The soloist in the forthcoming Oxford Bach Soloists concert ‘The Wages of Sin’ is countertenor William Purefoy. We hear more about his musical career…
Tell us something about your musical background and highlights from your career so far…
Armed with a Last in Mathematics from Oxford University, I have been paid to sing like a girl for nearly 28 years. After three years as a freelance singer I spent two years in Cantabile, some highlights of which were voicing some dancing penguins in a beer advert, singing in the Jubilee Hall at Singapore’s Raffles Hotel and wearing expensive suits in a TV series.
After that I went to the Guildhall for three years, including the Opera Course, and I still study with David Pollard to this day. Since then I have done a wide variety of things, some favourites of which were a wonderful production of Handel’s Serse in New Zealand, a glorious show of Mozart’s Ascanio in Alba at Buxton and a staggeringly brief appearance in Taboo on the BBC.
In addition to singing with OBS last year what other groups do you work with?
Yes, I sang with Oxford Bach Soloists as one of the alto soloists in the Weihnachts-Oratorium on Christmas Eve 2016, which in my opinion was a great concert and a perfect start to the festive season. I also sing with I Fagiolini but mostly I work as a soloist in concerts and operatic productions including many fantastic productions at the Globe, which have always been an amazing experience.
We know that Bach wrote four cantatas for solo alto. What makes Widerstehe so striking and different from the others?
It is decidedly lower than the other three for a start and also shorter but musically speaking it is astonishing the way he uses dissonance right from the start and maintains it for a large proportion of the opening aria. For me it conveys the fact that sin is always there – constantly trying to get the better of you – and you have to resist!
What do you see as the value of ensembles like OBS to the city’s professional performers and to younger aspiring musicians?
I think Oxford Bach Soloists is providing a long overlooked opportunity to capitalise on the wealth of top quality professional musicians and singers available in the area. It therefore also creates a chance for young aspiring performers to be involved in music-making to a very high standard and hopefully encourage them to pursue it as a potential career.
Hear William Purefoy perform in the next Oxford Bach Soloists concert THE WAGES OF SIN at New College Chapel, Oxford on 19 March.
