Judith Anne Nelson, née Manes (10 September 1939 – 28 May 2012) was an American soprano, noted for her performances of baroque music at the beginning of the "early music revival" of the 1970s and 1980s. Nelson was born in

Evanston, Illinois Evanston ( ) is a city, suburb of Chicago. Located in Cook County, Illinois, United States, it is situated on the North Shore along Lake Michigan. Evanston is north of Downtown Chicago, bordered by Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, Wil ...

. She graduated with a degree in music from

St. Olaf College St. Olaf College is a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American pastors and farmers led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after the King and the Patron Saint Olaf ...

Northfield, Minnesota Northfield is a city in Dakota and Rice counties in the State of Minnesota. It is mostly in Rice County, with a small portion in Dakota County. The population was 20,790 at the 2020 census. History Northfield was platted in 1856 by John W. N ...

in 1961. On August 5 of the same year she married Alan H. Nelson, with whom she moved to

Berkeley Berkeley most often refers to: *Berkeley, California, a city in the United States **University of California, Berkeley, a public university in Berkeley, California * George Berkeley (1685–1753), Anglo-Irish philosopher Berkeley may also refer ...

, California. In Paris, Nelson joined the Five Centuries Ensemble, then in 1976 she was a founding member, with William Christie, and

Wieland Kuijken Wieland Kuijken (; born Dilbeek, 31 August 1938) is a Belgium, Belgian musician and player of the viola da gamba and baroque cello. Biography Kuijken started his career in music in 1952 with the Brussels Alariusensemble of which he formed part un ...

, of

René Jacobs René Jacobs (born 30 October 1946) is a Belgian musician. He came to fame as a countertenor, but later in his career he became known as a conductor of baroque and classical opera. Biography Countertenor Born in Ghent, Jacobs began his music ...

Concerto Vocale Concerto Vocale is a Belgian musical ensemble for baroque music. History Concerto Vocale was founded in Amsterdam in 1977 by the Belgian countertenor and Conducting, conductor René Jacobs. The vocal ensemble has included sopranos María Cristin ...

, the chamber music ensemble which preceded Christie's own Les Arts Florissants in 1979. She also performed with

Christopher Hogwood Christopher Jarvis Haley Hogwood (10 September 194124 September 2014) was an English conductor, harpsichordist, writer, and musicologist. Founder of the early music ensemble the Academy of Ancient Music, he was an authority on historically info ...

’s

Academy of Ancient Music The Academy of Ancient Music (AAM) is a British period-instrument orchestra based in Cambridge, England. Founded by harpsichordist Christopher Hogwood in 1973, it was named after an 18th-century organisation of the same name (originally the A ...

, and

Anthony Rooley Anthony Rooley (born 10 June 1944 in Leeds) is a British lutenist. Career In 1969, Rooley founded and directed the early music ensemble The Consort of Musicke, which continues to be one of the chief vehicles for his inspiration, among many oth ...

Consort of Musicke The Consort of Musicke is a British early-music group, founded in 1969 by lutenist Anthony Rooley, the ensemble's Artistic Director. Members of the group have included such well-known artists as sopranos Emma Kirkby and Evelyn Tubb, alto Mary Ni ...

- in soprano duets together with

Emma Kirkby Dame Carolyn Emma Kirkby, (; born 26 February 1949) is an English soprano and early music specialist. She has sung on over 100 recordings. Education and early career Kirkby was educated at Hanford School, Sherborne School for Girls in Dors ...

. Later she was one of the founding members of

Nicholas McGegan James Nicholas McGegan OBE (born 14 January 1950 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England) is a British harpsichordist, flutist, conductor and early music expert. Biography McGegan received his early education at Nottingham High School. He subs ...

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...

-based

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra (PBO) is an American orchestra based in San Francisco. PBO is dedicated to historically informed performance of Baroque, Classical and early Romantic music on original instruments. The orchestra performs its su ...

, specialising in

Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Handel received his training i ...

and

Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer. Purcell's style of Baroque music was uniquely English, although it incorporated Italian and French elements. Generally considered among the greatest En ...

. In opera she made her debut in

Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

in 1979, in Monteverdi’s ''

L'incoronazione di Poppea ''L'incoronazione di Poppea'' ( SV 308, ''The Coronation of Poppaea'') is an Italian opera by Claudio Monteverdi. It was Monteverdi's last opera, with a libretto by Giovanni Francesco Busenello, and was first performed at the Teatro Santi Giovanni ...

'' under Alan Curtis. She was soprano for Christopher Hogwood's landmark January 1982 recording of Handel's ''Messiah'', recorded in

Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an historic, mainly Gothic church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the United ...

and videotaped by the

BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board ex ...

. Nelson died, aged 72, in Albany, California.

Selected discography

* Mondonville: ''Pièces de clavecin avec voix ou violon''. Judith Nelson, William Christie * Pietro Antonio Cesti: ''Pasticcio''. Mihoko Kimura, Judith Nelson, William Christie * Montéclair: La Badine. Pan et Syrinx. William Christie *

Strozzi Strozzi is an Italian surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Numerous members of the Strozzi family, an ancient later ennobled family from Florence ** Alessandra Macinghi Strozzi (c. 1408–1471), an Italian businesswoman and aristocr ...

: Cantatas. Judith Nelson, Concerto Vocale *

André Campra André Campra (; baptized 4 December 1660 – 29 June 1744) was a French composer and conductor of the Baroque era. The leading French opera composer in the period between Jean-Baptiste Lully and Jean-Philippe Rameau, Campra wrote several '' tra ...

: ''Requiem'', Judith Nelson, Dinah Harris, sopranos, Jean-Claude Oriac, Wynford Evans, ténors, Stephen Roberts, basse, The Monteverdi Choir,

English Baroque Soloists The English Baroque Soloists is a chamber orchestra playing on period instruments, formed in 1978 by English conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Its repertoire comprises music from the early Baroque to the Classical period. History The English B ...

John Eliot Gardiner Sir John Eliot Gardiner (born 20 April 1943) is an English conductor, particularly known for his performances of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. Life and career Born in Fontmell Magna, Dorset, son of Rolf Gardiner and Marabel Hodgkin, Gard ...

, CD

Erato In Greek mythology, Erato (; grc, Ἐρατώ) is one of the Greek Muses, which were inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. The name would mean "desired" or "lovely", if derived from the same root as Eros, as Apollonius o ...

, 1981 report Warner classics 2007. *

Marc-Antoine Charpentier Marc-Antoine Charpentier (; 1643 – 24 February 1704) was a French Baroque composer during the reign of Louis XIV. One of his most famous works is the main theme from the prelude of his ''Te Deum'', ''Marche en rondeau''. This theme is still us ...

: ''Assumpta est Maria, Missa sex vocibus'' H.11, ''Dialogus inter Christum et peccatores'' H.425, Judith Nelson,

Colette Alliot-Lugaz Colette Alliot-Lugaz (born 20 July 1947) is a French soprano, particularly associated with Mozart. Career Born in Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe, she began her musical studies in Bonneville (Haute Savoie), and later in Geneva, with Magda Fonay-Besson. ...

(d), John York-Skinner (hc), Michael Goldthorpe (t), Richard Jackson, Erian Rayner (b), English Bach Festival Chorus, English Bach Festival Baroque Orchestra. LP Erato STU 71281 - (recorded at All Saints Church Tooting Graveney, London 1978). 3 ''Leçons de Ténèbres du Mercredy Sainct,'' H.96, H.97, H.98, 3 ''Répons'' ''du Mercrediy Sainct,'' H.111, H.112'','' H.113, 3 ''Leçons de Ténèbres du Jeudy Sainct,'' H.102, H.103, H.109,

, René Jacobs, haute-contre, Judith Nelson, soprano, Anne Verkinderen, soprano, William Christie, clavecin et orgue,

Konrad Junghänel Konrad Junghänel (born 27 February 1953) is a German lutenist and conductor in the field of historically informed performance, the founder and director of the vocal ensemble Cantus Cölln. Career Junghänel studied at the Hochschule für Musi ...

, théorbe,

, Adelheid Glatt, basse de viole (recorded 08/1977 and 01/1978) 3 LP Harmonia Mundi HM 1005/6/7. 3 ''Leçons de Ténèbres du Vendredy Sainct,'' H.105, H.106, H.110, 6 ''Répons du Mercredy Sainct.'' H.114.H.115, H.116, H.117, H.118, H.119,

, René Jacobs, haute-contre, Judith Nelson, soprano, Anne Verkinderen, soprano, William Christie, clavecin et orgue,

, théorbe,

, Adelheid Glatt, basse de viole. (enregistré le 01/1978 et 01/1979) 2 LP Harmonia Mundi HM 1008/09. Report in 3 CD ( without les ''Répons'' H.114, H.115, H.116, H.117, H.118, H.119), 3 ''Leçons'' ''de ténèbres du Mercredi Sainct,'' H.96, H.97, H.98 et 3 ''Répons du Mercredi Sainct,'' H.111, H.112, H.113, (HMC 901005 1978) - 3 ''Leçons de ténèbres du Jeudy Sainct,'' H.102, H.103, H.109 (HMC 901006 1978) - 3 ''Leçons de ténèbres du Vendredy Sainct,'' H.105, H.106, H.110 (HMC 901007 1979). ''Motets à voix seule et à 2 voix'', (H 21, H 22, H 27, H 127, H 134, H 245, H 273, H 280, H 343, H 349, H 350, H 373, H 423), Concerto vocale,

, alto, Judith Nelson, soprano, William Christie, orgue, Konrad Junghänel, théorbe,

Jaap ter Linden Jaap ter Linden (born 10 April 1947, in Rotterdam) is a Dutch cellist, viol player and conductor. He specialises in performance of baroque and classical music on authentic instruments. He began his career as principal cellist of notable baro ...

, violoncelle, Trix Landolf, Kathrin Bopp, violon- 1 CD - Harmonia Mundi (HMC 901149 07/1984). * ''Music From the Time of Elizabeth I'' Hogwood *''Musique pour la Chambre du Roy'' Hogwood 2CD *

: Alceste &

Comus In Greek mythology, Comus (; grc, Κῶμος, ''Kōmos'') is the god of festivity, revels and nocturnal dalliances. He is a son and a cup-bearer of the god Dionysus. He was represented as a winged youth or a child-like satyr and represents ana ...

. Kirkby, Nelson, Kwella, Cable, Elliott, Thomas. AAM *

Apollo e Dafne ''Apollo e Dafne'' (Apollo and Daphne, HWV 122) is a secular cantata composed by George Frideric Handel in 1709–10. Handel began composing the work in Venice in 1709 and completed it in Hanover after arriving in 1710 to take up his appoi ...

. Nicholas Mcgegan

References

External links

Interview with Judith Nelson
March 16, 1992 {{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Judith American operatic sopranos Musicians from Evanston, Illinois 1939 births 2012 deaths St. Olaf College alumni American performers of early music Women performers of early music Singers from Illinois Classical musicians from Illinois 20th-century American women opera singers 21st-century American women