I wrote: > > For the benefit of any UK vocalisters who may not have seen it > advertised, Tuesday 1.30pm on BBC radio 4 there is a half-hour programme > entitled "Lost Voices" > As promised, if a bit late:
It was a very moving programme. Some once very high-profile singers (all British) were heard speaking, with recordings of their singing voices made when they were at their peak (but, unfortunately but understandably, no recordings of the singing voice in decline) There were also interviews with teachers, doctors, managers, therapists - but, of course, in 30 minutes, it was only able to just scrape the surface of the situation.
All of the situations were different. Some were due to overwork, too soon or in spite of careful timing; some were due to medical reasons, or hormonal reasons, or psychological reasons. Each singer had a story to tell.
A couple of singers who told their stories, notably Rosa Mannion, felt that they had now recovered from their "crash" and were ready to resume their careers.
Norma Burrowes was the most heart-rending. There was real despair in the account, as she voiced the frustration of having ended her career when there should have been so many more years. She felt there was a great sense of shame attached to losing your voice, since the voice is what the singer _is_.
But some have turned to teaching. The tenor, John Wakefield, still has a speaking voice that is painful to listen to: every syllable had a hole in the middle. Yet he seems to have carved out a highly successful teaching career (Sara Clout/Cluderay, are you still getting Vocalist? Didn't he teach you?) thus showing us that you don't have to be able to demonstrate to be able to teach well.
The programme finished with the message that if you have lost your singing voice, you need not feel alone, and gave a help-line number. The background music was the opening section of VWs Serenade to Music with, I believe, Norma Burrowes sounding absolutely ethereal.
I don't know if the BBC has a transcript of the programme available, but it might be worth a try, although of course you wouldn't hear the music.
cheers
Linda
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