Description

IVOR LLEWELYN FOSTER (TRAMROAD, PONTYPRIDD, 1 MARCH, 1870 – PORTH-CAWL, 29 MARCH, 1959)

 

 

 

 

Born at Tramroad, Pontypridd, on 1 March 1870, he was the son of Ebenezer Foster and Sarah (née John) of Pen-y-graig, Rhondda, Glamorgan. He left school at the age of 12, and when he was 16, while working in his uncle William Richards’s business in Dinas, Rhondda, he began to study old notation in his spare time and took part in eisteddfodau. He won singing prizes at the Porth annual eisteddfod in 1892, 1893, and 1894, and twice won the baritone solo at the National Eisteddfod (Caernarfon 1894 and Llanelli 1895).

Following his success in Llanelli, some of his friends in the Rhondda arranged concerts for him to raise funds for further musical training. He entered the Royal College of Music in London in May 1896, where he studied for four years—voice with Henry Blower, harmony with James Higgs, and opera with Villiers Stanford. He won a gold medal during his first year, and before the end of his course, Sir Hubert Parry remarked that he was one of the best baritones ever to study at the College.

In 1901 he portrayed Don Pedro in a performance of Stanford’s opera Much Ado About Nothing at Covent Garden. He later sang in the Promenade Concerts and Boosey’s Ballad Concerts in London, and appeared for 27 consecutive seasons at the Royal Albert Hall. He also sang at music festivals, including the Cardiff Festival on three occasions, and made recordings of Welsh songs on the Winner label. After retiring from public performance, he established himself as a music teacher.

He married Mary Ann Jones of Tonypandy on 29 May 1897 (she died in 1971). He died at his home in Porthcawl on 29 March 1959 and was cremated at Llanishen, Cardiff. In 1962 his family endowed £300 to establish memorial prizes in his name for the Open Baritone and the Baritone Under 25 competitions at the National Eisteddfod.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

A perfect day 2869 Winner

Bird of love devine 2403 Columbia

Corisande 2379 28878 Columbia

In an old-fashioned town (Squire) 2403 28875 Columbia

Roses of Picardy 3158 Winner

Samson (Handel) How willing my paternal love 66358 Odeon

She is far from the land 1006 Edison Velvet Face

The Heart Bowed Down (Balfe) 66656 Odeon

Tired hands 3158 Winner

Two eyes of grey 1006 Edison Velvet Face

Up from Somerset 2379 28877 Columbia

When you come home 2869 Winner