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Alfred Deller

Singer details:

Voice: Countertenor
Nationality: English
Year of Birth: 1912
Year of Death: 1979

About Alfred Deller:

Alfred George Deller, CBE (31 May 1912 – 16 July 1979), was an English singer and one of the main figures in popularising the return of the countertenor voice in Renaissance and Baroque music during the 20th century.

He is sometimes referred to as the "godfather of the countertenor". His style in singing lute song, with extensive use of rubato and extemporised ornamentation, was seen as radical and controversial in his day but is now considered the norm.

Deller was an influential figure in the renaissance of early music: an early proponent of "original instrument performance" and one of the first to bring this form to the popular consciousness through his broadcasts on the BBC. He also founded the Stour Music Festival in 1962, one of the first and most important early music festivals in the world.

Deller was born in Margate, a seaside resort in Kent. As a boy, he sang in his local church choir. When his voice broke, he continued singing in his high register, eventually settling as a countertenor. Deller was initially employed as a lay clerk at Canterbury Cathedral from 1940 to 1947, before joining the choir of St. Paul's Cathedral (1947–62).

From this choral tradition, Deller emerged as a soloist, largely as a result of the admiration of the composer Michael Tippett, who heard him while at Canterbury and recognised the unique beauty of his voice. Tippett introduced him to the public as a countertenor, rather than a male alto. He also became better known with a radio broadcast of Henry Purcell's Come ye Sons of Art on the BBC's Third Programme when this station was launched in 1946. He concentrated on popularising and recording the music of English Baroque and Renaissance music by composers such as John Dowland and Purcell.

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Popular videos featuring Alfred Deller:

More Arias, Duets and Ensembles performed by Alfred Deller

20 Results
Page 1 of 1
Nr.Title scenePopularityOperaComposerActTypeVoicesLang.Roles
1Ah! stigie larve Popularity:

Opera: OrlandoComposer: HandelAct: 2.12

Type: ariaVoice: countertenor or mezzoLanguage: Italian

Roles: Orlando
2Dove sei? Popularity:

Opera: RodelindaComposer: HandelAct: 1.06-2

Type: ariaVoice: countertenor or contraltoLanguage: Italian

Roles: Bertarido
3Alma del gran Pompeo Popularity:

Opera: Giulio CesareComposer: HandelAct: 1.10

Type: ariaVoice: countertenor or contralto or mezzoLanguage: Italian

Roles: Cesare/Cleopatra/Curio
4Lascia ch'io pianga Popularity:

Opera: RinaldoComposer: HandelAct: 2

Type: ariaVoice: countertenor or mezzoLanguage: Italian

Roles: Rinaldo
5Va tacito e nascosto Popularity:

Opera: Giulio CesareComposer: HandelAct: 1.18

Type: ariaVoice: countertenor or contralto or mezzoLanguage: Italian

Roles: Cesare/Achilla/Cesare/Cornelia/Sesto
6Cielo se tu il consenti Popularity:

Opera: OrlandoComposer: HandelAct: 2.04-2

Type: ariaVoice: countertenor or mezzoLanguage: Italian

Roles: Orlando
7Thrice happy lovers Popularity:

Opera: Fairy-Queen, TheComposer: PurcellAct: 5.01

Type: ariaVoice: sopranoLanguage: English

Roles: Juno
8Come away fellow sailors Popularity:

Opera: Dido and AeneasComposer: PurcellAct: 3.01

Type: ariaVoice: tenorLanguage: English

Roles:
9O let me weep Popularity:

Opera: Fairy-Queen, TheComposer: PurcellAct: 5.02

Type: ariaVoice: Language: English

Roles:
10Ombra mai fu Popularity:

Opera: Xerxes (Serse)Composer: HandelAct:

Type: ariaVoice: countertenor or mezzoLanguage: Italian

Roles:
11Thus the gloomy world Popularity:

Opera: Fairy-Queen, TheComposer: PurcellAct: 5.05

Type: ariaVoice: countertenorLanguage: English

Roles: Chinese Man
12Behold upon my bending spear Popularity:

Opera: Dido and AeneasComposer: PurcellAct: 2.12

Type: duetVoice: T/Br Mz/SLanguage: English

Roles: Aeneas/Dido
13Dance for the Fairies Popularity:

Opera: Fairy-Queen, TheComposer: PurcellAct: 3.03

Type: ballet/instrumentalVoice: Language: English

Roles:
14If not for mine for Empire's sake Popularity:

Opera: Dido and AeneasComposer: PurcellAct: 1.10

Type: ariaVoice: baritone or tenorLanguage: English

Roles: Aeneas
15Hark, how all things Popularity:

Opera: Fairy-Queen, TheComposer: PurcellAct: 5.09

Type: ariaVoice: Language: English

Roles:
16See, see my many colour'd fields Popularity:

Opera: Fairy-Queen, TheComposer: PurcellAct: 4.08

Type: ariaVoice: tenorLanguage: English

Roles: Autumn
17Stay Prince and hear Popularity:

Opera: Dido and AeneasComposer: PurcellAct: 2.14

Type: duetVoice: baritone or tenorLanguage: English

Roles: Aeneas
18See our royal guest appears Popularity:

Opera: Dido and AeneasComposer: PurcellAct: 1.08

Type: duetVoice: S T/BrLanguage: English

Roles: Belinda/Aeneas
19Flower of this purple dye Popularity:

Opera: Midsummer Night's Dream, AComposer: BrittenAct: 2

Type: ariaVoice: countertenorLanguage: English

Roles: Oberon
20Yes, Xansi Popularity:

Opera: Fairy-Queen, TheComposer: PurcellAct: 5.07

Type: ariaVoice: countertenorLanguage: English

Roles: Chinese Man
20 Results
Page 1 of 1