Singing Historian : A memoir Edmund Bohan

Discover the captivating memoir, *Singing Historian*, by Edmund Bohan, a multi-talented historian, biographer, and internationally renowned singer. This engaging narrative offers a unique glimpse into the life of a man whose career spans multiple disciplines, weaving together the threads of history, music, and personal anecdotes. With 228 pages filled with rich storytelling, this memoir chronicles Bohan's remarkable journey from his childhood in wartime Invercargill through his transformative years at Christchurch Boys' High School and Canterbury University. A memoir of a life well-lived, *Singing Historian* features amusing pen-portraits of a variety of memorable personalities from the realms of music, literature, and academia. Bohan's light-hearted yet insightful reflections will resonate with anyone interested in the arts, biography, or New Zealand's cultural history. With 18 published works under his belt, Bohan's deep commitment to his craft shines through as he shares his experiences as a choral singer, opera performer, and historical writer. From performances with Benjamin Britten’s English Opera Group to teaching moments that shaped his understanding of music, this book is an essential read for fans of memoirs that celebrate artistic endeavors and historical insights. Dive into the life of Edmund Bohan and explore the intersection of music and history through this evocative memoir. Perfect for readers interested in historic biographies, NZ history, and the performing arts.

Author: Edmund Bohan Publisher: Canterbury University Press


Pages: 228
Publication Date: 01-06-2012

Historian, biographer, novelist, broadcaster, lecturer and international singer Edmund Bohan is the author of 18 books, including biographies of Edward Stafford, James Edward FitzGerald and Sir George Grey; the general histories of New Zealand: The Story So Far and Climates of War: Conflicts in New Zealand 1859-1869; and the O'Rorke series of historical novels. The Stafford and Grey biographies were Montana Book Award finalists. During his long singing career - much of it based in Britain - he sang more than 170 different major choral, operatic and orchestral works, and broadcast regularly. This light-hearted memoir, richly anecdotal and enlivened with pen-portraits of memorable personalities - musical, literary and academic - chronicles with wit and a sharply observant eye a lifetime of achievement as singer and writer. Following childhood in wartime Invercargill inside a close-knit family, he enjoyed schooldays at Christchurch Boys' High School and defining years at Canterbury University. After teaching for a period he left for Sydney and then London, establishing a career as a versatile 'general practitioner' of singing, mainly in concerts but enjoying memorable times with Benjamin Britten's English Opera Group and Kent Opera. A tour home with the NZSO prompted a permanent return as the end of 1987, where he resumed his 19th-century studies. He has concentrated on writing since then; though he continued to play character roles for Canterbury Opera, Wellington City Opera and the State Opera of South Australia for another dozen years. A dedicated family man, he now tends his Opawa garden - and plans new projects.