Bruce Boyce

Bruce Boyce(1910 – 11 May 1996) was a prominent Canadian-born Americanbaritonesinger ofopera,oratorioandlieder,who made his postwar career in Britain and became a professor at theRoyal Academy of Music.

Early career

Born John Bruce McClaren inLondon, Ontario,Bruce Boyce was the son of a Canadian veterinary surgeon. His father was not musical, but his mother sang and gave him early encouragement. At a young age his family moved toSuperior, Nebraska,in the American Midwest, where his singing came to the attention of a teacher interested in drama. He left school at 17 and went toCaliforniato seek his fortune, working in harvesting and other odd jobs. He began to save for study atCornell University,where he began as a medical student; but after some time, while working at all-night car-washes where he sang to himself for pleasure, he transferred to an arts course to major in languages and music. Aware of his fine baritone voice, he joined theCornell Glee Cluband soon distinguished himself as a soloist in university recitals. In his last year he was invited to sing at theWhite House,entertaining presidential guests after dinner. During vacations, he sang in a professional quartet at a mountain resort. His success at Cornell led to his membership in theQuill and DaggerSociety.

In 1934 he won a scholarship to study abroad, and given the prevailing fascist political climate of Germany and Italy decided to study in England, in London, withReinhold von Warlich(also a teacher ofJohn GossandPierre Bernac). Here he was introduced to lieder singing, and began to specialize in it. His first London recital was atGrotrian Hallin 1936, after which he gave recitals every year and made many appearances in oratorio performances and broadcasting. He also gave recitals inThe Town Hall,in 1937 and 1938, where he was when Britain became involved in the war in 1939. He remained in the US, and when the U.S. entered the war he joined theUnited States Army Air Forces.He served the last years of the war in the U.S. Air Transport Headquarters, where he sang very little.

Career recommenced

After demobilization, Boyce decided to base his home and career in London starting with two recitals atWigmore Hallin 1946, after which he was soon re-established as a recitalist and oratorio singer. In 1947, he accepted the invitation to take part in the Italian opera season at theCambridge Theatre.The venture collapsed, but not before he had distinguished himself asDon Giovanni(40 performances), Monterone inRigolettoand Marcello inLa bohème.He then went on to other roles, including Il conte inThe Marriage of FigarounderErich Kleiberat theRoyal Opera House;he sang in theEnglish Opera Group,theLondon Opera Cluband continental Europe. Continuing his oratorio career, he often sang inJ. S. Bach'sSt Matthew Passionand appeared in English music such as theVaughan Williams'A Sea Symphony.

His recordings made a strong impression at the same time, especially in SirThomas Beecham's celebrated versions ofDelius' (A Mass of Life(1953) andSea Drift(1954). He sang in recordings ofPurcell'sBirthday Ode for the Queenand theMonteverdiVespersof 1610 (Oiseau-Lyre), Bach'sMass in B minor(Enescu, withKathleen Ferrier,Peter Pears,Norman Walker,an outstandingHugo Wolflieder record withRobert Veyron-Lacroix's electrifying piano accompaniments (Oiseau-Lyre) and in Baroque works such asLully'sMiserere,andHandel'sApollo e Dafne.But it was increasingly as a lieder singer that he was most highly esteemed. His lieder recitals were noted for their strong and intelligent construction and choice of material, and his singing for their roundness and firmness of tone, the flexibility and nuance of expression, and sureness of touch in mood-depiction. He was capable of bringing to life the wide emotional range ofSchubert's lieder.Gerald Moore,who sometimes accompanied him on the piano, referred to him as "that immaculate artist", describing him as "a large, tall man", and stated that Boyce "is recognised in Germany today asecht deutschwith his superb enunciation and his knowledge of the literature. "In addition to the above-cited Hugo Wolf lieder album, he did two others forOiseau-Lyre,one of Schubert and one ofBrahms.His a strong affection for British composers included not only Delius and Vaughan Williams but lesser lights such asHerbert Howells,John IrelandandIvor Gurney.

He became a professor at theRoyal Academy of Musicin 1956.

He died on 11 May 1996 atBishop Auckland,County Durham, England.

Sources

• D. Brook,Singers of Today(Revd. Edn., Rockliff, London 1958), 33–37.