As a twelve-year old boy soprano Michael Letchford sang with the Westminster Abbey Special Choir in performances of Bach’s St Matthew Passion, still remembered with fondness and with awe: to be involved with such great music in such a place! A few years later, with a deeper voice, he made his stage debut as Long Tom in Edward German’s Merrie England, followed by Sir Richard Cholmondeley in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Yeomen of the Guard. After winning an exhibition to Guildhall School of Music, at 17 years old, he had two years study with the distinguished English bass Norman Walker.
In 1967 Michael joined EMI and for the next 34 years he was involved with the marketing of classical records for EMI, Decca and finally for Warner Classics International as General Manager, and later as Director of Artist and Repertoire Development. During his years at Warner Classics he was executive producer for many recordings with José Carreras, José Cura, Sir Andrew Davis, Thomas Hampson, Sharon Kam, Sir Neville Marriner, Choir of New College, Oxford, Ettore Stratta and others.
Following a 35 year career selling, promoting and involvement with the making of classical recordings Michael now devotes his time to researching the lives of outstanding singers of the past whose careers and achievement have been lost or overlooked with the passage of time.
Books may also be ordered at stringsmusichorizons.com.
“Setting a standard which will be difficult to match and impossible to improve upon”
Robert Matthew-Walker, Musical Opinion Quarterly
Each volume includes: - A biography, reviews, performance chronology, discography, rare photographs and, where recordings exist, a CD.
All books are available from the author:
Michael Letchford, Goar Lodge, Smith’s Green, Takeley, CM22 6NS
Email mlartists2@gmail.com. Telephone +44 (0) 1279 870590. Mobile +44 (0) 7815 871766
Please request invoice, which will include cost of postage, with your name and address. Payment by Sterling cheque, PayPal or bank transfer. Thank you