The Essay: In Their Voices

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The Essay: In Their Voices: Vera Hall

In Their Voices

Vera Hall

BBC Radio 3 - The Essay, In Their Voices, Vera Hall

Peter Brathwaite shares his love of the voice of Vera Hall and why it is so special.

Opera singer Peter Brathwaite invites us in to the iconic yet little-known voice of folk singer Vera Hall, in a personal exploration of what makes it - and her - so special.

Opera singer Peter Brathwaite shares his passion for five very different singers whose voices, artistry and lives inspire and move him, and whose stories he needs to tell.

If you've listened to much pop music this century, you've almost certainly heard the voice of Alabama folk singer Vera Hall - though you might not know it. Brilliantly sampled by Moby in his single Natural Blues, Hall's extraordinary voice was recorded several times by renowned American ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax in the 1930s.  To conclude his series, Peter explores what it is that makes this pretty much unknown woman's voice so particularly powerful, and reflects on why the singing human voice has the capacity to transcend time, space and situation and speak to us so deeply.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Opera singer Peter Brathwaite shares his passion for five very different singers.

Opera singer Peter Brathwaite shares his passion for five very different singers, whose voices, artistry and lives inspire and move him, and whose stories he needs to tell.

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