Kathleen Ferrier (Contralto) : What is life : Orfeo ed Euridice (Gluck) : 2022 restoration

This aria, from Gluck's opera Orfeo ed Euridice, was recorded by Kathleen Ferrier in 1946 with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent. The text of the aria is :- What is life to me without thee? What is left if thou art dead? What is life; life without thee? What is life without my love? What is left if thou art dead? Eurydice! Eurydice! Ah, hear me. Oh, answer! Oh answer! Thy dear lord am I so faithful, My dear lord am I, who loves thee, Who doth love thee! What is life to me without thee? What is left if thou art dead? What is life; life without thee? What is life without my love? What is left if thou art dead? Eurydice! Eurydice! In my dread anguish nought can aid me, None can comfort. Earth is cruel, heav'n is cold! What is life to me without thee? What is left if thou art dead? What is life; life without thee? What is left if thou art dead? If thou art dead? If thou art dead?" Kathleen was an English contralto singer who achieved an international reputation as a stage, concert and recording artist, with a repertoire extending from folksong and popular ballads to the classical works of Bach, Brahms, Mahler and Elgar. Unfortunately at the height of her fame she developed breast cancer and died in 1953 aged just 41.