Alfred Deller

Solo career From this choral tradition, Deller emerged as a soloist, largely as a result of the admiration of the composer Michael Tippett, who heard him while at Canterbury and recognised the unique beauty of his voice. Tippett introduced him to the public as a countertenor, rather than a male alto. He also became better known with a radio broadcast of Henry Purcell's Come Ye Sons of Art on the BBC Third Programme when this station was launched in 1946. He concentrated on popularising and recording the music of English Baroque and Renaissance music by composers such as John Dowland and Purcell.

Style Throughout the 19th century, it was only in the tradition of all-male cathedral choirs that the countertenor voice had survived.

Deller Consort In 1948, Deller formed the Deller Consort, In 1972, the Deller Consort performed for the Peabody Mason Concert series in Boston.

Despite his experience directing the consort, Deller's conducting of chamber orchestras attracted some adverse comment regarding technique.

Collaborations In 1960, Deller sang the role of Oberon in the first production of Benjamin Britten's opera A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Death On 16 July 1979, Deller died after a heart attack suffered whilst working in Bologna in Italy. Deller and his wife are buried in the churchyard of All Saints' Church, Boughton Aluph, Kent.

Family Deller married Kathleen Margaret ('Peggy') Lowe (1913–2006) in 1937. They had three children; the eldest, Mark Deller, became an accomplished singer in his own right and frequently performed with his father, for example on the 1972 album Folksongs. Another son, Simon, trained as a music teacher during the 1960s and taught at Guildford Cathedral choir school, eventually becoming its headmaster.

Honours

Deller was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1970 New Year Honours.

In Canterbury Cathedral, a tablet in the south quire aisle commemorates Deller and his work.

On 31 May 2012, All Saints' Church, Boughton Aluph held a concert to celebrate Deller's 100th birthday. There was also an exhibition of paintings and drawings by John Ward, who illustrated many of the early programmes for the music festival. His first were for His Master's Voice (1949–1954). Then followed 13 years with Vanguard Records (1954–1967), under the labels The Bach Guild in Europe and Amadeo in the US. Then, following a concert in Avignon in 1967 where Deller met Bernard Coutaz, founder of Harmonia Mundi France, Deller spent his remaining years with the French label. Shakespeare Songs 1967 Folksongs 1972 John Dowland Lute Songs (with Robert Spencer, lute & The Consort of Six), Harmonia Mundi, 1978, re-released June 2012, hmGold HMG50244.45