James Thomas BowmanCBE (6 November 1941 – 27 March 2023) was an English countertenor. His career spanned opera, oratorio, contemporary music and solo recitals. After Alfred Deller, he was the countertenor to revive interest in the voice part. He became recognised as Oberon in Brittens's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and later focused on both early music and contemporary music, performing world premieres.
Bowman's background was in Anglican church music. He was educated at The King's School, Ely[1][2] where he began singing as a boy chorister at Ely Cathedral, progressing to become head chorister. After the traditional rest when his voice broke, he returned to the choir as a bass.[3] Around 1959, he gave his first public performance as a countertenor to a school congregation in the Lady Chapel. He later went to New College, Oxford, as a choral scholar and was a member of the New College and Christ Church choirs.[1][4]
In 1965 Bowman met David Munrow and was invited to join the Early Music Consort of London.[5] The ensemble flourished in the ten years from 1967 to 1976, making many recordings and touring. When Munrow died in 1976, the group disbanded but Bowman continued to work with former members such as the harpsichordist and conductor Christopher Hogwood and the lutenist Robert Spencer.[3][5]
In 1967 Bowman performed Purcell's Celebration Ode at the opening concert of London's Queen Elizabeth Hall.[5][10] In the years 1969–1975 Bowman sang in the choir of Westminster Abbey. For many years Bowman was a member of the early music choral group Pro Cantione Antiqua. In recital he often worked with the lutenist Dorothy Linell and the pianist Andrew Plant.[3]
In 2010 it was announced that Bowman would give his last London concert in 2011 at the Wigmore Hall, although he would continue to give recitals outside the capital.[9] A few years previously he retired from the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace, in London, after a decade of service.[12]
Bowman died on 27 March 2023, at the age of 81.[1][7][10]
Awards and positions
In 1992 the French Government honoured Bowman with admission to L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and he also received the Medal of Honour of the City of Paris, in recognition of his contribution to the musical life of the city.[3][8][11]
Bowman's twentieth-century repertoire included Ten Blake Songs and Linden Lea by Vaughan Williams on the Meridian Records label[15] and Songs of Innocence, a recital album of mostly English songs with Andrew Swait (treble) and pianist Andrew Plant.[16] In 2011 he recorded lute songs by John Dowland and others on the CD Songs and Sorrowful Sonnets with Dorothy Linell.[17] It was made available as a digital download in 2023.[18]
References
^ abcdKyle Macdonald: Leading countertenor James Bowman, who "inspired a generation", has died aged 81, ClassicFM, 28 March 2023
^"James Bowman's website". James Bowman. 1998. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
^ abcdefghijkObituary: Old Elean and former Ely Cathedral Chorister, James Bowman CBE King's Ely 28 March 2023
^ abAlan Blyth. 'Bowman, James (Thomas)', in Grove Music Online (2001)
^ abcdefghEdward Breen: Icon: James Bowman, Gramophone, 5 November 2021]
^James Bowman (26 November 2009), James Bowman on striking a high note, The Guardian
^ abcEdward Breen: James Bowman, much-loved countertenor, has died aged 81, Gramophone, 28 March 2023
^ abAlexandra Coghlan. 'James Bowman, Mahan Esfahani, Wigmore Hall: An evening of Baroque music celebrates a great career', in The Arts Desk, 21 May, 2011
^ abJames Bowman, acclaimed countertenor taken up by Benjamin Britten to sing Oberon and the Voice of Apollo – obituary The Daily Telegraph, 28 March 2023
james, bowman, countertenor, james, thomas, bowman, november, 1941, march, 2023, english, countertenor, career, spanned, opera, oratorio, contemporary, music, solo, recitals, after, alfred, deller, countertenor, revive, interest, voice, part, became, recognise. James Thomas Bowman CBE 6 November 1941 27 March 2023 was an English countertenor His career spanned opera oratorio contemporary music and solo recitals After Alfred Deller he was the countertenor to revive interest in the voice part He became recognised as Oberon in Brittens s A Midsummer Night s Dream and later focused on both early music and contemporary music performing world premieres James BowmanCBEBornJames Thomas Bowman 1941 11 06 6 November 1941Oxford EnglandDied27 March 2023 2023 03 27 aged 81 OccupationCountertenorOrganizationsEarly Music ConsortChapel Royal St James s PalaceAwardsL Ordre des Arts et des LettresMedal of Honour of the City of ParisWebsitewww wbr users wbr globalnet wbr co wbr uk wbr pattle wbr bowman wbr Contents 1 Life and career 1 1 Education 1 2 Opera 1 3 Early music 1 4 Contemporary music 1 5 Later life 2 Awards and positions 3 Discography 4 References 5 External linksLife and career EditEducation Edit Bowman s background was in Anglican church music He was educated at The King s School Ely 1 2 where he began singing as a boy chorister at Ely Cathedral progressing to become head chorister After the traditional rest when his voice broke he returned to the choir as a bass 3 Around 1959 he gave his first public performance as a countertenor to a school congregation in the Lady Chapel He later went to New College Oxford as a choral scholar and was a member of the New College and Christ Church choirs 1 4 Opera Edit In 1967 Bowman auditioned for Benjamin Britten s English Opera Group He was cast as Oberon in A Midsummer Night s Dream a role which had been composed with Alfred Deller s voice in mind Bowman who had a larger voice than Deller went on to have a long association with the role 5 6 finally recording his interpretation with the City of London Sinfonia under Richard Hickox in 1993 He appeared at Glyndebourne in 1970 in Francesco Cavalli s La Calisto as the first countertenor to sing there 5 conducted by Raymond Leppard and alongside Janet Baker 7 He sang at the English National Opera in 1971 in Handel s Semele and at the Royal Opera House in 1972 in Taverner by Peter Maxwell Davies 8 In 1973 he created the role of the Voice of Apollo in Britten s Death in Venice 4 5 Bowman retired from the operatic stage to concentrate on concert work after having appeared at most of the world s major opera houses including La Scala Milan 1 Stopera in Amsterdam Palais Garnier in Paris Aix en Provence Festival Sydney Opera House Verona Arena Vienna State Opera Opera de Strasbourg Santa Fe Opera Dallas Opera and San Francisco Opera 8 9 Early music Edit In 1965 Bowman met David Munrow and was invited to join the Early Music Consort of London 5 The ensemble flourished in the ten years from 1967 to 1976 making many recordings and touring When Munrow died in 1976 the group disbanded but Bowman continued to work with former members such as the harpsichordist and conductor Christopher Hogwood and the lutenist Robert Spencer 3 5 In 1967 Bowman performed Purcell s Celebration Ode at the opening concert of London s Queen Elizabeth Hall 5 10 In the years 1969 1975 Bowman sang in the choir of Westminster Abbey For many years Bowman was a member of the early music choral group Pro Cantione Antiqua In recital he often worked with the lutenist Dorothy Linell and the pianist Andrew Plant 3 Contemporary music Edit As well as the Britten and Maxwell Davies operatic productions Bowman gave the world premieres of contemporary works by composers such as Geoffrey Burgon Alan Ridout and Richard Rodney Bennett 3 11 He also commissioned the Self laudatory hymn of Inanna and her omnipotence from Michael Nyman He appeared in the world premiere of Britten s Canticle IV The Journey of the Magi in 1971 5 Later life Edit In 2010 it was announced that Bowman would give his last London concert in 2011 at the Wigmore Hall although he would continue to give recitals outside the capital 9 A few years previously he retired from the Chapel Royal St James s Palace in London after a decade of service 12 Bowman died on 27 March 2023 at the age of 81 1 7 10 Awards and positions EditIn 1992 the French Government honoured Bowman with admission to L Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and he also received the Medal of Honour of the City of Paris in recognition of his contribution to the musical life of the city 3 8 11 He was President of the Holst Singers 8 In May 1992 Bowman received an honorary doctorate from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne 3 He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen s Birthday Honours in June 1997 3 13 In November 1998 Bowman was made an Honorary Fellow of New College Oxford 3 In December 2006 after Sir Malcolm Arnold died Bowman succeeded him as Patron of the Northamptonshire Choral Foundation and thus the Choirs of All Saints Church Northampton 3 He was a vice president of The Bach Choir 3 Discography EditBowman made over 180 recordings with major record labels 14 One of his first recordings was a 1967 LP of Baroque music for EMI Purcell s Te Deum 5 and Charpentier s Messe de minuit pour Noel H 9 with the Choir of King s College Cambridge and the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by David Willcocks 3 He recorded with many leading conductors including Frans Bruggen John Eliot Gardiner Nikolaus Harnoncourt Christopher Hogwood Gustav Leonhardt and Roger Norrington Between 1988 and 2001 he made many recordings for Hyperion Records with The King s Consort and their conductor Robert King including the complete odes of Henry Purcell secular songs and church music Handel s Judas Maccabaeus the Occasional Oratorio Deborah Joseph and his Brethren Giulio Cesare Ottone and Joshua discs of Schelle Kuhnau and Knupfer and two solo discs of Handel arias 11 He recorded Britten s Midsummer Night s Dream in 1993 with the City of London Sinfonia conducted by Richard Hickox 7 Bowman s twentieth century repertoire included Ten Blake Songs and Linden Lea by Vaughan Williams on the Meridian Records label 15 and Songs of Innocence a recital album of mostly English songs with Andrew Swait treble and pianist Andrew Plant 16 In 2011 he recorded lute songs by John Dowland and others on the CD Songs and Sorrowful Sonnets with Dorothy Linell 17 It was made available as a digital download in 2023 18 References Edit a b c d Kyle Macdonald Leading countertenor James Bowman who inspired a generation has died aged 81 ClassicFM 28 March 2023 James Bowman s website James Bowman 1998 Retrieved 2 August 2008 a b c d e f g h i j k Obituary Old Elean and former Ely Cathedral Chorister James Bowman CBE King s Ely 28 March 2023 a b Alan Blyth Bowman James Thomas in Grove Music Online 2001 a b c d e f g h Edward Breen Icon James Bowman Gramophone 5 November 2021 James Bowman 26 November 2009 James Bowman on striking a high note The Guardian a b c Edward Breen James Bowman much loved countertenor has died aged 81 Gramophone 28 March 2023 a b c d Florence Lockheart https www classical music uk news article counter tenor james bowman has died aged 81 Counter tenor James Bowman has died aged 81 classical music uk 28 March 2023 a b Alexandra Coghlan James Bowman Mahan Esfahani Wigmore Hall An evening of Baroque music celebrates a great career in The Arts Desk 21 May 2011 a b James Bowman acclaimed countertenor taken up by Benjamin Britten to sing Oberon and the Voice of Apollo obituary The Daily Telegraph 28 March 2023 a b c James Bowman countertenor Hyperion Records 2023 Martin Cullingford Past and present at the Chapel Royal Hampton Court Gramophone 15 March 2013 James Bowman Countertenor Convivium Records 2023 James Bowman Muziekweb Meridien CDE 84158 1988 Signum CD128 2008 Robert Hugill Songs and Sorrowful Sonnets musicwebinternational com March 2012 Maproom recordingsExternal links EditOfficial website James Bowman discography at Discogs James Bowman at IMDb James Bowman Tenebrae 28 March 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Bowman countertenor amp oldid 1148146391, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
