The English contralto Alfreda Hodgson studied at the Northern School of Music in Manchester. She was mainly known as a concert artist, performing such works as Mahler's 2nd and 8th symphonies, Lied von der Erde, and Das Knaben Wunderhorn; Elgar's Dream of Gerontius, The Kingdom, and The Apostles; Schoenberg's Gurrelieder, the Beethoven 9th, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Mozart's Requiem, Britten's Spring Symphony, and works by Monteverdi, Bach, and Handel. Her operatic roles included Ulrica and Orfeo.
Known for interpretive gifts, Ms. Hodgson worked with such renowned conductors as Klemperer, Giulini, Maazel, Haitink, Ozawa, Rattle, Abbado, Sir Colin Davis, and Zubin Mehta. Her career flourished in Britain, the USA, and Israel.
Alfreda Hodgson passed away in 1992 at the early age of 52.
Ms. Hodgson sings Brahms' Alto Rhapsody, conducted by Bernard Haitink, here.
From one of the few operatic roles Alfreda Hodgson recorded complete:
Alfreda Hodgson - Voce di donna ~ GIOCONDA - w Caballe-Baltsa-Pavarotti-Milnes-Ghiaurov