Background
Nelson, Judith was born on September 10, 1939. Daughter of Virgil D. Nelson and Genevieve W. Manes.
Nelson, Judith was born on September 10, 1939. Daughter of Virgil D. Nelson and Genevieve W. Manes.
She graduated with a degree in music from Saint Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota in 1961.
In Paris, Nelson joined the Five Centuries Ensemble, then in 1976 she was a founding member, with, and Wieland Kuijken, of René Jacobs" Concerto Vocale, the chamber music ensemble which preceded Christie"s own Les Arts Florissants in 1979. She also performed with Christopher Hogwood’s Academy of Ancient Music, and Anthony Rooley"s Consort of Musicke - in soprano duets together with Emma Kirby. In opera she made her debut in Brussels in 1979, in Monteverdi’s L"incoronazione di Poppea under Alan Curtis.
She was soprano for Christopher Hogwood"s landmark 1980 recording of Handel"s Messiah, recorded in Westminster Abbey and videotaped by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Nelson died, aged 72, in Albany, California.
Mihoko Kimura, Charpentier: Salve Regina AAM.
Later she was one of the founding members of Nicholas McGegan"s San Francisco-based Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, specialising in Handel and Purcell.
Married Alan H. Nelson in 1961.