Robert Rice died 26th February 2026 RIP dear Berty
Artist Reviews
"I was a bit concerned - in the rehearsal half the choir were in tears & couldn’t sing, they were so moved by your performance of Love bade me welcome - you got so to the heart of the text & the music. Luckily they held themselves together on the night!”
“Eloquent in song and avuncular in speech,”
“Bass Robert Rice, subbing at short notice, gave us a splendidly robust Why do the Nations, full of resonant rage and controlled power.”
"The second half. was given over to earlier music; songs by Gurney, folk-song arrangements by Britten, and Vaughan Williams’s cycle Songs Of Travel, all sensitively sung by baritone Robert Rice....."
Biography
Dear Berty
We are so deeply sorry to have lost you much too young when you still had so much to give to the world of music, as a wonderful baritone, a respected teacher and educator and an arranger. You were such a wonderful colleague, and so helpful to me personally on many occasions, jumping in to save the day no matter where it was in the country you were required and no matter how tricky the travel arrangements might be. I also loved the fact that skiing was almost as important to you as singing!
Rest in Peace!
Photo credit: Ben McKee