49 Towncourt Crescent, Petts Wood
An outstanding oratorio singer, acknowledged as one of the England’s finest ever tenors, Heddle Nash became an internationally renowned singer in the inter-war years. He studied in Milan before making his debut there in ‘The Barber of Saville’. He sang in many Italian opera houses before returning to England to sing the Duke in ‘Rigoletto’ at the Old Vic in 1925.
That same year he began recording for Columbia and later for HMV. In 1926 he joined the British National Opera under Sir Thomas Beecham. He became a firm favourite with Promenade Concert audiences from 1927 to 1952, singing first at the Queens Hall and then the Royal Albert Hall.
His debut at Covent Garden was at the International Season of 1929, singing Don Ottavio in ‘Don Giovanni’ to great acclaim. His last performance there was on his Silver Wedding Anniversary, 7 April 1948, singing David in ‘Die Meistersinger’. Between he had sung most of the leading tenor roles.
In 1931 he was chosen by Sir Edward Elgar to sing the part of Gerontius in ‘The Dream of Gerontius’, which Elgar conducted at Croydon. Nash became particularly famous in the role. On his tombstone in Chislehurst Cemetery are carved the opening words of part two of Gerontius; “I went to sleep and now I am refreshed”.
In his latter years he was appointed Professor of Singing at the Royal College of Music both in London and Manchester.
Heddle Nash worked hard, travelling the length and breadth of Britain for operas, concerts, recitals, broadcasts, recordings and oratorios. He was particularly noted for his sweetness of tone, clarity and diction, being able to communicate directly with his audience. Heddle Hash sang his last Messiah only a few weeks before his death from lung cancer on 13 August 1961. His death at the relatively young age of 67 could well be attributed to the privations he suffered fighting in Palestine, Egypt, Gallipoli and France during the First World War. He lived with his family at 49 Towncourt Crescent, Petts Wood for over 30 years.