James Bowman dead

[Luke]

Just saw this - though it's two days old.

A big part of many great performances//recordings/role creations, as this obituary reminds us.

[vers la flamme]

Sad to hear. Rest in peace to a great countertenor. I'll have to listen to one of his recordings tonight.

[Harry]

I am very said about his death. I literally grew up with him. When I started singing at 17 I think, I progressed in the counter tenor mode, and after several years dropped to Bariton, and now Bass. He was in all aspects an example to me. I remember two recordings in particular. The Messiah on Loiseau-Lyre, together with Judith Nelson, and Emma Kirkby and of course David Thomas. But the most special disc for me is the Hyperion recording with Counter tenor duets, were he was partnered with Michael Chance, with works by Purcell and John Blow. I played that disc at least 30 times or more, and know it by heart. So yes it hurts me deeply to see him go. Just hope there are plenty of Angels welcoming him! O, and lest I forget Vivaldi"s Stabat Mater, was a example for me too, I learned to sing this after 10 years of strenuous effort. Not that I was nearly as good as Bowman though.

[Mandryka]

Does anyone know if he's singing on this?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ5bdq0MBs8

[DaveF]

Does anyone know if he's singing on this?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ5bdq0MBs8

Seems to be difficult to find out, as I can't find anywhere the exact dates of his membership of Pro Cantione Antiqua (neither he nor PCA appear to have a website of their own).  Still, it's a sad loss, and I'm off to enjoy some of his contributions to the Hyperion complete Purcell sacred music set.