RUSSELL OBERLIN (*1928 in Akron Ohio)

Lyrichord Early Music Series


The photo of Russell Oberlin is taken from the Current Biography Yearbook (1960) , where his early biography (up to 1960) can be found.
LEMS begins with the legendary recordings of the world's foremost countertenor, Russell Oberlin. Oberlin made ten recordings in the late '50's for Beverly Merrill's Experience Anonymes label (acquired by Lyrichord in the early 60's), at the peak of his illustrious singing career. Oberlin's extraodinary vocal talents, combined with his uniquely sensitive interpretive style, brought a level of virtuosity to this repetroire that is still unparallelled. Were these recordings merely showpeices for one of the century's greatest voices though, it would be more than reason enough both for their creation, and for their revival. However, these works are much more than that. They represent the collaborative efforts of some of the most talented musicians and medieval music and language scholars of their time. No expense was spared to make these recordings (recorded in stereo at 30 ips, twice the usual recordings speed, for absolute optimum sound quality), and their accompaniing liner notes and essays. Now, thirty-five years later, completely remastered and available for the first time in the stunning digital sound of compact disc, and the incredible voice of Russell Oberlin is now thrilling new audiences, as well as those who knew his classic recordings in their earlier incarnation.("...the century's finest countertenor, ...a treaure restored."J.F. Weber, Fanfare, September 1994)

Our latest Oberlin releases include a magnificient collection of John Dowland Lute Songs, accompanied in the true Elizabethan performance style by Lutenist Joseph Iadone, as well as the Music of William Byrd with the Inomine Players, directed by Denis Stevens. The Dowland disc recently got four stars from the New York Daily News's Terry Teachout.


Music of the Middle Ages Vol. 1: Troubadour and Trouvere Songs (12th and 13th Century)

Russell Oberlin, Countertenor

Seymour Barab, Viol

These are the songs of the Troubadours, medieval poet-minstrels of Southern France, and their Northern counterparts the Trouvères. During the two hundred year period of their poetic movement, the Troubadours created what is perhaps the greatest repertory of secular song ever produced in Europe. This is a superlative collection of courtly love songs and laments by some of that era's greatest Troubadours, exquisitely performed by the legendary countertenor Russell Oberlin, under the direction of Saville Clark.

Includes extensive liner notes by Saville Clark.

LEMS 8001


Music of the Middle Ages Vol. 2: Notre Dame Organa Leoninus and Perotinus Magister (12th Century)

Russell Oberlin, Countertenor

Charles Bressler, Donald Perry, Tenors

Seymour Barab, Viol

Almost eight centuries have passed since Maurice de Sully, Bishop of Paris, began the construction of the Cathedral of Notre Dame, one of the most magnificent centers of worship ever erected. At the same time, Notre Dame's composer Leonin completed his grandiose plan of providing polyphonic settings for celebration of the major liturgical feast days at the new Cathedral. Thirty years later his successor, Perotin expanded and enlarged on these works. These complex and pivotal compositions are performed to perfection by an exceptional vocal trio that is truly equal to the task, featuring the legendary countertenor Russell Oberlin, Charles Bressler and Donald Perry, tenors, with Seymour Barab viol, under the direction of Saville Clarke.

Includes liner notes by William G. Waite, and full Latin texts with English translations.

LEMS 8002


Music of the Middle Ages Vol. 3: Las Cantigas De Santa Maria - Del Rey Alfonso El Sabio

Russell Oberlin, Countertenor

Joseph Iadone, Lute

The court of Del Rey Alfonso El Sabio (a.k.a: "El Sabio the Wise"), ruler of Spain from 1252 until 1284, was the center of a great output of intellectual and artistic activity. The twelve songs (or "Cantigas") on this recording are some of the fruits of that activity, and certainly must rank among the most beautiful melodies ever written for voice. These works, sung in the original Galician language in which they were written, are exquisitely performed by the legendary countertenor Russell Oberlin, possibly the greatest countertenor of our century, with Joseph Iadone, lute, under the direction of Saville Clark.

Includes extensive liner notes by Saville Clark, Ernesto G. Da Cal, with translations from Galician by Murrey Hargrove with Aurelio M. Espinosa.

LEMS 8003


Music of the Middle Ages Vol. 4: English Polyphony of the 13th and Early 14th Centuries

Russell Oberlin, Countertenor

Charles Bressler, Tenor

Donald Perry, Tenor

Seymour Barab, Viol

Martha Blackman, Viol

England was an intensely musical country during the reigns of Edward I and II,(1272-1327) and a good indication of the incredibly sophisticated formal and stylistic advances of that time, both musical and literary, can be heard in these thirteen examples of medieval English Polyphony. The texts to some of these lively and delightfully intricate motets are sung in Latin, and others in the newly official language of the realm; Middle English.

These rarely heard works are performed to perfection by an exceptional vocal trio that is truly equal to the task, featuring the legendary countertenor Russell Oberlin, Charles Bressler and Donald Perry, tenors, with Seymour Barab and Martha Blackman viols, all under the direction of Saville Clarke.

Includes liner notes by Dennis Stevens and William Bittner, with full Latin and Middle English texts, with English translations.

LEMS 8004


Music of the Middle Ages Vol.5: English Medieval Songs (12th and 13th Centuries)

Russell Oberlin, Countertenor

Seymour Barab, Viol

Very few early English songs survive. Continental modal forms, fused with lost musical structures and traditions of the ancient Celts, combined to create a uniquely English monodic song form. The exceptionally beautiful St. Godric Songs (c.1150), are the earliest known songs in the English language. They are exquisitely performed here by the legendary countertenor Russell Oberlin, possibly the greatest countertenor of our century. This recording also features Seymour Barab on English fretted Viol, both under the musical direction of Saville Clark.

Includes extensive liner notes by Saville Clark and William Bittner.

LEMS 8005


Music of the Middle Ages Vol. 6: 14th and Early 15th Century English Polyphony

Russell Oberlin, Countertenor

Charles Bressler, Tenor

Gordon Meyers, Baritone

Paul Wolfe, Organ

More rare English Polyphony is presented here, again featuring the extraordinary vocal talents of the legendary countertenor, Russell Oberlin and tenor, Charles Bressler, this time joined by Baritone Gordon Meyers, with organist Paul Wolfe. A unique collection the rich and sonorous liturgical music of the late middle ages, featuring fourteenth Century settings of the High, Weekday, and Feast-day Masses, as well as Motets from the Old Hall Manuscript of St. Edmund's College.

Includes complete liner notes by Dennis Stevens

LEMS 8006


Music of the Middle Ages Vol. 7: The French Ars Antiqua (13th Century)

Russell Oberlin, Countertenor

Charles Bressler, Tenor

Robert Price, Tenor

Gordon Meyers, Baritone

Martha Blackman, Viol

The creative energy of the Middle Ages is vividly reflected in the polyphonic music of the 12th and 13th centuries. The long-forgotten art of the Notre Dame epoch once again comes alive in this recording of conductus and motet, which forms a perfect companion piece to the previous Lyrichord Early Music Series recording of the monumental organa of Leonin and Perotin (Notre Dame Organa, LEMS 8002). This rare performance features an exceptional vocal ensemble, including the legendary countertenor Russell Oberlin, Charles Bressler and Robert Price, tenors, baritone Gordon Myers, with Martha Blackman viol, under the direction of Saville Clarke.

Includes extensive liner notes by William G. Waite.

LEMS 8007


John Dowland Lute Songs

Russell Oberlin, countertenor

Joseph Iadone, lute

The English composer John Dowland (1562-1626), left behind some of the most beautiful and distinguished love songs in the history of music. This magnificent collection of lute songs is performed here by legendary countertenor Russell Oberlin, accompanied in the true Elizabethan performance style by Lutenist Joseph Iadone. An unrivaled performance of Dowland by one of the greatest voices of this century. No classical CD collection will be complete without this disc! (That's true!!, AK)

LEMS 8011


Music of William Byrd

In Nomine Players with Russell Oberlin

A richly authentic performance on original instruments by the In Nomine Players, under the direction of Denis Stevens. Features the extraordinary voice of legendary countertenor Russell Oberlin, in another in the series of his classic Lyrichord Early Music Series CD's! Recorded in London. "... the century's finest countertenor, possessed of a true tenor voice, unlike a legion of male altos whose normal range is baritone." J.F. Weber, Fanfare September 1994

LEMS 8014


Adapted from http://www.SkyWriting.com/Lyrichord/lyrearly.html by Andreas Kopp