I am so sorry!! My condolences!! I was just watching Mr. Luxon’s Soldier Tale on TH-cam. I grew up listening to his Papageno in Die Zauberflöte. So sad!
Got to share a stage with him in 1974 (Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall) as a chorus member with the St. Louis Symphony, Walter Susskind conducting, performing Delius’ Mass of Life. He sang Zarathustra so passionately and beautifully. Remained a fan and ardent admirer of his art for 50 years. What a legend.
Benjamin Luxon indeed was a wonderful artist who sang a wide range of repertoire, including one of my favorite renditions of Mahler's "Kindertotenlieder." It is a 1981 broadcast recording with The Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by the great Klaus Tennstedt, which can be found on Mark Hood's TH-cam channel.
My favourite baritone by far. His rendition of "The Floral Dance" is electric. His phrasing - along with that magnificent voice - brings the characters vividly to life, so much so I swear you can visualise the very clothes they're wearing. And the humility if the man: he very kindly sent me a handwritten reply from Paris (on blue hotel notepaper I recall) when I sent him a query. I hope the BBC will soon devote an hour‐long programme in his sweet, sweet memory...
"God Will Watch Over You" we had played at my father's funeral in Truro in 2016. He was born in St Austell in 1937, same year as was Benjamin Luxon. "Gladness will reign supreme after tears and pain; God will watch over you, till we meet again."
One of my favorite albums of all time is The DIcky Bird and the Owl, that delicious collection of Victorian songs & ballads which Ben Luxon, Robert Tear, and Andre Previn recorded in 1973. That (and a second volume some 3 years later) was a total delight, and a real revelation, full of period gems which the three of them delivered with all the charm, character, and sentiment the pieces deserve. The men were in full, beautiful voice throughout, and Previn found just the right mood for each song. Try Luxon's irresistible rendition of "Cigarette" and tell me if you've ever heard a baritone make more beautiful and affecting sounds in the upper reaches of his register. Lovely, lovely singing. I really appreciate this tribute to a world-class musician and artist.
In the late 1970s, I was fortunate to be able to visit the Glyndebourne Festival and sit in on several weeks of rehearsals for their new production of Don Giovanni, directed by Sir Peter Hall. Luxon was the first-cast Giovanni, and what a charismatic and vivid singer-actor he was! R.I.P.
Many years ago, Mr. Luxon came to a concert given in Truro, Cornwall, by an amateur - very amateur - orchestra in which I played. During the interval he sat among the players and chatted with us, showing himself as exactly the friendly and unpretentious person Charles Coleman has described, and even the idiocy of a local reporter who had never heard of him did not spoil his temper. I have not seen any obituaries yet (I am writing on 31st July) but I hope he will be commemorated here in Cornwall as well as nationally and internationally. Meanwhile, thank you, Mr. Coleman, for this tribute.
TH-cam suggested your video… I have no idea what you’re talking about but I’m going to subscribe because I think you’re cute as in good looking. That’s a good enough reason for me.😊
I had the privilege, back in the Seventies, of attending a world premiere that Benjamin Luxon, Georg Solti and the Chicago Symphony gave of a set of Stefan George settings by Alan Stout. His Britten recordings of Tarquinius, Owen Wingrave and the compassionate Novice's Friend (in Billy Budd) are superb.
Ben Luxon has always been an inspiration to me, particularly from my Student years as a Baritone. Of his many recordings, his Chandos English Lieder recordings are, indeed, very fine. Amongst my favourites are the two recordings he made of Walton's Belshazzar's Feast with the LPO/Georg Solti and the RPO/André Previn respectively. Also, his appearance on Alex Gibson's/SNO recording of Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius is noteworthy; as is his impressive contribution to Leonard Slatkin's fine recording of Elgar's The Kingdom with the LPO - and I well remember the concert performance in London's Royal Festival Hall and meeting Ben and Leonard Slatkin afterwards. I also love the Vinyl LPs of Victorian Songs with Robert Tear - who he always sung so well with - and André Previn. The big loss is, I think, that he was never asked to record the Baritone solo part in Vaughan Williams's First Symphony, 'A Sea Symphony' when he was in his prime, especially when so many existing recordings feature weak Baritones. He had such a versatile voice and always brought great character to any rôle that he sung. As I've been studying and listening to a lot of Schubert recently, it's an apt time to reassess his splendid Schubert song cycle recordings. RIP Ben Luxon and thank you for alk the many hours/years of pleasure you've given us all
LOL, I always envy those guys about the stories they can tell. Well, community orchestras etc. also have their stories, but usually there's no private planes involved 😅
Thank you.
RIP Benjamin Luxon.
I am so sorry!! My condolences!! I was just watching Mr. Luxon’s Soldier Tale on TH-cam. I grew up listening to his Papageno in Die Zauberflöte. So sad!
Got to share a stage with him in 1974 (Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall) as a chorus member with the St. Louis Symphony, Walter Susskind conducting, performing Delius’ Mass of Life. He sang Zarathustra so passionately and beautifully. Remained a fan and ardent admirer of his art for 50 years. What a legend.
Benjamin Luxon indeed was a wonderful artist who sang a wide range of repertoire, including one of my favorite renditions of Mahler's "Kindertotenlieder." It is a 1981 broadcast recording with The Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by the great Klaus Tennstedt, which can be found on Mark Hood's TH-cam channel.
New subscriber here. Thank you for letting us know about Luxon. I cherish his "Songs of the Sea" and "Songs of the Fleet".
My favourite baritone by far. His rendition of "The Floral Dance" is electric. His phrasing - along with that magnificent voice - brings the characters vividly to life, so much so I swear you can visualise the very clothes they're wearing. And the humility if the man: he very kindly sent me a handwritten reply from Paris (on blue hotel notepaper I recall) when I sent him a query. I hope the BBC will soon devote an hour‐long programme in his sweet, sweet memory...
"God Will Watch Over You" we had played at my father's funeral in Truro in 2016. He was born in St Austell in 1937, same year as was Benjamin Luxon.
"Gladness will reign supreme after tears and pain;
God will watch over you, till we meet again."
One of my favorite albums of all time is The DIcky Bird and the Owl, that delicious collection of Victorian songs & ballads which Ben Luxon, Robert Tear, and Andre Previn recorded in 1973. That (and a second volume some 3 years later) was a total delight, and a real revelation, full of period gems which the three of them delivered with all the charm, character, and sentiment the pieces deserve. The men were in full, beautiful voice throughout, and Previn found just the right mood for each song. Try Luxon's irresistible rendition of "Cigarette" and tell me if you've ever heard a baritone make more beautiful and affecting sounds in the upper reaches of his register. Lovely, lovely singing. I really appreciate this tribute to a world-class musician and artist.
Fabulous album; one of my favourites, too. Three great artists at the top of their game.
In the late 1970s, I was fortunate to be able to visit the Glyndebourne Festival and sit in on several weeks of rehearsals for their new production of Don Giovanni, directed by Sir Peter Hall. Luxon was the first-cast Giovanni, and what a charismatic and vivid singer-actor he was! R.I.P.
I was in the house when Benjamin Luxon made his Met debut in Eugene Onegin. It was one of the most brilliant performance I’ve ever seen.
Many years ago, Mr. Luxon came to a concert given in Truro, Cornwall, by an amateur - very amateur - orchestra in which I played. During the interval he sat among the players and chatted with us, showing himself as exactly the friendly and unpretentious person Charles Coleman has described, and even the idiocy of a local reporter who had never heard of him did not spoil his temper. I have not seen any obituaries yet (I am writing on 31st July) but I hope he will be commemorated here in Cornwall as well as nationally and internationally. Meanwhile, thank you, Mr. Coleman, for this tribute.
My first exposure to Benjamin Luxon was through a live album he did with Bill Crofut.
TH-cam suggested your video… I have no idea what you’re talking about but I’m going to subscribe because I think you’re cute as in good looking. That’s a good enough reason for me.😊
Today is August 1, 2024.
I had the privilege, back in the Seventies, of attending a world premiere that Benjamin Luxon, Georg Solti and the Chicago Symphony gave of a set of Stefan George settings by Alan Stout. His Britten recordings of Tarquinius, Owen Wingrave and the compassionate Novice's Friend (in Billy Budd) are superb.
Ben Luxon has always been an inspiration to me, particularly from my Student years as a Baritone. Of his many recordings, his Chandos English Lieder recordings are, indeed, very fine. Amongst my favourites are the two recordings he made of Walton's Belshazzar's Feast with the LPO/Georg Solti and the RPO/André Previn respectively. Also, his appearance on Alex Gibson's/SNO recording of Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius is noteworthy; as is his impressive contribution to Leonard Slatkin's fine recording of Elgar's The Kingdom with the LPO - and I well remember the concert performance in London's Royal Festival Hall and meeting Ben and Leonard Slatkin afterwards. I also love the Vinyl LPs of Victorian Songs with Robert Tear - who he always sung so well with - and André Previn. The big loss is, I think, that he was never asked to record the Baritone solo part in Vaughan Williams's First Symphony, 'A Sea Symphony' when he was in his prime, especially when so many existing recordings feature weak Baritones. He had such a versatile voice and always brought great character to any rôle that he sung. As I've been studying and listening to a lot of Schubert recently, it's an apt time to reassess his splendid Schubert song cycle recordings. RIP Ben Luxon and thank you for alk the many hours/years of pleasure you've given us all
@@stevieb6368 I never asked Ben about RVW’s Sea Symphony. He would have been vocally perfect for it.
@@charlescoleman5509 Hi. Yes. My thoughts exactly. I guess he had such a busy Operatic schedule that it probably wasn't possible at the time.
LOL, I always envy those guys about the stories they can tell. Well, community orchestras etc. also have their stories, but usually there's no private planes involved 😅
Charles
I hope you saw this celebration of Ben last month at Wigmore Hall?
th-cam.com/users/livezQhq0A-hu3g?si=0ckRRDgj-QTl0EuY