Kenneth Bowen (tenor)
Kenneth Bowen | |
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| Born | 1 August 1932 Llanelli, Wales |
| Died | 1 September 2018 (aged 86) Cheltenham, England |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Occupation | Tenor |
Kenneth Bowen (3 August 1932 – 1 September 2018) was a Welsh tenor who was Head of Vocal Studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Personal life[edit]
Bowen was born in Llanelli in 1932. His father worked for the Great Western Railway and his mother was a nurse.[1] He studied at Llanelli Boys' Grammar School, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth and St John's College, Cambridge.[2][3] Bowen married Angela (née Evenden) in 1959; they separated in 1995.[4] The couple had two sons:[3] the arts administrator Meurig Bowen[5] and the organist and conductor Geraint Bowen.[6]
Career[edit]
Whilst at St John's College, Cambridge, Bowen was a choral scholar under George Guest.[7] Bowen sang his first Messiah as a soloist in 1954,[8] and also sang Handel's Athaliah in the same year.[7] In 1957, Bowen made his professional debut for the New Opera Company.[7] From 1964 he sang over 15 times at The Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.[7] In 1966, Bowen sang at the Ledlanet Nights Festival in Scotland, and he performed with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra as a soloist on multiple occasions.[1]
In 1969, he sang at the Investiture of the Prince of Wales, and in 1982, he sang at the opening of St David's Hall in Cardiff.[3][8] In 1983, Bowen co-founded the London Welsh Chorale, where he served as conductor until 2008.[3] During his career, he sang at multiple National Eisteddfods as well as with the Welsh National Opera company, The Royal Opera and the English National Opera.[3][9] From 1967 until 1991, Bowen was a professor at the Royal Academy of Music.[7] Bowen had many Welsh students, including Aled Jones,[7] Neal Davies and Huw Rhys-Evans.[4] He retired from singing in 1988.[1]
In his life, Bowen sang Edward Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius over 200 times, and once performed Messiah 17 times in a month. He was also known for performing in the operas The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni, The Abduction from the Seraglio, King Priam, and Death in Venice.[4] He also sang Welsh language songs, and was known for performing the works of the modern Welsh composers William Mathias, Alun Hoddinott, Grace Williams and Dilys Elwyn-Edwards.[4] Bowen also sang for many years at the Three Choirs Festival.[7]
Awards[edit]
Bowen won multiple International vocal competitions, including Geneva, Liverpool, Munich and 's-Hertogenbosch.[7]
Death[edit]
Bowen died aged 86 on 1 September 2018 in Cheltenham, England.[2][3][8]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Obituary: Kenneth Bowen, tenor and regular soloist with the Scottish National Orchestra". The Herald. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Kenneth Bowen - Conductor Emeritus". London Welsh Chorale. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "Kenneth Bowen 1932-2018". Royal Academy of Music. 3 September 2018. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Kenneth Bowen obituary". The Guardian. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- ^ Bowen, Meurig. "Kenneth Bowen - Mae Hiraeth yn y Môr". Sain (record label). Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ^ Mohr-Pietsch, Sara; Bowen, Meurig (19 April 2015). The Choir - The Choral Interview (Radio broadcast). BBC. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Kenneth Bowen". Scottish Opera. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- ^ a b c "Kenneth Bowen, singer and teacher – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- ^ "Y tenor Kenneth Bowen wedi marw yn 86 oed". BBC Cymru (in Welsh). 2 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
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