“I sing opera, but I am a musician,” she told The Sheboygan Press in 2004. “I teach too many crummy kids who think they’ve got to be opera singers. Opera is such a teeny tiny part in the world of music. I don’t want to be called an opera singer.”
Helen Boatwright sang early music, concert repertoire, opera and gave world premiere performances of some works by Charles Ives. She was a musician who believed that singers had the responsiblity to perform and promote contemporary music.
The great mezzo soprano and soprano Shirley Verrett died on Friday morning at the age of 79 of heart failure after several months of illness. She was a singer who was well known for the intensity of her performances and a voice of striking beauty and flexibility. She was part of a second generation of black opera singers who followed Marian Anderson's breakthrough at the Met in 1955. May she rest in peace.
Mezzo soprano Giulietta Simionato died on Wednesday at her home in Rome. A thrilling singer of the 50's and 60's. She was featured in February's Singer of the Day posts. Go here to listen. Washington Post obituary here.
A great singer from a great era. May she rest in peace.
American, mezzo soprano Blanche Thebom, Star at the Met and Beyond, Dies at 94 New York Times obituary here. Although, probably no longer well known to the current generation of singers, she was the leading mezzo soprano at the Met for 22 years, creating the American premieres of many roles. Below she sings O Don Fatale from Verdi's Don Carlo Here is a lovely tribute with reminiscences from colleagues and friends. Worth the read!
She was also famous for her long hair, which used in many of her roles to great advantage as seen in this photo of Blanche Thebom as Didon in the 1957 production of Les Troyens at the Royal Opera House, London.
For the month of February, I've started a series of posts called "Singer of the Day." Each day features a great singer from the past. So stay tuned. It may be someone you are familiar with or someone who has fallen off your radar for some reason. In some cases, these may be artists with whom you are not familiar at all. I hope the choices will interest you. So far we've had: Feb. 1- Paul Robeson Feb. 2- Ninon Vallin Feb. 3- George Thill Feb. 4- Irmgard Seefried Feb. 5- Mark Reizen Feb. 6- Eula Beal Feb. 7- Richard Tauber Feb. 8- Marian Anderson Feb. 9- Rolando Panerai Feb. 10- Shirley Verret Feb. 11- Gundula Janowitz Feb. 12- Leyla Gencer Feb. 13- Jussi Bjoerling Feb. 14- Lauritz Melchior Feb. 15- Giulietta Simionato Feb. 16- Franco Corelli Feb. 17- Sena Jurinac Feb. 18- Tito Schipa Feb. 19- Alfred Deller Feb. 20- Janet Baker Feb. 21- Kathleen Ferrier Feb. 22- Luisa Tetrazzini Feb. 23,24- Teresa Berganza and Hermann Prey Feb. 25- Carla Gavazzi Feb. 26- Aksel Schiøtz Feb. 27- Fritz Wunderlich Feb. 28- Maria Callas
Now that we've reached the final post, I have to say that the exclusion of many other worthy artists was by no means deliberate. There are so many that didn't make the list and I apologize for that. But I may pick up the theme again another time. So stay tuned.
Maria Anna Sophie Cecilia Kalogeropoulos was born in New York in 1923 to parents who had emigrated from Greece. Her father changed their family name to Callas in 1929. In 1937, after her parents separated, her mother took her to Greece, where she was admitted to the National Conservatoire of Athens. In 1939, at the age of 17, she made her stage debut in a student production of Cavelleria Rusticana as Santuzza.
For me, Callas was an acquired taste. As a young college student, I was introduced to her later recordings first. Some students I knew liked to play her recordings at half speed to show the wobble she had sadly developed in her later years. So while I knew she was a legend, I didn't at that time understand why. It wasn't until later that I discovered the extraordinary ability she had to convey with voice, timbre, color, phrasing attention to text and acting, the depths of the many operatic characters she portrayed. I am always struck by the rightness of her choices, the amount of time she chooses to hold a fermata, the nuanced nature of her character studies and of course the unsurpassed ability she had with the technical demands of the Bel Canto repertoire. Theatrically, she was brilliant. She changed the face of opera for the future. Her characterizations were always layered, multi-dimensional and complex. Her singing and acting, always interwined so organically that you feel this is the only way it can be performed! She is considered one of the greatest singers of the twentieth century. The acclaim is justly deserved.
Only two days left and I'm struggling with whom to include, but any list would be incomplete without Wunderlich. His impeccable singing and artistry, which covered opera, Lieder and standard orchestral fare was sadly cut short due to an accident at the home of a friend where he fell down a staircase.
Mozart, Die Zauberflöte, Tamino's Aria Dies Bildnis is bezaubernte schön
I wonder how many singers and pianists are familiar with Aksel Schiotz. He is well known to connoisseurs of Lieder, though I became familiar with him by chance only seven years ago. In other words, I got through my entire musical training and much of my career without once having heard of Aksel Schiøtz. A real shame because this is a superb singer who sings with such ease, style, clarity and depth of emotion. Really top drawer. We are lucky that his legacy will live on through the recordings.
Schubert Lieder- Die schöne Müllerin 1. Der Neugierige 2. Ungeduld 3. Eifersucht und Stolz 4.Die böse Farbe
Perhaps eclipsed by the fame and stardom of other post-war sopranos such as Tebaldi, Callas, Schwartzkopf,Sutherland and others, Carla Gavazzi was a real talent and had a very unique instrument. Her voice exudes a raw, earthy quality that is quite compelling.
Adriana Lecouvreur, Francesco Cilea Io sono l'umile ancella
Today, we get a twofer because I skipped yesterday. Watch the lovely interaction between Prey and the brilliant Teresa Berganza. There are other examples of this superb artist at this blog if you go to the sidebar under Teresa Berganza!
Sena Jurinac was born in Travnik, Bosnia at that time- Yugoslavia. She sang roles in the mezzo and soprano fachs. Her portrayal of Octavian in Strauss' Rosenkavalier is legendary. Her operatic debut was in 1942 in Zagreb, with the role of Mimi.
In this radiant performance of Dove Sono, her voice is like glistening silver, both bright and round and a perfect vibrato constantly spinning even in the most delicate sounds.
Corelli, in a class of his own! The voice, the technique, the ease, the brilliant timbre, the full sound, the phrasing, the emotion. A force of nature. It's useless to enter the proverbial "who's the all time greatest tenor" discussions. But this performance can easily be considered one of those uniquely great moments in the history of singing.
Lauritz Melchior was born in Copenhagen and became an American citizen in 1947. He started off his career singing baritone and bass. He later switched to tenor and became one of the centuries greatest singers, well known for the heroic tenor roles in Wagner's operas.
Here he is singing "In fernem Land" from Wagner's Lohengrin.
Leyla Gencer (La Diva Turka) was born in Istanbul. She had an illustrious career and was considered the last diva of the twentieth century having performed 72 roles primarily in Europe. She never sang at the Met.
Deh, non volerli vittime", from Bellini's Norma, in a performance from 1965.
Austrian tenor, Richard Tauber was one of the most beloved singers of his time. He made his operatic debut as Tamino in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. He became best known for his performances of operetta and song.
This performance of Schubert's Ständchen- Leise Flehen is delightful, surprising and rendered in a most personal manner that certainly challenges 20th century performance practices. I was thrilled to come across it.
I have to admit that I was completely unfamiliar with this remarkable singer until several weeks ago. The natural beauty of her instrument combined with her natural delivery is spellbinding. Eula Beal had a relatively short lived career, opting to spend her energies raising her family. One can only imagine what her contributions would have been had she continued. Luckily, there are recordings and the footage from the television program Concert Magic. Listen for yourselves!
Schubert's Erlkönig
Singing Erbarme dich/ Have Mercy, Lord from Bach's St. Matthew Passion with Yehudi Menuhin playing the violin solos.
The great Ukrainian bass Mark Reizen sings Tchaikovsky's "Sred' shumnovo bala" ("Amidst the din of the ball"), Op.38, No.3 (text by Aleksei Tolstoi)at 79!
In the midst of the noisy ball, amid the anxious bustle of life, I caught sight of you, your face, an enigma.
Only your eyes gazed sadly. Your divine voice Sounded like pipes from afar, Like the dancing waves of the sea.
Your delicate form entranced me, and your pensiveness, your sad yet merry laughter, has permeated my heart since then.
And in the lonely hours of the night, when I do lie down to rest, I see your pensive eyes, hear your merry laugh...
And wistfully drifting into mysterious reveries, I wonder if I love you, but it seems that I do!
It seems only natural to follow Ninon Vallin with George Thill, who is considered by many to be the greatest French tenor of the twentieth century. He was singing at the same time as Vallin in France. Thill began his studies in Paris and later went to Naples for further training. He returned to Paris and made his Paris Opéra debut in 1924. He would dominate the scene for the next two decades singing over fifty leading roles.
A rare artist! An extremely versatile singer--she sang opera, mélodie and Lieder (in French.) Her secure technique and superb musicianship made her one of the most sought after singers of her generation. Debussy said her voice shimmered like silver. He chose her for the première of his "Trois poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé." In addition to Debussy, Ninon Vallin collaborated with a number of important composers, including Albert Roussel, Reynaldo Hahn, Xavier Leroux, Louis Beyot, Marguerite Béclard D’Harcourt and Joaquín Nin.
Here she sings L'Heure Exquise by Reynaldo Hahn
The white moon shines in the woods. From each branch springs a voice beneath the arbor. Oh my beloved…
Like a deep mirror the pond reflects the silhouette of the black willow where the wind weeps. Let us dream! It is the hour…
A vast and tender calm seems to descend from a sky made iridescent by the moon. It is the exquisite hour!
Since Febrauary is Black History month, I thought it fitting to start with the great American bass-baritone, actor, lawyer, social activist and athelete, Paul Robeson.
Robeson was a twentieth century Renaissance man. His talent, intellect and political activism made him one of the most powerful figures of his time and American history.
"All men all brothers because of their music."
"No pretty songs, no pretty songs, gentlemen. Time for some full citizenship."
Mephistopheles' Song in Auerbach's Cellar (Song of the Flea) Pesnya Mefistofelya o blokhe by Mussorgsky 1879 1879 It is based on Faust: The First Part of the Tragedy (1808) by Goethe, translated by Strugovshchikov
English translation:
There once was a king who had a large flea whom he loved not a bit less than his very own son. He called his tailor and the tailor came directly; "Here - make clothing for this knight, and cut him trousers too!"
In silk and satin was the flea now made up; he had ribbons on his clothing, and he had also a cross there, and had soon become a minister and had a large star. Then his siblings became great lords and ladies of the court as well.
And the lords and ladies of the court were greatly plagued; the queen and her ladies-in-waiting were pricked and bitten, and they dared not flick or scratch them away. But we flick and crush them as soon as one bites!
Here is another example of the rare and beautiful instrument of this remarkable man.
I've decided to begin a new tradition. For the month of February, I'm going to start a series of posts called "Singer of the Day." Each day will feature a great singer from the past. So stay tuned. It may be someone completely familiar to you music mavens, but it may also be someone who has fallen off your radar for some reason. Or these may be artists who you are not at all familiar with. I hope the choices will interest you.
Welcome to SongLiedMélodie. This blog was created to provide a place to discuss the music and texts of vocal performances of various styles and languages. All materials found here are for educational purposes only. For the time being, the topics are organized according to geographic locations. The first topic was The Music of Spain and South America. The Links and Labels below should be helpful in finding what you are looking for. Enjoy.
