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3 unusual facts about Arthur Foxton Ferguson


Arthur Foxton Ferguson

The premiere of the Vaughan William's Two Vocal Duets ("The Last Invocation" and "The Bird's Love Song") in 1904, which were the composers' first settings of Walt Whitman, were sung by Foxton Ferguson and Beatrice Spencer who had also sung the premieres of two of the German duets together.

In 1904 he provided pre-opera lectures for Charles Manners' (1857–1938) Moody-Manners touring company (the larger) for its performances at Theater Royal, Drury Lane lecturing on Charles Gounod's Faust and Fromental Halévy's La Juive, and Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde and Lohengrin.

In recital he also sang the composer's songs "Blackmwore by the Stour" and "Boy Johnny," the latter dedicated to the baritone James Campbell McInnes (1874–1945).



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