MAUREEN FORRESTER - Blow the wind southerly

The great Canadian contralto Maureen Forrester sings English folk song "Blow the wind southerly" with John Newmark on the piano. This si a CBC broadcast from 1965.

[@piustwelfth]

A masterclass in singing with phenomenal diction and phrasing.

[@erickujala5681]

I met Maureen Forrester about 22 years ago. She was a friend of a friend, Jack Cook. They both had the same vocal teacher Bernard Diamant. I have some high quality video tapes of interviews done with her and Bernard (and others) that I have been contemplating donating to the National Library of Canada. Maureen talks about her days of glory in the opera world. Rare interviews I think would be valued for future reference. What do you think?

[@ScarlettLime]

Eric Kujala It would be wonderful if you could transfer them to the digital medium and upload them to educational databases and/or youtube

[@MarniCraig]

What did you end up doing with the tapes? I am a friend of her daughter and I am sure she would love to see these. Thanks.

[@denisalarie914]

To all those who remember dear Maureen, more of her unkown recordings will soon be made public. There is a small Montreal-based label that has been working on a box set with many unreleased recordings, including a cycle by Wolf recorded in early 1953 with Newmark that was never commercialized. Stay tuned to the channels that feature her.

[@Nachtmusik02]

Wow... what a voice. Whether contralto or not, it is rare to hear a voice with such a dark color. I love to hear rare singers such as her.

[@1AdrianR]

May she rest in peace. She has such a life to celebrate through! She brought joy through one of the most sublime forms of entertainment available, music .

[@Ravenelvenlady]

Just sublime! It just brought tears to me eyes, such perfection is rendered. This is one of my favorite performances of anything, ever! Thank you.

[@divox9pqr]

Lovely warm tone, and astounding interpretive powers. Dorothy Uris, Professor of English Diction thought Ms Forrester was the Queen.

[@rayangreene]

to Meltzerboy 1 : That's right. Maureen has been one of the greatest singers to this day. She's beyond sublime : the voice's exquisitely beautiful and the acting is exceptional.

[@novascotiawill]

Rest in Peace, Ms Forrester... you were and will continue to be magnificant!

[@meltzerboy]

What an exceptional contralto Maureen Forrester was! The quality of her voice, her technique, phrasing, vocal dynamics and coloring are all incredible.

[@HM0880]

Her wonderful diction and rich, expressive, glorious timbre combine to make a magical and unforgettable performance. Thanks so much for sharing this gem, maulwurfchen. :)

[@copperleaves]

This woman was an extraordinary artist, generous, approachable and fun. She shares the stage in this video with another really fine artist - the late pianist Johnny Newmark. John accompanied the legendary Kathleen Ferrier when she was in Canada in the 1940's and was greatly sought after by soloists because, as one singer put it, "he seemed to know exactly what you were going to do before you did it".

[@musicloversingable]

Tears are falling down my face as I listen to this performance. A beautiful song and a haunting voice.

[@pattipage12]

Perfection!

[@guetary]

Ravishingly sung. The phrasing is quite exquisite.

[@ellend9426]

I heard Maureen Forester’s voice for the first time on the 1987 revival of Carousel, where she sang You’ll Never Walk Alone. It was so perfect, I had to look her up. I’m SO glad I did!

Nice voice... TODAY 85 YEARS AGO when MAUREEN FORRESTER (July 25, 1930) was born

[@duncansunrise]

Magnificent......a very moving rendition of this great song.

[@smudger671]

Beautifully sung, and with a sensitive piano accompanyment.

[@cuervojuan]

@maulwurfchen: So beautiful! Thanks for posting this. Have you got the following song (Schubert's "Zögernd leise")?

[@chaiter1]

I remember as a boy watching her master classes given here in Israel. What a singer and great lady. It is so sad she had to battle her last years. This recording brings me right to a year after my birth. For me it represents a lost world of artistry. And a dear memory of times my late parents lovingly conveyed their love of music to me.Great singing.

[@msbrewdog]

Great voice. She must have been quite an inspiration for a generation of young singers like you.

[@DamsonElvira1212]

Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly Blow the wind south o'er the bonny blue sea Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly Blow, bonny breeze, my lover to me They told me last night there were ships in the offing And I hurried down to the deep rolling sea But my eye could not see it, wherever might be it The barque that is bearing my lover to me Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly Blow, bonny breeze, o'er the bonny blue sea Blow the wind southerly, southerly, southerly Blow, bonny breeze, and bring him to me Is it not sweet to hear the breeze singing As lightly it comes o'er the deep rolling sea? But sweeter and dearer by far 'tis When bringing the barque of my true love In safety to me

[@AulicExclusiva]

And Dame Emma Albani (née Cécile Lajeunesse at Chambly, PQ) and Pauline Donalda and Huguette Tourangeau!

[@paulostroff99]

One of the greatest contraltos ever! Brava!

[@Ravenelvenlady]

Rest in Peace lovely, talented and gracious lady. Thank you for the music.

[@DanRobSo]

Please don't forget Teresa Stratas, Colette Boky, Isabel Bayrakadrian, Louis Quillico, Pierrette Alarie, Leopold Simoneau, Tracy Dahl, Michael Shade, Gerald Finley, Measha Brueggergosman, Russell Braun and Bruno Laplante.

[@cuervojuan]

Absolutely loved it. Thank you so much for uploading it. Could you upload the next one she sings (Schubert's Serenade D920)?

[@rinygrin]

RIP.

[@R.I-r8y]

Thank you. Fantastic!

[@paulostroff99]

kmillard-Patsy Gallant,Sophie Milman,Jim Cuddy and Blue Rodeo,Ian Tyson-with or without Ian and Sylvia,Nina and Frederick,Malka and Yoso,and many more. A typo on the name of the singer who has sol over 20 million records should have read -Nelly Furtado,and not Kelly Furtado.

[@paulostroff99]

kmillard-I also forgot the finest female jazz singer-Diana Krall,Michael Buble,Alanis Morisette,Kelly Furtado,Bare Naked Ladies,and I'm still thinking on this bad and old memory.

[@paulostroff99]

kmillard-I also didn't mention Richard Verreau,Louis Quilico,Pierette Alarie,and our wonderful patriot Stompin Tom Connors. There are others that don't come to mind,but yes Gordon Lightfoot was up there with the best both as a singer and a composer.

[@antoniofernandez-albalatga5731]

Extraordinaria!!!!!!!!

[@paulostroff99]

DanRobSo-You just have to be an ex pat Canadian. If not we shall henceforth consider you to be an honourary one.

[@cristabele]

Echohawk, you obviously have a maturity and depth of soul that belies your years. A pity there aren't more youngsters like you around these days! Stay how you are or at least don't change too much .. you'll be a fine man one day. Good luck to you.

[@CurzonRoad]

Many thanks for this wonderful, wonderful performance. PS: Special thanks to Nate@meltzerboy for sharing!

[@Thelaceless]

pure class and good posture which modern opera singer does not have anymore!

[@irishmanonthecan]

Deeply beautiful.

[@johnruggeri843]

Nate - I cannot add to your description. My friend I thank you for sharing this video-John

[@paulostroff99]

DanRobSo-What about Ben Heppner,Jon Vickers,and Richard Vereault.

[@SiEtIn1]

i would die if i loved contralto voices a tiny bit more.

[@paulostroff99]

Exquisite! Brava! We love you Maureen!

[@DanRobSo]

Not forgetting them, just that you had already mentioned them. Just wanted to add to the list of favorite Canadian vocal artists. I had heard that Mme Forrester was very ill right now. Oh, and forgot to mention George London, Lois Marshall, Richard Margison and Judith Forst. Didn't want to forget them either.

[@benjaminvox]

Exquisite. Thank you for sharing.

[@pattipage12]

Loverly, loverly.

[@roberttillman8872]

Pure class.

[@juliandavies3307]

Beautiful!!

[@PsychorGames]

4:20

[@DanRobSo]

Thank you!

[@jkentcharlton]

Lovely.

[@mbrooks972]

Lovely!

[@rayangreene]

to Meltzerboy 2 : The only detail I'd tend to disagree with is the terminology : I can't call her a true contralto like Kathleen Ferrier or Mariane Anderson whose voices were notably darker. I think is much of a very dark mezzo-alto (as opposed to a mezzo-soprano). Anyway a rose by any other name.... Mezzo-alto or contralto, she remains a true genius who played in the same league as the divine Kathleen Ferrier. Moreover, like Kath, she was, and still is, a woman of exceptional bounty.

[@paulostroff99]

MrSofaSpud-But would she want a couch potato there beside her incapable of providing.warmth

[@paulostroff99]

With Jon Vickers and Ben Heppner the tenors,Glen Gould, Louis Lortie and Marc Andre Hamelin,the pianists and Maureen Forrester as well as the adorable Deana Durbin-this forms Canada's classical all star team. I've not even included the non classical stars such as Celine Dion,Shania Twain,Anne Murray,Hank Snow,Paul Anka,The four Lads,The Diamonds and more. We won't even