start singing professionally? Because the concert takes place on Valentine's day. (And is a serendipitous Valentine's date for the son of the Erlkoenig.)

[alivion]

His operatic debut was in 1990. Wikipedia has a handy table of which opera roles he started singing when: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryn_Terfel#Operatic_repertoire

I'd say Terfel wasn't very well known in '92, but he's since become something of a superstar, so if you want your reader to recognise a popular singer but still want a bit of obscurity for your characters, he might be a perfect choice.