Description

ASTRA DESMOND (TORQUAY, ENGLAND, 10 APRIL, 1893 – FAVERSHAM, ENGLAND, 16 AUGUST, 1973)

In 1919 she made her debut in a concert in London. In the following years she sang various opera roles at the Covent Garden Opera (including the Ortrud in ‘’Lohengrin’’ under Sir Henry Wood) and at the Sadler’s Wells Opera in London. She sang a variety of solo roles in oratorios; her interpretation in Elgar’s ‘’The Dream of Gerontius’’ was unparalleled. She performed songs in 12 different original languages. In 1937 she learned Norwegian to be able to recite the songs of Edvard Grieg in the original language. She sang these in a series of broadcasts of the BBC London and was awarded in 1943 by the Norwegian King Hakon VII with a medal. Great concert tours earned her success in Europe as well as in North America, in 1938 she undertook a major Scandinavian tour, in 1939 she traveled the Balkan countries, performing in Athens, Belgrade, Sofia and Budapest. In 1945 she received a teaching assignment at the Royal Academy of Music in London, which she held until 1967. She published very readable articles about interpretation of the songs of Dvořák, Sibelius and Grieg.

TRACKLIST

1. Ave Maria (Bach-Gounod) K1014 AR6116 Decca, London 1941-08-13
2. Love’s philosophy (Quilter) M524 DR6118 Decca, London 1941-08-13
3. En svane (Grieg) M491 DR5335 Decca, London 1941-04-02
4. An Evening Hymne (Fuller-Purcell) Decca K1098
5. Med en primula veris (Grieg); Tak for dit raad (Grieg) M492 DR5338 Decca, London 1941-04-02
6. Ved Rundarne (Grieg) M536 DR7296 Decca, London 1943-05-10
7. Agnus Dei (Bizet) K1014 AR6117 Decca, London 1941-08-13
8. Mad Bess (Bess of Bedlam) (Purcell)
9. Efteraarsstormen (Grieg) M491 DR5336 Decca, London 1941-04-02
10. Foraarsregn (Grieg) M492 DR5337 1941-03-17
11. I hesrd a piper piping (Bax) M522 DR6114 Decca, London 1941-08-12
12. Hark! The echoing air (Purcell) M549 DR7303 Decca, London 1943
13. I attempt from love’s sighness to fly (Purcell); Nymphs and shepherds (Purcell) M549 DR7417 Decca, London 1943
14. When Swallows Homeward Fly (White)
15. Linden lea (Vaughan Williams) M522 DR6115 Decca, London 1941-08-12
16. Vaaren (Grieg) M536 DR7297 Decca, London 1943-05-10
17. From Rosy Bow’rs (Altisidora’s Song) From Don Quixote pt1 (Purcell)
18. From Rosy Bow’rs (Altisidora’s Song) From Don Quixote pt2 (Purcell)
19. The Mull Fisher’s Love Song The Isle Reaper’s Song from Songs of the Hebrides (Kennedy-Fraser)
20. a. Der Himmel hat eine Trane geweinet, Op.37 No.1 b.O ihr Herren, Op.37 No.3 (Schumann) AK1566 AR10630 Decca, London 1946-09-16