The English tenor, David Galliver, was educated at the Shrewsbury School. After a period of service in the Navy he went to New College, Oxford, from 1947 to 1950, where he studied languages (French and German). He studied singing with Arthur Kranmer and Lucie Manen. He received his M.A. from the New College Oxford.
David Galliver became a favourite tenor in England, remembered for his performances in the J.S. Bach Passions, Mozart’s operas. He had many appearances in oratorio and recitals, both in England and abroad. He appeared at the Three Choirs Choral Society Festival with The Bach Choir (London) in J.S. Bach's St. Matthews Passion (BWV 244) in 1952-1953, 1958 and 1958-1960, and at the Prom. Concerts & leading in 1952 and 1954-1961. In 1958 he sang in Dreams of Gerontius by Edward Elgar before Pope Pius XII under the direction of Sir John Barbirolli. In 1959 he sang the same work also before H.M. The Queen. He made visits to America for oratorio and recitals in 1960. He had opera appearance at Glyndebourne in 1957.
In mid 1960's David Galliver moved to Australia and became one of the most significant figures in the musical life of South Australia, chiefly during the eighteen years in which he was the Elder Professor of Music at Adelaide University (1966-1984) His first appearance in Adelaide was at the 1964 Festival when the first Australian performance of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem was given by Sir Bernard Heinz. It as one of his great successes. He subsequently gave many performances of the music of B. Britten and Tippett, including the song-cycle Winter Words and the Conservatorium performance of B. Britten's Spring Symphony with David Swale, and also performance of Janácek’s Diary of One who Vanished with Nancy Thomas and off-stage choir.
David Galliver was Associate of the Royal College of Music. He contributed to The Arts, Artists & Thinkers (1958, Longman). In his later years he wrote a pamphlet entitled Church Music in South Wales (1850-1950): the Seatons of Margam and Port Talbot. |