Episode 158. Russell Oberlin
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Hearing the voice of countertenor Russell Oberlin (1928 – 2016) as a soloist with the Robert Shaw Chorale was one of the formative experiences of my early life. I doubt that I would ever have become a countertenor myself had it not been for that beacon of a voice as my shining ideal and example. Many years after his early retirement from singing he extended kindness and generosity to me in a way that has always remained with me. Since I have begun the podcast and with rare exceptions, I generally shy away from discussing other countertenors. Today I break my silence on the topic to present to you the greatest countertenor of them all in all his uniqueness. From his early days as a founding member of the New York Pro Musica and his series of medieval and renaissance music, through his electrifying stage appearances as Oberon in Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, through his standard-setting appearances in Handel and his unexpected but charming expertise as a singer of art song and reciter of poetry: all these aspects of Oberlin’s versatility and artistry are herein represented. A special vocal guest is the tenor Charles Bressler (1926 – 1996), like Oberon a founding member of the New York Pro Musica, who is heard in four duets with Oberlin. Perhaps Oberlin’s greatest achievement lies in the simplicity and nobility of his performances of the music of Henry Purcell, who is also well-represented here. This episode is a must for all lovers of great singing in general and specifically for all who want to hear what well-equalized, technically balanced and secure countertenor singing sounds like.
RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE
Henry Purcell, John Dryden: Music for a while (Oedipus). Russell Oberlin, Paul Maynard, Seymour Barab [1953]
Kentucky Mountain Ballad, arr. Robert Shaw, Alice Parker: The Cherry Tree Carol. Russell Oberlin, Robert Shaw, the Robert Shaw Chorale [1952]
François Couperin: Veni, veni sponsa Christe (Motet de Sainte-Suzanne). Russell Oberlin, Stoddard Lincoln, Instrumental Ensemble [live 06.II.53]
Henry Purcell, Nahum Tate: Strike the Viol (Come, Ye Sons of Art). Alfred Deller, Anthony Lewis, Ensemble Orchestral de l’Oiseau-Lyre [1953]
Henry Purcell, Nahum Tate: Strike the viol (Come, Ye Sons of Art). Russell Oberlin, Bernard Krainis, John Leonard [LaNoue Davenport], George Koutzen, Herman Chessid [1953]
PDQ Bach [Peter Schickele]: Like a Lonely Pilgrim (Hansel and Gretel and Ted and Alice). John Ferrante, David Oei [live 1973]
Anonymous 13th Century French: Nuntium vobis fero de supernis (The Play of Daniel [Ludus Danielis]). Russell Oberlin, Noah Greenberg, New York Pro Musica [1958]
Benjamin Britten, William Shakespeare (edited by Peter Pears): I know a bank (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). Russell Oberlin, Georg Solti, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden [live London 11.II.61]
George Frideric Handel, Nicola Francesco Haym: Vivi, tiranno (Rodelinda). Russell Oberlin, Orchestra conducted by Thomas Dunn, Albert Fuller [1959]
Hugo Wolf, Paul Heyse (collected and translated): Auch kleine Dinge (Italienisches Liederbuch). Russell Oberlin, Douglas Williams [1961]
Godric of Finchale: Saintë Marië Virginë. Russell Oberlin, Seymour Barab [1958]
Arnault Daniel: Chanson do ill mot son plan e prim. Russell Oberlin, Seymour Barab [1957]
Alfonso el Sabio: Cantiga 205 [Como Santa Maria qui guardar] (Cantigas de Santa Maria). Russell Oberlin, Joseph Iadone [1957]
John Dunstable: Puisque m’amour. Russell Oberlin, Michael Brimer [1961]
John Dowland: Weep you no more, sad fountains. Russell Oberlin, Joseph Iadone [1958]
William Byrd: Though Amaryllis Dance in Green. Russell Oberlin, Denis Stevens, the In Nomine Players [1960]
Anonymous English 13th Century: Opem nobis / Salve Thoma / Pastor cesus. Russell Oberlin, Charles Bressler, Seymour Barab, Martha Blackman [1957]
Claudio Monteverdi: Zefiro torna (Madrigals, Book IX, SV 251). Russell Oberlin, Charles Bressler, New York Pro Musica [Sonya Monosoff, Paul Maynard, Martha Blackman], Noah Greenberg [1956]
John Blow, John Dryden: Ye brethren of the lyre (Ode on the Death of Henry Purcell). Russell Oberlin, Charles Bressler, Bernard Krainis, LaNoue Davenport, George Koutzen, Herman Chessid [1954]
Johann Sebastian Bach: Et misericordia (Magnificat, BWV 243). Russell Oberlin, Charles Bressler, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic [1962]
Georg Philipp Telemann: Immanuel ist da! Triumph, Halleluja (Gott will Mensch und sterblich werden, TWV 1: 694). Russell Oberlin, Alexander Schneider, George Ricci, Douglas Williams [1961]
William Walton, Edith Sitwell: Tango-Pasodoble (Façade). Russell Oberlin, Thomas Dunn, John Solum, Charles Russo, Theodore Weis, Charles McCracken, Harold Farberman [1961]
William Byrd: My Sweet Little Darling. Russell Oberlin, Denis Stevens, the In Nomine Players [1960]
Henry Purcell, William Fuller: An Evening Hymn on a Ground [Now that the sun hath veil’d his light] (Harmonia sacra). Russell Oberlin, Paul Maynard, Seymour Barab [1953]
