Kathleen Ferrier - What Is Life?

[@saddlebum6595]

This song reduces me to tears, it reminds me of my late father, a devotee of Kathleen Ferrier.

[@sheilahoward2444]

My father was too. The only time I remember him raising his voice to me was when I 'made noise' when he was listening to her on the radio. He died when I was a child, and I only discovered her wonderful voice when I became an adult.

[@alpinegardener]

My mother, who died in 1966 aged 60 was a lifelong devotee of Kathleen Ferrier. I was brought up to the sound of her compelling voice on our old HMV wind-up gramophone, and I listen to and love her still.

[@pamelaatagan9318]

Memories of my dad playing Kathleen Ferrier amazing voice ❤

[@9641roger]

Though, at 77, my taste in music is very eclectic; but this is the most beautiful piece of music I know; it can,quite literally, move me to tears. Her voice is perfection

[@nicholasturton9267]

Surely one of the most compelling voices of the last and this century.

[@richardmcmahon7466]

At the age of abouttwelve it was this piqed my interest in classical music and opra .I have never forgotten it.

[@christopherdavis80]

In my early stages of Alzheimers I still find this enchanting. Thank you Kathleen for taking me back to my teenage years of adoration of your wonderful voice.

[@dazzatron669]

I hope you’re enjoying our cash to this day you are amazing woman

[@fredvanbenthem7955]

I wish you the best. How are you today? I hope still enjoying this beautiful song in 2021.

[@christopherdavis80]

@@fredvanbenthem7955 Thank you

[@andrewmcdonald6987]

So brave - sending my very best wishes x

[@valeriehayward5947]

I find the video annoying accompanying such a heavenly voice.

[@DougieHalley]

my late mother Jessie brought me up listening to Kathleen Ferrier and i still listen to Kathleen's golden tones

[@voicemad]

I listened to this in 1966 so many times that thought I would be tired of it. 50 year later, I still love it

[@pjsimpson2883]

In 1989 I listened to this over and over for days it softened the grip of a troubled lover's suicide. Brings tears as the years come round again

[@jimcrawford5039]

Remember this since I was a boy, the news of her death was so sad to this ten year old.

[@simonmountford1511]

Beat you by 8 years. Still sublime, incomparable, unequalled.

[@els1051]

Me too❤

[@jolienstreeter8795]

This song has moved me since I was a teenager, Kathlleen Ferrier's voice is unique.

[@rogervines233]

Although 78 next birthday I still feel nine or ten especially when I hear Katherine singing this after hearing her first on the radio well before we had a television, even though I recall my father disapproving as "life without thee if thou art dead" is a little strong but even then I knew what she was singing, but have never stopped listening and have a cd now! But then I lost many of my family when very young and was an only child, This along with such as The Sixteen singing Miserere Mei Deus are my absolute favourites ! Probably why I now listen to mostly music and the words and read but very little TV. Loads of songs I associate with various quite serious loves of my life since an early teenager - where are you Ros - been looking for you for over 60 years!!! Now my wife of nearly 50 years is gone and I live with my very old protesting cat, the weekend has been great with my new love her grandchildren and mine + two daughters to remind me just how lovely the world is despite an idiot PM and the unbelievable Russians Dream of happy days always. Roger V

[@stanelli]

In the 50’s when blow the wind was playing on the radio I was told to shut up. Think we often owe a lot to our Mothers, at 75 I still think of those times.

[@muhammedmash2999]

darling mum made me listen to this when i was 11 yrs old now i think its lovely

[@marthaaschmann2112]

A marvelous talent whose life was tragically cut short right in her prime as a singer. - James Aschmann

[@malcolmabram2957]

Whom the gods love die young.

[@morrisreagan2566]

Ferrier was one of the greatest singers of the twentieth century. I have profound admiration for her both as an artist and as a human being.

[@simonmountford1511]

THE!

[@sedekiman]

The second LP I bought was Kathleen Ferrier singing Handel and Bach arias and this was amongst them even tho by Gluck!! I was 14 am now 74 and still haunted by this glorious voice.

[@Roylambeth]

The most perfect contralto voice I have ever heard. Taken from us 60 years ago when Kath was in the prime of life. Many thanks for uploading this beautiful recording

[@mariabagnoli868]

My mum loves her voice. Even now with terrible dementia, she tried to sing along. I love KF singing Erbarme dich

[@christopherdavis80]

Kathleen Ferrier's magnificent voice has comforted me from childhood. Aet 75 years it still does.

[@tarquin4518]

A wonderful song, sung incredibly beautifully by Kathleen. It was regularly played on the BBC in the 40’s and 50’s and I used to picture Miss Ferrier as an elderly lady such was my ignorance in my younger years. I never realised what an attractive lady she was until much later in life. This song hits the heartstrings and brings the teardrops when one listens and thoughts and memories of a dear, departed loved one come into ones mind.

[@tiggywinkle20]

Same here. I totally agree. A beautiful singer and so lovely to look at. Tragic early end but we were lucky to have her. Dame Janet Baker the other glorious singer but Kathleen was unique.🙏❤️

[@sleort42]

Yes, what is life ? - when you listen to Ferrier - life really means something.Ferriers voice is balsam for the ear.

[@xvsupremacy7190]

What is life without the Lord ? It is meaningless !

[@bajanb]

Growing up my always would play and sing along x

[@SueWilliams-se7rh]

I agree with all these comments. I remember listening to this as a young child on the radio, takes me back all those years and I love to hear that beautiful voice, gone too soon. Sue

[@drveritystrange-fish4685]

This English rendition will forever remind me of my infancy and of my mother, who passed peacefully yesterday at the age of ninety full years. Absolutely wonderful to hear it once again, though bitterweet. :)

[@rmcinuk]

+Dr Verity Strange-Fish RIP

[@johncourt3451]

Dr Verity Strange-Fish One of life's great tragedies was the untimely death of this imperishable voice. She is surely delighting all of heaven with her gift.

[@caracoveney]

I have just come across your post from 4 years ago, and it must have been very painful for you to write it as your mother had just passed away. Strangely enough, when I clicked onto the song, MY mother immediately came into my mind from when I was very young - I remember that mum adored listening to Kathleen Ferrier and my father didn't like her at all, and used to say, 'Oh, no, not that woman again!' (His taste was more towards Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby etc - both of whom I liked from a young age, also). But it meant that I got a taste of all sorts of music to appreciate as I grew up. Thankfully, they agreed on Mario Lanza as a sort of 'bridging point'! My mother passed away 7 years ago, and dad nearly 25 years ago, but it's marvellous how a certain piece of music (just like certain smells) can immediately take you back to a memorable time long ago in your life. I hope that all is well with you.

[@josephclift3662]

Beautiful

[@spmoran4703]

Kathleen's voice deserves a beautiful garden. Such as this one

[@michaelhill9375]

My father played this record on an old 78 wind up record player when l was a child in the early 1950s.Brings a lump to my throat.

[@stevehopker234]

Literally incomparable. Ferrier takes us far beyond her astonishing technique (though she had that in abundance) into realms that words cannot fully express, only her music. Astonishingly emotional, I have yet to listen to a recording without tears. Yet the world is so much richer for her life, tragically shortened though it was.

[@barbaraporter8147]

Steve Hopker Kathleen had a beautiful voice, such a shame she passed so young.

[@frankscivier4874]

Kathleen Ferrier had one of the greatest voices this country ever produced & nobody ever sung this better. It always struck me how strange that she died relatively young & a really terrible death.

[@activator10000]

This is perfection.Absolutely beautiful. I am in tears from such a rendering. Kathleen Ferrier's autobiography on TV brought me here

[@debbiewoodburn6786]

An incomparable voice. My paternal grandmother introduced me to Kathleen Ferrier's voice for which I am forever grateful.

[@suereeves5994]

Well, Kath, you've outlived us all. Absolutely. xx

[@jeanne-mariebaron4468]

When I am in the Slough of Despond this beautiful song with the beautiful words is everything.

[@mikewainwright5500]

I have admired her most wonderful voice for over 70 years!!

[@ryanwalter184]

Not sure why I’m listening to her/watching this video but it has helped in such a tough time. As I listen to such an extraordinarily unique vocalist and then read all the comments I realize that I’m blessed to have picked up on this talent and then beyond that you all let me know that my life is not so bad I am just entirely self obsorbed and self centered mainly. Thanks to everyone for helping even though no one knew or did someone lol:)

[@twozero201]

What a voice, pure magic, love her to bits, good on yer Blackburn lass.

[@barbaraporter8147]

Wallace Price Yes Kath was a good old Lancashire lass, my Mam hailed from Wigan,

[@vaughanrichards7438]

Her forbears from Pembrokeshire

[@wallaceprice659]

Barbara Porter, we hail from Platt Bridge, grew up listening to Kathleen, what a voice

[@geeman6833]

Just a beautiful voice and a sad song from a wonderful and tragic talent.

[@rumpelstiltskin4011]

Is nothing more beautiful than this.

[@bernadetteriley7994]

My Granny used to sing this, she had a beautiful Contralto voice, it brings it all back, and a tear to my eye.

[@nickyclancy6432]

absolutely beautiful had this song at a my daddy's funeral

[@nickyhillman6280]

Such an amazing voice. Truly wonderful

[@jenniferbrownlee1149]

Beautiful !

[@StuartMoore190]

I remember my Dear Mother listening to Diva Kathleen on the steam radio , she was most upset at Kathleen's death . I hope you are listening to this Mam !

[@adriaanb54]

+StuartMoore190 Of course your Mam is listening to Her like my Dad Always did till ever..

[@stroganoffful]

Liseling to this ik think on mij Boukje

[@nicholasturton9267]

The greatest

[@iananthonyjames]

Absolutely awesome.

[@Noaxe_Tegrinde]

This is gut wrenchingly beautiful...such an exquisite melody and arrangement and a wonderful vehicle for Kathleen Ferrier's voice. I also find the video ABSOLUTELY fitting, with the jerkiness and graininess somehow adding serenity and poignancy to the piece. I've listened to this so often.....a friendly arm around one's shoulder, in those sad, whisky moments of life. NoAxe

[@josephclift3662]

I hope you're well, mate

[@Noaxe_Tegrinde]

@@josephclift3662 I'm fine but a kind thought! Thank you.

[@charlesgarrow8761]

I can beleive very easily that you would cry, thecubanism--they say the strongest always do! I didn't fight that war, but my grandfather did, and I cry even with him, and I will forever be in awe of Kathleen Ferrier. I did serve in Iraq, though, so I was very truly moved to see a modern video with the same song. Look at the video called "A Song for the Steadfast." It's from a contralto who was actually there overseas. I felt like she sang it for our generation, with all the same feeling.

[@Bethi4WFH]

I guess I was about 7 when I first heard this recording.........on the BBC not long after WWII......Still haven't heard a contralto voice to compare with hers.......fabulous!

[@ivittdickinson7516]

I wish someone would occasionally broadcast some of her songs

[@cocochanelleke]

Thank you for the video and music alan moores, very much appreciated. Shared it on facebook if you don't mind.

[@twozero201]

What a great great Lancashire lass, very much missed

[@4980cbs]

She was , she´s and I think she will ever be the best.

[@comminge170116]

I agree with you whole heartedly but, don't you like Janet Baker?

[@joemorrissey4683]

They are different voices and talents. Janet Baker did Elgar (Dream of Gerontius and Sea Pictures) like no one else. Kathleen Ferrier's version of this aria is THE recording.

[@robertrowe3709]

Simply beautiful.

[@nondepouk]

really beautiful! it's cool to hear with the film. thank you for this great instant

[@johnswimcat]

You have to be strong to listen to this because it will reach and touch your heart

[@spuds4t]

So beautiful and so sincere. So sorry to lose her when with so much to offer us all.

[@TherealLumpendoodle]

She wasn’t a true ‘technical’ singer, but lordy, something in her voice touches your soul, even after all these years. Wonderful.

[@tezjag3]

What an incredible voice.

[@thomashall9182]

I live about 15 minutes from her birthplace, No 1 Bank Terrace, Higher Walton, my approach takes me past her memorial garden at the bottom of the hill leading to her house, I doubt whether any of the Philistines who pass this memorial on a daily basis have any idea who she was, never mind how great she was, I [as an Atheist] feel that knowing Kath, feeling her presence in her music must be akin to a godlike revelation.

[@jasnajovanovic5940]

"What is life without my love..."? Beautiful voice

[@stuartolds8614]

She died the year before I was born, and she reduce's me to tears.

[@gerdenshed]

Love the video Alan, what a beautiful garden :)

[@7lillie]

First heard this as a child in the '80s watching the tv series Widows.

[@irinaisakov7021]

Incredible!!!

[@sheilahoward2444]

A true Contralto, rare and beautiful.

[@summerhouseNo2]

Beautiful - oh so very beautiful it almost hurts to listen. There is no doubt, in my mind, that she is the greatest contralto ever. Alas the IS is a WAS but I cannot believe that any other contralto voice moves us all so much as hers. Thank you for this recording which I guess all who read this has in their collection.

[@VivaRenata]

Yes indeed! The first classicaly trained voice that I ever loved. My parents had her recordings and I began to listen when I was very young.

[@hugoforth]

This Angel has me in tears....what a voice, her far too early death must rank as one of the biggest tragedies in my lifetime......

[@hardcorebluesman]

Thank-you for this!

[@nickyclancy6432]

beautiful song had this at my dads funeral

[@charlesgarrow8761]

I agree absolutely, by the way, and I meant no comparison. I just meant that, having loved Ferrier so deeply, it is nice to have a contralto for the warriors of our generation. There's something comforting in the tender dark warmth of both Ferrier and Cardinalli that heals soldiers' hearts like nothing else can.

[@simonmountford1511]

Few singers get close. Superb.

[@grahamlarn3427]

Featured throughout Thames Television's Widows series, and was particularly fitting in the final scenes of episode 6, series one. A beautiful song, used to great dramatic effect.

[@lesliecarver6001]

Incomparable!

[@jimcrawford5039]

What a magical voice she had. Died so young!

[@grahamcroucher8541]

Very moving! Especially if you've lost someone close to you. In my case my younger brother Robert. Tragically killed in 1979. Just turned 32. Forever in my thoughts.

[@thecubanism]

Klever Kaff was born not fifteen minutes from where I live, number one Bank terrace, a modest terraced house in Higher Walton, Lancs, not in High Walton in a supposedly informative book I read today in a library, every time I pass her house I feel like shedding a tear, and if I pass her house whilst her beautiful voice is coming out of my car sterio, well, me, an ex-serviceman who fought in Malaya, I have to stop my car because I'm in floods of tears, can you believe that, ? I

[@pauljames745]

Certainly can belive that.

[@muhammedmash2999]

this has only just now hit me 22.4.21 wonderful Kathleen wow

[@boherupnielsen6355]

She shine life, at its most beatyfull.

[@OlhOrebOque]

Kathleeen Ferrier at her peak! Overwhelming rendition of Gluck's Orfeo and Euridice.

[@2angels0607]

this is one song that can reduce me to tears

[@richardhewitt1648]

My sister and I were taken to task by our mother for disrespecting her when a record of her was played. We pretended to sing like her but sillily. That was early in the 1950's. Sorry Mum your appreciation was our loss. Ric from Oz 👦🇦🇺👍

[@vincentedwards2617]

an angel around us for sure

[@brentmarshall928]

Aah, THE GREAT CONTRALTO. Unsurpassed. TONE,power,.. she had it all. Please find and listen to her only known live recording of Gluck in Amsterdam in 1951. Wonderful, considering the limited recording technology of the time. Nobody else comes close.

[@OtherTwin]

indeed an angel love and peace j vincent edwards

[@totof0865]

une magnifique voix...

[@ianpaling104]

like I said the opera version and this one in particular, is belissimo, in fact all her however her voice is so dark and sad, that it is better to listen to when you are happy, she died when she was just 41 when she died of cancer, she was beautiful' like her voice, an angel in disguise

[@charlespinzon721]

Kathleen Ferrier recordings are hard to find in the USA, but I have gotten them from the UK from Presto at reasonable cost and shipping : >)

[@alinipink]

Muito linda a voz. Isso sim que é música para os ouvidos ❤️

[@christopherdavis80]

The intimate details of Kathleen Ferrier's life are private. The value of her magnificent voice, and technique are not. We all share them. With such delight. Christopher Davis

[@sybillasybilla7003]

sublime; j'ai entendu cette version au lycee a sutton coldfield et je n'ai jamais oubliee. est-ce-que quelqu'un d'autre se souviens?

[@marie-claudebecker291]

Grande ame, noblesse incomparable de sa voix. Beaute.

[@jussiwille6750]

this reminds me of Ann Mitchell and British tv series Widows and widows 2.

[@zonegirl90]

Yes,you are lucky. No sound have l heard yet to match Kathleen or her spirit. I loved her voice, amongst others, since childhood. I love David Bowie, Eartha Kitt, Marvin Gaye, Robert Palmer, Patti Boulaye and many more but they do not effect me the same as the rash approach of demanding to be listened to, despite reproach, and that is what I will take of her with me. All heart musicians will do the same, even if it is out of their 'genre'; Heart is Heart. Speech is as compelling, when they are telling you to listen, music makes the message memorable.

[@rosehowe4830]

The worlds best contralto!

[@oumniaanfer8553]

What is life to me without thee? What is left if thou art dead? What is life; life without thee? What is life without my love? What is life if thou art dead? Eurydice! Eurydice! Ah, hear me! Oh answer! Oh answer! Thy dear lord am I so faithful Thy dear lord am I who loves thee Who doth love thee!

[@clarkygt1]

A song perhaps on the morbid side, but a great classic rendering by the late 2:59 Kathleen Ferrier 10/10 class!❤️

[@ivittdickinson7516]

At least we can find her on KZbin

[@lemonostiftis]

nice footage Al, nicely combined with the tune. you've a nice yard ....full of greek flags though :)

[@OtherTwin]

this is life , love and peace jve

[@rogerredding5269]

It just think 🤔 of this beautiful song about womenfolk who watched there men who joined up to fight in the first world 🌍 war many never to return to them .

[@MrGranfield]

Bruno Walter remarked that the two greatest musical artists he met were Ferrier and Marler.......In that order. , , ,

[@nellyhamdan7601]

MrGranfield magnifique

[@simonmountford1511]

Needs edit to Mahler.

[@carolynholt]

Does anyone know where could I get the sheet music of this translation ?