CELEBRATING 53,000 Classical CD reviews on-line (Sept 2016); 21,000 page views each day. Return to MusicWeb International
Andrew Macpherson, Scottish tenor
Posted by Rob Barnett on January 29, 2021, 6:05 pm
Until now I had never heard of Scottish tenor, Andrew Macpherson
Until very recently I had never heard of Scottish tenor, Andrew Macpherson
I wondered if any of you might have these 78s or LP transfers.
Rob
==============================
Any shellacs or tapes or vinyl of the Scottish tenor Andrew Macpherson?:
Macpherson: his voice is bigger than McKellar, tone akin to Robert Wilson but sweeter (less throaty) - truly impressive. His bel-canto' approach and subtle dynamics are most appealing. I found this (incomplete?) list of recordings:
a) with Sidney Crooke (piano) : Recorded London, Tuesday 10th September 1946 2 unknown titles Parlophone trial recordings : NB: Paper work noted as trial for Mr. [Walter] Legge '. b) with Ronnie Munro and his Orchestra : Recorded 165 Broadhurst Gardens, London, Monday 20th February 1950 DR-14667-1 Mary Morrison (Robert Burns; trad) Beltona BL-2510 / Decca F-9483 DR-14668-1 O' a the airts the win' can blaw (Robert Burns; trad) Beltona BL-2510 / Decca F-9483 DR-14669-1 Gentle Annie (Stephen Foster) Beltona BL-2509 / Decca F-9474 DR-14670-1 The bonnie lass o ' Ballochmyle (Robert Burns; William Jackson) Beltona test pressing DR-14670-2 The bonnie lass o' Ballochmyle (Robert Burns; William Jackson) Beltona BL-2509 - Decca F-9474 c) with orchestra conducted by Philip Green : Recorded Orpheus Studio, Greyfriars Church Hall, Albion Street,Glasgow, Friday 9th May 1952 CE-13988-1 Bonnie Earl o 'Moray (trad. arr. J. Michael Diack) Parlophone F-3438 CE-13989-2 Scotland the brave (Cliff Hanley; arr. Marion McClurg) Parlophone F-3435 CE-13990-1 Skye is my home (Thomas B. Shaw) Parlophone F-3438 CE-13991-2 My nannie's awa' (Robert Burns; trad) Parlophone F-3435 d) with orchestra: Recorded London, 1950s Land of heart's desire (trad) Boosey & Hawkes VT-2074 Kishmul's galley (trad) Boosey & Hawkes VT-2074 Eriskay love lilt (trad) Boosey & Hawkes VT-2075 Road to the Isles (trad) Boosey & Hawkes VT-2075
It seems that he sang in Handel's Solomon with Beecham (1951 Festival of Britain); with Glasgow Orpheus Choir at Central Hall Westminster (1951); BBC Light Programme appearances (1945, 46 + 48); concerts in Glasgow during WW2; at Cambridge Theatre (London) as Nemorino in Don Pasquale' (1946, with Noni and Stabile) qu. "... with a light but good voice who has obviously studied under a good master, for his singing is excellent although his acting is still rather stiff". The LP sleevenote for The Andrew Macpherson Singers & Dancers' issued 1965 (Nonesuch H-2006) says: Born in Ayrshire, Andrew Macpherson began his musical career with a scholarship to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music, then embarking on a successful operatic career which included appearances with Great Britain's leading conductors. It becomes evident that he diversified into producing Scottish shows based around his troupe of performers, and toured extensively particularly in Canada.
I have a Boosey and Hawkes 78rpm record # VT.2074. Andrew Macpherson sings on both sides: Land of Heart's Desire and Kishmul's Galley.
Previous Message
Until now I had never heard of Scottish tenor, Andrew Macpherson
Until very recently I had never heard of Scottish tenor, Andrew Macpherson
I wondered if any of you might have these 78s or LP transfers.
Rob
==============================
Any shellacs or tapes or vinyl of the Scottish tenor Andrew Macpherson?:
Macpherson: his voice is bigger than McKellar, tone akin to Robert Wilson but sweeter (less throaty) - truly impressive. His bel-canto' approach and subtle dynamics are most appealing. I found this (incomplete?) list of recordings:
a) with Sidney Crooke (piano) : Recorded London, Tuesday 10th September 1946 2 unknown titles Parlophone trial recordings : NB: Paper work noted as trial for Mr. [Walter] Legge '. b) with Ronnie Munro and his Orchestra : Recorded 165 Broadhurst Gardens, London, Monday 20th February 1950 DR-14667-1 Mary Morrison (Robert Burns; trad) Beltona BL-2510 / Decca F-9483 DR-14668-1 O' a the airts the win' can blaw (Robert Burns; trad) Beltona BL-2510 / Decca F-9483 DR-14669-1 Gentle Annie (Stephen Foster) Beltona BL-2509 / Decca F-9474 DR-14670-1 The bonnie lass o ' Ballochmyle (Robert Burns; William Jackson) Beltona test pressing DR-14670-2 The bonnie lass o' Ballochmyle (Robert Burns; William Jackson) Beltona BL-2509 - Decca F-9474 c) with orchestra conducted by Philip Green : Recorded Orpheus Studio, Greyfriars Church Hall, Albion Street,Glasgow, Friday 9th May 1952 CE-13988-1 Bonnie Earl o 'Moray (trad. arr. J. Michael Diack) Parlophone F-3438 CE-13989-2 Scotland the brave (Cliff Hanley; arr. Marion McClurg) Parlophone F-3435 CE-13990-1 Skye is my home (Thomas B. Shaw) Parlophone F-3438 CE-13991-2 My nannie's awa' (Robert Burns; trad) Parlophone F-3435 d) with orchestra: Recorded London, 1950s Land of heart's desire (trad) Boosey & Hawkes VT-2074 Kishmul's galley (trad) Boosey & Hawkes VT-2074 Eriskay love lilt (trad) Boosey & Hawkes VT-2075 Road to the Isles (trad) Boosey & Hawkes VT-2075
It seems that he sang in Handel's Solomon with Beecham (1951 Festival of Britain); with Glasgow Orpheus Choir at Central Hall Westminster (1951); BBC Light Programme appearances (1945, 46 + 48); concerts in Glasgow during WW2; at Cambridge Theatre (London) as Nemorino in Don Pasquale' (1946, with Noni and Stabile) qu. "... with a light but good voice who has obviously studied under a good master, for his singing is excellent although his acting is still rather stiff". The LP sleevenote for The Andrew Macpherson Singers & Dancers' issued 1965 (Nonesuch H-2006) says: Born in Ayrshire, Andrew Macpherson began his musical career with a scholarship to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music, then embarking on a successful operatic career which included appearances with Great Britain's leading conductors. It becomes evident that he diversified into producing Scottish shows based around his troupe of performers, and toured extensively particularly in Canada.
My daughter is currently a Grad Student at Longwoo Univ Va. & discovered an article about a Scottish Ensemble performing at what was then Longwood Ladies College. Longwood University Digital Commons @ Longwood University Rotunda Library, Special Collections, and Archives Winter 1-11-1961 Rotunda - Vol 40, No 10 - Jan 11, 1961 Longwood University I found this page as I was interested in knowing who Mr Macpherson, the soloists, S.Gordon Lang Baritone, Hilda Wilson Soprano were. I would have been 5 & listening to Kenneth McKellar! From this I found Va newspapers (archives) covered this ensemble. The date of this tour is interesting as his production "Caledonia" features a whole section on Burns! Also LU is in Farmville Va which at the time was 'the middle of nowhere'; the south west of Va would have been sparsely populated rural foothills of the Blue Ridge with Universities/colleges/mil schools etc (inexpensive ground, accessible brick making/quarries near by & no risk of students going off the rails as most counties/towns were 'dry'.) I do not know if any of the Universities etc recorded the performances or sold records of any of the artisits.