This much-praised profile, seen more than once on BBC2 and BBC4 last year to mark the half-century since the great singer’s demise, is very welcome on DVD. I must declare an interest as I play a small part in it, reminiscing on my unforgotten experiences of hearing the singer at her peak; so does John Steane. We are two of many who recall vividly, even after 50 years, Ferrier’s special qualities as a singer and a communicator.

Among the most telling contributions are those of Britten and Winifred Ferrier, the singer’s sister. Even more perceptive and illuminating are Evelyn Barbirolli – Ferrier was a particular favourite and friend of Sir John’s – and Janet Baker, who never heard her but knows just what an important figure she was when she, Baker, was on a learning curve. Another interesting contributor is Christopher Fifield, editor of the Ferrier letters; so is a little-known soprano who worked with Ferrier early in her career.

The music has been well chosen, with telling moments from Ferrier’s assumption of the title role in Britten’s Rape of Lucretia, recorded in Holland (a set still not officially available – shame on the Britten Estate for banning its issue) and several from more famous interpretations, although inevitably some of these are too short to make much impression. The small amount of dramatisation has been imaginatively done.

There are faults and omissions. Poor use is made of the Canadian party at which Ferrier, presumably a trifle inebriated, let her hair down. Her marvellous parody of The Floral Dance is hardly heard at all, and – as in some other cases – the party snippets are not flagged. I know directors these days are reluctant to give this sort of information for fear it will spoil their precious concept, but it should have been included here. So should identification of her accompanists other than Bruno Walter. The most heinous fault, however, is the use of Patricia Routledge to read the letters. Her actressy voice is nothing like Ferrier’s and jars every time it is heard.

Of the DVD ‘extras’, only the discography is invaluable. The bonus CD includes the well-known tracks you might expect to be chosen, but Decca, which seemed to have improved on its previous Ferrier transfers on last year’s two-CD selection (11/03), reverts here to carelessly prepared material, with much distortion and/or over-loading. Still, as a whole, the project has been lovingly thought through.