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s words, "America's first star countertenor." A pioneering figure in the early music revival in the 1950s and 1960s, Oberlin sang on both sides of the
Atlantic, and brought a "full, warm, vibrato-rich tone" to his recitals, recordings, and his performances in works ranging from the thirteenth-century
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wrote, "for many years the lone practitioner of any note" of "a voice type that had never flourished in
America before." Oberlin described himself as a countertenor whose "naturally high tenor voice" allowed him to sing the countertenor repertoire without using falsetto. "At a time when the term
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had assembled," as George
Birnbaum recalled, "I suspect that many people—myself included—date their personal entry into this strange Gothic sound world from the moment they heard Russell Oberlin's distinctive, plangent voice singing in a range which Björling or Pavarotti could never attempt."
87:
came to light. He sang regularly with the ensemble through 1959, and made later appearances as a guest soloist. Oberlin was featured in the roles of
Belshazzar's Prince and the Herald Angel in Pro Musica's acclaimed restoration of the medieval liturgical drama with music
122:, "the rich, beautiful (and not vibrato-free) voice of Russell Oberlin created a welcome alternative for lovers of early and baroque music ... Oberlin altered public perceptions and expanded possibilities for today's countertenors."
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in
January 1958, and was in the subsequent recording as well as a 1965 public television version which became an annual Christmas telecast. "Accompanied by the centuries-old instruments
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research scholar, he lectured widely in the USA and
England. After the CD reissue of nine of his Expériences Anonymes recordings in the
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and
Dowland recitals with the In Nomine Players and lutenist Joseph Iadone, respectively—Oberlin appeared on radio programs including
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720:
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Early Music series—seven volumes of "Music of the Middle Ages" comprising music from
England, France and Spain, as well as his
421:
156:
48:
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622:
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Although the message says "Russell
Oberlin passed away on Saturday evening", it was posted just after midnight Saturday
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469:
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408:
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107:"galvanized the early-music movement in the U.S. and made a star out of the countertenor Russell Oberlin,"
71:
In 1952, he was a founding member of the New York Pro Musica
Antiqua, with which he appeared as soloist in
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and arias by Handel), gave recitals and appeared as soloist with leading orchestras in the US and abroad.
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165:, in 1961, as well as the opera's North American premiere in Vancouver, Canada, and its U.S. premiere at
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found that "Oberlin's voice is like a very fine wine: once tried, nothing else seems quite the same."
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evening. This error is presumably the source of conflicting reports which claim a date of the 26th.
22:(October 11, 1928 – November 25, 2016) was an American singer and founding member of the New York
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At the age of 36, he retired from active engagements to become a teacher, joining the faculty at
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in New York from 1948 to 1951, beginning a career as a tenor even before his graduation.
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in New York as Professor of Music, where he served from 1966 to 1994. As a senior
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Yohalem, John. "Recordings: Russell Oberlin: America's Legendary Countertenor,"
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116:'countertenor' suggested a 'churchy' English sound," wrote Ira Siff in
486:, Boydell & Brewer Ltd., 2014, p. 209; retrieved January 28, 2015.
627:
570:, Medieval Music & Arts Foundation; retrieved December 11, 2016.
533:, The Art Music Lounge, August 7, 2016; retrieved December 27, 2016.
355:"Russell Oberlin, 88, Dies; Led Renaissance of Countertenor in U.S."
180:
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175:(1965). He recorded extensively (including albums of songs by
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Oberlin died in New York City on November 25, 2016, aged 88.
251:, and on another 1962 segment singing an aria from Britten's
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repertory, initially as a "high tenor" but soon taking over
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411:, Metropolitan Museum of Art; retrieved December 17, 2016.
259:, bringing together two telecasts and a 2004 interview.
64:. He sang professionally as a child, and studied at the
26:
ensemble who became the first, and for years the only,
483:
The Supernatural Voice: A History of High Male Singing
30:
in the United States to attain general recognition—in
636:
169:
the same year. Bernstein wrote a part for him in his
376:, Bach Cantatas Website, retrieved December 4, 2016.
390:"Face to Face: Russell Oberlin and David Daniels"
257:Russell Oberlin: America's Legendary Countertenor
210:in interviews about his life and work in music.
672:
556:The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs and Cassettes
545:, World Music Store; retrieved January 15, 2017.
361:, November 29, 2016; retrieved December 4, 2016.
338:, January 15, 2013; retrieved December 26, 2016.
289:, December 5, 2016; retrieved December 15, 2016.
632:New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
219:Oberlin can be seen in a 1962 film performing
623:Memorial at Saint Thomas Church, January 2017
255:; these and other performances are on a DVD,
422:"Legendary Singer's Corner: Russell Oberlin"
277:
275:
245:segment singing an aria from Handel's opera
428:, March 1996; retrieved December 9, 2016.
398:, April 1999; retrieved December 4, 2016.
272:
139:. He sang the role of Oberon (created by
701:20th-century American male opera singers
497:"Royal Opera House Performance Database"
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568:"Russell Oberlin – Bach Cantata BWV 54"
531:"The Greatest Countertenor of Them All"
313:, so is only consistent with a date of
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231:performing the harpsichord part on a
60:Russell Oberlin was born in 1928 in
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543:Russell Oberlin's CDs on Lyrichord
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214:The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs
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14:
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628:Russell Oberlin papers, 1930–2016
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409:"Medieval Drama at The Cloisters"
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46:to the twentieth-century opera
558:, Penguin Books, 1996, p. 395.
448:; retrieved December 28, 2016.
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111:recounted. Oberlin became, as
1:
721:Classical musicians from Ohio
599:Russell Oberlin—a discography
464:. New York: Doubleday, 1997.
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613:Russell Oberlin sings Händel
585:, vol. 69, no. 11, May 2005.
520:(London), December 21, 2016.
7:
10:
737:
696:Musicians from Akron, Ohio
283:"Russell Oberlin obituary"
129:for his 1955 recording of
462:The American Opera Singer
438:"Classical Music: Opera:
253:A Midsummer Night's Dream
235:. He can also be seen on
158:A Midsummer Night's Dream
66:Juilliard School of Music
49:A Midsummer Night's Dream
299:R. Prada (26 Nov 2016).
711:Juilliard School alumni
125:Oberlin was engaged by
716:Hunter College faculty
706:Operatic countertenors
83:parts, as his unusual
237:Classic Arts Showcase
92:, first presented at
16:American opera singer
20:Russell Keys Oberlin
529:Bayley, Lynn René.
516:"Russell Oberlin."
281:Millington, Barry.
208:Millennium of Music
167:San Francisco Opera
440:The Play of Daniel
426:Classical CD Scout
420:Birnbaum, George.
359:The New York Times
330:The Play of Daniel
145:Aldeburgh Festival
105:The Play of Daniel
90:The Play of Daniel
43:The Play of Daniel
24:Pro Musica Antiqua
691:Singers from Ohio
605:Current Biography
554:March, Ivan, ed.
424:, reprinted from
374:"Russell Oberlin"
332:at the Cloisters"
301:"Russell Oberlin"
204:Performance Today
172:Chichester Psalms
127:Leonard Bernstein
40:liturgical drama
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56:Life and career
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188:Hunter College
113:Peter G. Davis
109:The New Yorker
98:Noah Greenberg
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407:Wu, Nancy.
388:Siff, Ira.
233:harpsipiano
229:Glenn Gould
163:Georg Solti
85:vocal range
77:Renaissance
62:Akron, Ohio
675:Categories
582:Opera News
395:Opera News
266:References
239:on a 1962
119:Opera News
653:Biography
518:The Times
502:April 24,
248:Rodelinda
196:Lyrichord
192:Fulbright
147:) in the
73:medieval
639:Portals
618:YouTube
311:morning
305:OPERA-L
227:, with
181:Purcell
177:Dowland
153:Britten
143:at the
136:Messiah
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315:Friday
131:Handel
37:'
504:2013
466:ISBN
221:Bach
206:and
200:Byrd
179:and
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