King's Music

Emma Kirkby - an appreciation

I was going to devote our fiftieth editorial to reflections on what we have been trying to do in the previous 49 issues and suggest more interesting things to put on our front cover. But instead, we celebrate another fiftieth anniversary. It used to be thought unchivalrous to discuss a lady's age. But now we are all equal, so let us join in the congratulations for Emma Kirkby's fiftieth birthday.

Any study of the great voices of the 20th century will have to have a chapter devoted to her - and not just because of her voice, style and intelligence. Before her, there had been no acceptable female sound for early music. I first encountered her at Dartington in (I would guess) 1972, where, like me, she was participating as an amateur in David Munrow's course. It was immediately obvious that here was the voice we had been waiting for - and we really were waiting. Various singers had been tried and found wanting by the handful of groups who were concerned with such matters. Countertenors were in favour, partly because they tended to sing more in tune and with less vibrato than other voices, and also because they were then particularly associated with early music. But they could only manage part of the repertoire.

It took Emma a long time before the astonishing criticism that her voice was characterless or sexless disappeared. (I got into trouble in a previous editorial for trying to discuss the nature of sexiness in a singer's voice.) It is gratifying that what, over 25 years ago, seemed very much a minority taste has now become widely accepted, to the extent of her being ClassicFM Magazine's artist of the year, and she is the first cover-artist for Gramophone's new early music magazine. We are pleased at the success of the two anthology discs that Decca has issued: the later one is reviewed at the end of the May diary section. Our belated birthday congratulations to you, Emma. And perhaps I can speak on behalf of the many groups with whom you have been happy to sing: Thank you for your support - your participation must so often not just have brought artistic credibility but kept the bank manager happy by doubling the size of the audience.

Clifford Bartlett

Suggested Recordings

• The Silver Swan
  Arias and Songs - Decca 4663222

• Bach - Wedding Cantatas
  with the Academy of Ancient Music / Hogwood
  Decca 4559722

• Mozart - Requiem
  Decca 4117122