Episode 386. David Rendall in Memoriam
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On 21 July, the opera world lost one of its finest tenors, David Rendall, at the age of 76. Rendall began his career in the mid-seventies as a lyric tenore di grazia specializing in bel canto and in the music of Mozart. His voice expanded and deepened over the years to encompass French roles (Des Grieux, Faust, Werther), 19th century Italian repertoire from Rodolfo to Otello, and finally Wagner roles from Lohengrin to Tristan. This episode explores his origins from his earliest recordings made before he ever considered a career in music, to live operatic recordings made between 1975 and 2006. Rendall’s family was a deeply musical one: his wife, Diana Montague, is a legendary mezzo-soprano, and their son Huw Montague Rendall is one of the brightest lights in the present-day operatic firmament. The episode includes Rendall singing song cycles by Britten and Schubert, and operatic rarities by Rossini and Alfano. In all of the music offered, David Rendall’s impeccable technique, patrician musicianship, and deep expressive connection to the music are heard to full effect. His memory will surely be a blessing to all who knew, heard, loved, and admired him. Many thanks to Huw for his advice in the preparation of this episode.
RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE
Hector Berlioz: Sanctus (Grande messe des morts, Op. 5, H. 75). David Rendall, Michael Gielen, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart, Kölner Rundfunkchor [live Stuttgart 29.III.1979]
Giuseppe Verdi, Francesco Maria Piave [after Alexandre Dumas fils]: O mio rimorso! (La Traviata). David Rendall, Carlo Franci, Orchestra of the Teatro Municipal de Caracas [live 1981]
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Caterino Mazzolà (after Pietro Metastasio): Se all’impero (La clemenza di Tito). David Rendall, Orchestra conducted by James Levine [live New York 14.II.1987]
Robert Wright, George Forrest [after Alexander Borodin]: Stranger in Paradise (Kismet). David Rendall, Valerie Masterson, John Owen Edwards, Philharmonia Orchestra [1989]
Traditional Welsh, collected Maria Jane Williams, Dafydd Nicolas: Y deryn pur. David Rendall [ten years old] [1959]
John Lennon [credited to Lennon-McCartney]: Nowhere Man [Beatles Cover]. All On Edge [David Rendall, Chris Cooksey, Norman Snell, John Edge, Gene Hatfield] [1966]
Richard Strauss, Hugo von Hofmannsthal: Di rigori armato (Der Rosenkavalier). David Rendall, Silvio Varviso, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden [live 28.XI.1975]
Benjamin Britten, Arthur Rimbaud: Royauté; Marine (Les Illuminations, Op. 18/4, 5). David Rendall, Heinz Wallberg, Rundfunkorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks München [live München 12.II.77]
Gioachino Rossini. Andrea Leone Tottola [after Water Scott]: Eccomi a voi, miei prodi… Ma dov’è colei (La donna del lago). David Rendall, Lawrence Foster, Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden [live London 08.VII.1985]
Charles Gounod, Jules Barbier, Michel Carré [after Carré’s play based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]: Salut, demeure chaste et pure (Faust). David Rendall, Carlo Franci, Orchestra of the Teatro Municipal de Caracas [live 1981]
Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Giacosa, Luigi Illica [after Henri Murger]: Your tiny hand is frozen [Che gelida manina] (La Bohème). David Rendall, Owain Arwel Hughes, BBC Concert Orchestra [BBC telecast, The Much Loved Music Show, Christmas episode 21.XII.1980]
Gustav Mahler, Hans Bethge [after Li Bai]: Der Trunkene im Frühling (Das Lied von der Erde). David Rendall, Erich Leinsdorf, Chicago Symphony Orchestra [live 01.XII.1983]
Franz Schubert, Wilhelm Müller: Ungeduld (Die schöne Müllerin, D. 795/7). David Rendall, unknown pianist [Radio France recording, live Aix-en-Provence 1988]
Christoph Willibald Gluck, Nicolas-François Guillard: Puisque le ciel à vos jours s’intéresse… Divinité des grandes âmes (Iphigénie en Tauride). David Rendall, Diana Montague, Ivor Bolton, Orquestra del Teatro Colón [live Buenos Aires IV.1994]
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Lorenzo da Ponte: Volgi a me intorno il ciglio (Così fan tutte). David Rendall, Kiri Te Kanawa, Orchestra conducted by Max Epstein [live New York 09.IV.1988]
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Lorenzo da Ponte: Il mio tesoro intanto (Don Giovanni). David Rendall, Hans Drewanz, San Francisco Opera Orchestra [live San Francisco 13.X.1978]
Ruggero Leoncavallo: No, Pagliaccio non son (Pagliacci). David Rendall, unknown colleagues [live Portland III.1997]
Richard Wagner: Morgenlich leuchtend (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg). David Rendall, Erich Leinsdorf, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus [live Chicago 10.III.1983]
Gustav Mahler, Hans Bethge [after Li Bai]: Von der Jugend (Das Lied von der Erde). David Rendall, Edo de Waart, Radio Filharmonisch Orkest [live Utrecht 26.IX.1999]
Franco Alfano [after Kālidāsa]: Sakùntala! Sakùntala! Alzati! (La leggenda di Sakùntala). David Rendall, Gianluigi Gelmetti, Orchestra dell’Opera di Roma [live Roma 21.IV.2006]
Giuseppe Verdi, Francesco Maria Piave, revised Arrigo Boito [after Antonio García Gutiérrez]: Sento avvampar nell’anima (Simon Boccanegra). David Rendall, Mark Elder, London Philharmonic Orchestra [live Glyndebourne at the Proms 29.VIII.1998]