Simon Ponsford
Artist Reviews
“...enjoy the effortlessly beautiful voice of Counter-Tenor, Simon Ponsford...”
“...Lucid-toned countertenor Simon Ponsford sought out the isolated heart of He Was Despised...”
“...countertenors Tim Morgan and Simon Ponsford (who both nearly stole the show, Ponsford in ‘’Tis Nature’s Voice’ and Morgan with David Blackadder’s valveless Baroque trumpet in Handel’s ‘Eternal Source of Light Divine’)...”
"Mr. Ponsford reaches the pinnacle of his achievements on this disc in ‘In darkness let me dwell,’ in which his ethereal tone—not so much the voice of a broken artist as of threatened Art itself—illuminates the melody with an autumnal radiance. Uttered with the simplicity of a soul that can perceive no other resolution, the statements of ‘O let me living, living die’ pass from the hearts of the composer and singer into that of the listener."
".....Full fathom five, a song that brings the best from Simon Ponsford with long pure lines in this, another beautifully simple setting and Come, heavy sleep where this countertenor shows his pure beauty of voice with a natural character that gives such a Jacobean period sound to his voice. Time does indeed stand still......"
"On Jehovah and the real king’s side came two memorable performances: Abner, the loyal Captain of the Guard (Nicholas Morton, bass) and Josabeth’s loyal ally, the priest Joad (Simon Ponsford, countertenor). Joad’s first aria, gentle and pathos-ridden, with lovely, almost chromatically building strings, made an exquisite start. He plays a substantial role, at times almost like a narrator. “Jerusalem, thou shalt no more” had an especially delicious, unusual orchestral prelude; “What sacred horrors” acquired an unnerving, eerie feel. Ponsford’s voice was pure delight: warmly coloured, rich in character, displaying poignancy, concern, and marked wisdom, too."
Biography
Simon Ponsford (countertenor) is a soloist and recitalist, and sings with several international ensembles – most frequently with the Monteverdi Choir, The Sixteen and The Tallis Scholars. He has been a soloist with choral societies and chamber choirs across the UK and abroad, in venues including St John’s Smith Square, Winchester Cathedral, the Royal Festival Hall and Hong Kong City Hall. Simon is a Lay Vicar in the choir of Westminster Abbey; a role that combines daily service singing with performing at significant national occasions. He was privileged to be part of the choir for both the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the Coronation of King Charles III.
Coming from a musical family in Gloucestershire, Simon started singing in Gloucester Cathedral Choir. He went on to study at King’s College, Cambridge, reading for a degree in English Literature whilst being a Choral Scholar in King’s world-famous chapel choir. From Cambridge Simon moved to Windsor Castle and spent five years singing in the
choir of St George’s Chapel before moving to Westminster in 2013.
Whilst at Windsor, Simon undertook a postgraduate MA at the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied with Michael Chance. On graduating with Distinction, he was awarded the S & M Eyres Wilson Scholarship and a Diploma of the Royal Academy of Music for outstanding performance.
Performance highlights include taking part in the Monteverdi Choir’s ground-breaking tour of Bach’s Matthäus-Passion performed from memory, giving a performance of Handel’s Athalia in the Sheldonian Theatre, where it was first performed, with the Oxford Bach Choir, and making his international solo debut singing Handel’s Israel in Egypt with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. On the opera stage, Simon has sung in the chorus for productions of Handel’s Semele in venues including La Scala, Milan, and a series of performances of Glück’s Orphee et Euridice at the Royal Opera House.
Simon has also had a CD of Elizabethan and Jacobean songs, recorded with his father David playing the organ and virginals, released to critical acclaim on Nimbus Records.
For Oratorio and concert repertoire please scroll down:
| Oratorio and concert rep | |
| Composer | Work |
| Bach J.S. | B Minor Mass |
| A Major Mass | |
| G Minor Mass | |
| Magnificat | |
| St John Passion | |
| St Mark Passion | |
| St Matthew Passion | |
| Various cantatas | |
| Weihnachts Oratorium | |
| Bernstein | Chichester Psalms |
| Buxtehude | Jubilant Deo |
| Charpentier | Filius Prodigus |
| Handel | Athalia |
| Chandos Anthems | |
| Dixit Dominus | |
| Israel in Egypt | |
| Jephtha | |
| Messiah | |
| Saul | |
| Semele | |
| Haydn | Maria Theresa Mass |
| Nelson Mass | |
| Monteverdi | Vespers |
| Mozart | Coronation Mass |
| Requiem | |
| Vespers | |
| Pärt | Passio |
| Purcell | Jubilate |
| Ode for St Cecilia’s Day | |
| Te Deum | |
| The Fairy Queen | |
| Scarlatti | Dixit Dominus |
| Tunder | Salve mi Jesu |
| Vivaldi | Gloria |