IVOR LLEWELYN FOSTER
(TRAMROAD, PONTYPRIDD, 1 MARCH, 1870 – PORTH-CAWL, 29 MARCH, 1959)
Born at Tramroad, Pontypridd, on 1 March 1870, he was the son of
Ebenezer Foster and Sarah (née John) of Pen-y-graig, Rhondda, Glamorgan. He
left school at the age of 12, and when he was 16, while working in his uncle
William Richards’s business in Dinas, Rhondda, he began to study old notation
in his spare time and took part in eisteddfodau. He won singing prizes at the
Porth annual eisteddfod in 1892, 1893, and 1894, and twice won the baritone
solo at the National Eisteddfod (Caernarfon 1894 and Llanelli 1895).
Following his success in Llanelli, some of his friends in the Rhondda
arranged concerts for him to raise funds for further musical training. He
entered the Royal College of Music in London in May 1896, where he studied for
four years—voice with Henry Blower, harmony with James Higgs, and opera with
Villiers Stanford. He won a gold medal during his first year, and before the
end of his course, Sir Hubert Parry remarked that he was one of the best
baritones ever to study at the College.
In 1901 he portrayed Don Pedro in a performance of Stanford’s opera Much
Ado About Nothing at Covent Garden. He later sang in the Promenade Concerts
and Boosey’s Ballad Concerts in London, and appeared for 27 consecutive seasons
at the Royal Albert Hall. He also sang at music festivals, including the
Cardiff Festival on three occasions, and made recordings of Welsh songs on the
Winner label. After retiring from public performance, he established himself as
a music teacher.
He married Mary Ann Jones of Tonypandy on 29 May 1897 (she died in
1971). He died at his home in Porthcawl on 29 March 1959 and was cremated at
Llanishen, Cardiff. In 1962 his family endowed £300 to establish memorial
prizes in his name for the Open Baritone and the Baritone Under 25 competitions
at the National Eisteddfod.
TRACKLIST
A perfect
day 2869 Winner
Bird of love
devine 2403 Columbia
Corisande
2379 28878 Columbia
In an
old-fashioned town (Squire) 2403 28875 Columbia
Roses of
Picardy 3158 Winner
Samson
(Handel) How willing my paternal love 66358 Odeon
She is far from
the land 1006 Edison Velvet Face
The Heart
Bowed Down (Balfe) 66656 Odeon
Tired hands
3158 Winner
Two eyes of
grey 1006 Edison Velvet Face
Up from
Somerset 2379 28877 Columbia
When you
come home 2869 Winner
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