In the present era of famous countertenors such as Andreas Scholl and David Daniels, it is hard to believe that just a few years ago, this special voice category was regarded more with respect than admiration. The pioneer Alfred Deller (1912-1979) was nearly alone in his generation. However, with the Early Music movement of the 1970s several younger singers began to make their mark in this voice category.

None has had a more pleasing voice (or longer career) than James Bowman. His impeccable musicianship and especially pleasing alto voice have graced hundreds of recordings for over thirty years. Bowman studied music at New College, Oxford and made his stage debut in 1967 at Glyndebourne in a new production of Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream in the role of Oberon (created for Alfred Deller).

Bowman was poised on the edge of a new era and has been in demand ever since, starting with the Handel revival of the 1970's. Peter Maxwell Davies wrote Taverner in 1972 especially for him and Britten composed The Voice of Apollo for him in his last opera Death in Venice.