Roy Henderson

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Roy Henderson (July 4, 1899 – March 16, 2000) was a popular English baritone in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. He is also known as the teacher of Kathleen Ferrier.

Born in Shropshire, Henderson served in World War I, afterwards entering the Royal Academy of Music. In 1925 he performed in Delius's A Mass of Life followed by Covent Garden appearances in Wagner.

For Glyndebourne, Henderson sang the Count, Papageno, Masetto, Guglielmo and Peachum. He also sang in oratorio, notably Elijah and the St Matthew Passion. In 1938 he was one of the original 16 soloists in Vaughan Williams's Serenade to Music (his is the solo line to the words ‘Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds’).

He retired from the stage in 1952 and devoted nearly all of his time to teaching and writing music.

Interest in him was renewed in 1999, when he celebrated his 100th birthday. There was an album released for the occasion, entitled Roy Henderson: A Centenary Recital.