Opera News articles from April 1999

Opera News archives from April 1999

OPERA WATCH.
April 1, 1999... New York to get exciting new hall, Pads offers a new Platee, veteran tenor Kraus in Berlin CHANGES AT CARNEGIE CARNEGIE HALL announced the appointment of FRANZ XAVER OHNESORG as its new executive and artistic director, succeeding the...

ON THE BEAT.(opera singers are profiled)
April 1, 1999... Jennifer Larmore and Brian Asawa are in the A-team cast of the Met's Giulio Cesare For Handel-Lovers, the Net's current revival of Giulio Cesare may be the most eagerly awaited event of the New York season. When the opera had its...

TV GOES DIGITAL.(digital television)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1999... Television as we know it is officially doomed. The Federal Government has decreed its demise. In its place, digital television -- DTV, for short -- will set new standards for picture quality. According to the Federal Communications...

SOUNDBITES: John McVeigh.
April 1, 1999... One of the highlights of Glimmerglass Opera's Partenope last summer was John McVeigh's Emilio -- a sinister but sexy baroque rebel in black leather and a tank top. With his boyish good looks, trim physique and flexible lyric tenor, McVeigh...

Southern Revival.(opera Susannah)
April 1, 1999... Throughout his career, Carlisle Floyd has sidestepped the Northeastern musical establishment and quietly, steadily practiced his craft. Today, this soft-spoken Southern gentleman seems a little surprised that he's become the grand old man of...

My Susannah.(Review)
April 1, 1999... It is pure coincidence that my youngest granddaughter and Carlisle Floyd were born under the same Zodiac sign. It is no coincidence that she is named Susannah. Ever since I first heard Carlisle's brilliant music-drama, when Phyllis Curtin...

In the Beginning.(opera Susannah)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1999... The continuing popularity of Carlisle Floyd's Susannah is no mystery for Phyllis Curtin, who created the title role. "It is as direct, psychologically, as it can be," says the soprano. "It is wonderfully inexorable." Typically for an...

Song of the South.(Review)
April 1, 1999... It seems that the South has indeed risen again -- at least in the world of opera. With the Metropolitan Opera House's first production of Carlisle Floyd's Susannah being broadcast around the world this month, following the recent PBS telecast...

IT'S IN THE CARD.(composer Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky's operas based on author Alexander Pushkin)
April 1, 1999... LIFE'S A GAMBLE -- AND ACCORDING TO TCHAIKOVSKY, YOU CAN'T WIN Three of Tchaikovsky's operas -- Eugene Onegin (1879), Mazeppa (1884) and The Queen of Spades (1890) -- are based on works of Pushkin. All three suffered deep change in the...

PHANTOM LADY.(opera "The Queen of Spades")
April 1, 1999... The figure of The old countess gives The queen of spades ITS MYSTERIOUS EDGE All across Russia this year, the 200th birth anniversary of Alexander Pushkin is being celebrated. But although Pushkin (1799-1837) is considered by many to be...

QUEEN ELISABETH.(opera singer Elisabeth Soderstrom)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1999... La Soderstrom returns to the Met In THE QUEEN OF SPADES Elisabeth Soderstrom has always been the kind of delightful, buoyant performer who jolted opera audiences awake. In a variety of soprano roles, from Mozart to Britten to Janacek to...

Baroque Renegade.(conductor John Nelson)(Interview)
April 1, 1999... CONDUCTOR JOHN NELSON HAS EARNED ADMIRERS AND ENEMIES ALIKE BY LENDING A MODERN SENSIBILITY TO EARLY WORKS Great music and John Nelson go together. He's not the kind of conductor to be lionized for a dynamic personal mystique or...

Face to Face: Russell Oberlin and David Daniels.(countertenors)(Interview)
April 1, 1999... Once an oddity on the opera stage, countertenors are now turning up everywhere. David Daniels, today's hottest star countertenor, discusses the high end of singing with elder statesman Russell Oberlin. Ira Sift, noted New York voice teacher and...

METROPOLITAN OPERA BROADCASTS.(includes related articles on the cast)
April 1, 1999... For Placido Domingo, who has done it more than 100 times, unveiling a new role might seem old hat; for the rest of the opera world, the chance to experience his artistry in a new context is always a big event. He considers his latest venture,...

OFFENBACH: Orphee aux Enfers.(Review)
April 1, 1999... OFFENBACH: Orphee aux Enfers [] Dessay Podles, Petibon, J. Smith, Gem, Pruvot; Naouri, Beuron, Fouchecourt, Lescroart, Cole; Lyon Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Grenoble Chamber Orchestra, Minkowski. Text & translations. EMI 56725-2 Jacques...

BORTZ: Marie Antoinette.(Review)
April 1, 1999... BORTZ: Marie Antoinette [] K. Nilsson, Eklof, Hallenberg; Persson, Zetterstrom, S. Smith; Folkoperan Chorus Orchestra, Nerbe. Swedish libretto only. Caprice 22074 (3) (Allegro) Folkoperan in Stockholm was the scene of live-performance...

PREVIN: A Streetcar Named Desire.(Review)
April 1, 1999... PREVIN: A Streetcar Named Desire [] Fleming, Futral, Forst; Gilfry, Griffey, M. Lord, Lentz; Orchestra of the San Francisco Opera, Previn. Text. DG 289 459 366-2 (3) Music is central to Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire....

POULENC: Les Mamelles de Tiresias; Le Bal Masque.(Review)
April 1, 1999... POULENC: Les Mamelles de Tiresias; Le Bal Masque [] Bonney, Sakamoto; Fouchecourt, Holzmair, Lafont, Oswald, Clark, Gietz, Griffey; Tokyo Opera Singers (Tiresias); Holzmair (Masque); Saito Kinen Orchestra, Ozawa. 1996. Texts & translations....

LULLY: Acis et Galatee.(Review)
April 1, 1999... LULLY: Acis et Galatee [] Gens, Masset, Delunsch; Fouchecourt, Crook, Naouri, Del Pozo; Les Musiciens du Louvre et Choeur, Minkowski. Text & translations. Deutsche Grammophon Archiv 453 497-2 Conceived and composed in 1686 as a staged...

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: A Cotswold Romance; Death of Tintagiles.(Review)
April 1, 1999... VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: A Cotswold Romance; Death of Tintagiles [] Mannion; Randle, Brook; London Philharmonic Choir; London Symphony Orchestra, Hickox. Texts & translations. Chandos 9646 A Cotswold Romance, recorded here for the first time, was...

"HANDEL OPERATIC ARIAS".(Review)
April 1, 1999... David Daniels [] "HANDEL OPERATIC ARIAS" from Ariodante, Giulio Cesare, Rinaldo, Rodelinda, Serse, Tamerlano. Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Norrington. Virgin Veritas 5 45326 2 "His throat is the most perfect instrument in the...

"SINGS VERNON DUKE".(Review)
April 1, 1999... Dawn Upshaw [] "SINGS VERNON DUKE" Songs with lyrics by Ogden Nash, Howard Dietz,Vernon Duke, Hamilton Aide, John Latouche, Ira Gershwin and E. Y. Harburg. With Hersh, Pizzarelli, Rodney Bennett; E. Stern, conductor. Texts. Nonesuch 79531 ...

"KALINKA".(Review)
April 1, 1999... Dmitri Hvorostovsky [] "KALINKA" Russian folk songs. St. Petersburg Chamber Choir, Korniev. Texts & translations. Philips 456399-2 The problem with most folk music, Tom Lehrer famously said, is that "it was written by the people." Be that...

"ON THE MUSE'S ISLE".(Review)
April 1, 1999... Daniel Taylor [] "ON THE MUSE'S ISLE" Vocal and instrumental works of Henry Purcell. Da Sonar. Texts included. ATMA ACD 2 2133 Countertenor Daniel Taylor has a beautiful voice with a sweet, crystalline tone, plus an innate musicality that...

"WITH FLOWERS CROWNED".(Review)
April 1, 1999... Maria Zouves [] "WITH FLOWERS CROWNED" Greek Songs. Goodin (mandolin), Lingen (guitar), Paul (piano). Texts & translations. VAI Audio VAIA 1167 This collection is a worthy attempt to rescue modern Greek song from the realm of incessant...

ROSSINI: Il Barbiere di Siviglia.(Review)
April 1, 1999... ROSSINI: It Barbiere di Siviglia [] Berganza; Pallini, Benelli, Trimarchi, Montarsolo, Mariotti; Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro La Fenice, Gracis. Notes, no texts. Mondo Musica 10311 (2) While this digitalized release of a live Venice...

VERDI: Rigoletto.(Review)
April 1, 1999... VERDI: Rigoletto [] Ferraris; Formichi, Taccani; La Scala Orchestra and Chorus, Somma. No texts. Preiser 89234 (2) This first-ever recording of Rigoletto, rarely heard since it was issued in 1916, is so obscure that it's often left out of...

"AN AMERICAN SOPRANO".(Review)
April 1, 1999... Ellen Faull [] "AN AMERICAN SOPRANO" Arias by Verdi, Puccini, Korngold et al. Sylvan Levin Opera Concert Broadcasts, Levin/Buckley. 1951-52. No texts or translations. VAIA 1173 What a shame that Ellen Faull's discography is not larger! A...

"THE BBC RECITALS".(Review)
April 1, 1999... Joan Sutherland [] "THE BBC RECITALS" Arias and songs by J. S. Bach, Handel, Rossini, Delibes et al. Bonynge (piano and harpsichord). 1958, 1960, 1961. Bella Voce BLV 107.005 (Qualiton, dist.) The prize in this collection of Sutherland...

"THE COMPLETE 1902 G&T, 1920 PATHE AND `MAPLESON CYLINDER' RECORDINGS".(Review)
April 1, 1999... Emma Calve [] "THE COMPLETE 1902 G&T, 1920 PATHE AND `MAPLESON CYLINDER' RECORDINGS" Arias, songs and ensembles. Additional recordings by Cecile Marguillier, soprano. No texts. Marston 52013-2 (2) French soprano Emma Calve (c.1858-1942)...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: AMSTERDAM.(Review)
April 1, 1999... If Peter Sellars enjoys getting booed, he must have been happy after the first night (Nov. 4) of The Rake's Progress in the Muziektheater, because the generally tolerant Dutch public made it clear that it did not like what it had seen. Not that...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: LONDON.(Review)
April 1, 1999... English National Opera chose the original (seven scenes, not including the Polish act) version of Boris Godunov for its new production (opened Nov. 11). In Francesca Zambello's staging, a strong sense of theater and sterling individual...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: MELBOURNE.(Review)
April 1, 1999... Opera Australia is in deep financial trouble -- again. Past mistakes are catching up with the company, and future ones loom on the horizon, with the current Melbourne season reflecting the grim picture only too well. Opening with the popular La...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: NEW YORK CITY.(Review)
April 1, 1999... Three hundred fifty-nine performances after making his debut with the Metropolitan Opera (in La Boheme), Luciano Pavarotti was honored with a Thirtieth Anniversary Gala on November 22. Though well prepared and planned -- audience members flew...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: OMAHA.(Review)
April 1, 1999... That venerable theme of American literature -- noble naif meets sophisticate -- is at the heart of Eric Hermannson's Soul, commissioned by Opera Omaha and unveiled in November to mark the company's fortieth anniversary. With a libretto by Chas...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: WASHINGTON, D.C.(Review)
April 1, 1999... A new Simon Boccanegra opened at Washington Opera on November 6. While John Gunter's raked stage correctly aimed at Genoa's hilly terrain, it seemed more evocative of a city struck by an earthquake; this skewed vision was backed by a vintage,...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: DALLAS.(Review)
April 1, 1999... Dallas Opera's 1998-99 season opened on November 1 with Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera, which hadn't been staged in the Music Hall at Fair Park in twenty years -- and never before in Verdi's intended Swedish locale. Gustav III's court came to...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: MIAMI.(Review)
April 1, 1999... For the opening of its fifty-eighth season, on November 18, at Dade County Auditorium, Florida Grand Opera revived Maurice Sendak's 1981 production of Die Zauberflote, first presented by the company in 1993. The designer's cutesy, cartoonish...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: AUSTIN.(Review)
April 1, 1999... Austin Lyric Opera opened its 1998-99 season with perhaps its finest presentation yet -- a splendid Otello, seen November 13 at the Bass Concert Hall. Built in Austin by ALO and Minnesota Opera, Christopher McCollum's seemingly solid sets...

A Season of Opera.(Review)
April 1, 1999... A Season of Opera by Father M. Owen Lee Univ. of Toronto Press, 264 pp. $30 Father M. Owen Lee is an erudite classicist, a popular lecturer and a passionate opera-lover. In A Season of Opera, his new collection of essays, he holds all...

Lenya: The Legend A Pictorial Autobiography.(Review)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1999... Lenya: The Legend A Pictorial Autobiography edited by David Farneth Overlook Press, 254 pp. $45 This handsome volume, published to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lotte Lenya's birth, charts the singer's often tumultuous life through...

OBITUARIES.(Judith Arron; Earl Kim; William Olvis; Robert Shaw; Robert Wolansky)(Obituary)
April 1, 1999... JUDITH ARRON, Seattle, WA, December 8, 1942--Denver, CO, December 18, 1998 Judith Arron, executive and artistic director of Carnegie Hall, died at the Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver of breast cancer, which she had battled for...

ROMANTIC REALIST.(Obituary)
April 1, 1999... AUGUST EVERDING BOTTROP, GERMANY, OCTOBER 31, 1928 -- MUNICH, JANUARY 27, 1999 August Everding, who died at seventy in a Munich hospital after what press accounts termed "a long illness," may have been the last progressive...

La Morte e le Tasse.(satire)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1999... Dramma giocoso in tre atti da Anne Midgette SYNOPSIS: Prologue: The Prologue enters ("Si puo?"), bearing a large hourglass and a marked "April," and sings that nothing is certain, even in opera, but death and taxes. ACT I:...