Denis Barthel

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Denis Barthel (born May 19, 1916 in Camberwell , † September 13, 2008 in Vancouver ) was a British boy soprano . From 1931 to 1933 he succeeded Ernest Lough as principal soloist and head boy of the boys' choir at Temple Church in London , of which he had been a member since 1927.

Life

Barthel began his musical career at St. Stephen's Church in Westminster . His teacher there, Dr. William Bunney, gave him in 1927 at the Sir George Thalben-Ball led, then leading British Boys Choir of Temple Church .

In July 1930 Barthel first screened for HMV , and in April 1931 his first record, See amid the winter's snow / I saw a fair mayden syttin and sing, was released . In the same year he became principal soloist of the choir and head boy (a function similar to the concertmaster in the orchestra). Also in 1931 he sang in the Royal Albert Hall in front of King George V and Queen Mary at the "Festival of Remembrance" , which was broadcast internationally by the BBC.

In 1932, more Barthel records appeared, which were highly praised by contemporary critics. His interpretation of Handel's He was despised was called “by far the best recording by a boy that I can remember hearing ” ( “by far the best boys recording I can remember hearing.” ). 750,000 of his most successful record, "Jerusalem", were sold.

By July 1933, however, Barthel had already lost his soprano due to his voice breaking , and his career as a singer was over. He then worked for an insurance company before embarking on a military career which he finished with the rank of major . In 1969 he emigrated with his family to Vancouver (Canada) and founded Rekord Marine Enterprises Ltd. there in 1970 . , at the turn of the millennium the leading Canadian wholesaler for marine equipment, where he was active until his death. Denis Barthel died shortly after his son at the age of 92.

Denis Barthel was awarded a Member of the British Empire - MBE , his recordings have been republished several times on CD.

proof

  1. ↑ https://www.boysoloist.com/artist.asp?VID=1127
  2. ↑ a b c d e Anonymus - Obituary: Denis Barthel: boy soprano in the Temple Church choir In: The Times, October 3, 2008, accessed August 15, 2010
  3. ↑ Entry in The Boy Choir & Soloist Directory , accessed August 15, 2010
  4. ↑ In: Gramophone , April 1932, quoted from Stephen R. Beet: Denis Barthel (Boy Soprano) ( Memento of the original from September 28, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , thebetterland.org  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.thebetterland.org
  5. ↑ Stephen R. Beet: Denis Barthel (Boy Soprano) ( Memento of the original from September 28, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , thebetterland.org, accessed August 15, 2010  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.thebetterland.org

further reading

  • Stephen R. Beet: Obituary: Major Denis Barthel In: Church Times, Issue 7595, October 10, 2008, online
personal data
SURNAME Barthel, Denis
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British boy soprano
DATE OF BIRTH May 19, 1916
PLACE OF BIRTH Camberwell
DATE OF DEATH September 13, 2008
Place of death Vancouver