GRAYSTON BURGESS - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 07/07/1962 - HFSID 80403

GRAYSTON BURGESS
The British choir and opera singer signs this letter to a Mr. Jones
Autograph letter signed: "Grayston Burgess" in blue felt. 7½x5½. Wimbledon, July 7, 1962. On personal letterhead to "Dear Mr. Jones". In full: "Herewith a signed photograph [not included]. Please excuse the delay but I have been away in Germany recording 'Incorranatione do Poppea' for Vox. Unfortunately Glyndebourne could not take a Counter-Tenor as Ottone this year! With best wishes".Grayston Burgess (1932-2019) is an English countertenor and conductor. It was as a countertenor that at the age of 17 he became the youngest choral scholar to be appointed to King's College Choir, Cambridge, in October 1950. In November 1955 Grayston joined the Abbey Choir, and there soon followed his debut at the Royal Festival Hall, singing "Messiah" with John Tobin and the London Choral Society (now the London Chorus), the Handel Opera Society's Royal Festival Hall productions of "Semele", numerous BBC broadcasts, and recordings galore. A former member of the Purcell Singers, Burgess formed the Purcell Consort of Voices in 1963. He also sang with the Studio der frühen Musik and the Musica Reservata Ensemble of Michael Morrow and John Beckett. Burgess premiered compositions including Michael Tippett's "Songs for Ariel". In 2000 he accepted an invitation to help form, and to direct, a local community choir to celebrate the Millennium. After its performance - of Haydn's Creation - this choir continued as a permanent feature in the form of Choir 2000. Toned. Corners rounded. Crease down center. Pencil note (unknown hand) on verso. Otherwise, fine condition.