Friday, February 10, 2017

Gedda, Part two of tribute

Another group of emotional images. DON PASQUALE, Dec. 1978, Gabriel Bacquier as Pasquale, Gedda as Ernesto
Ernesto with Norina, Beverly Sills, also Dec. 1978
FAUST, Dec. 1972, title role
FAUST, final scene with Colette Boky as Marguerite
VESPRI, Jan. 1974, Caballe as Helene and Gedda as Henri
TRAVIATA  Oct. 1983, Gedda as Alfredo, Kiri TeKanawa as Violetta
PIQUE DAME Dec. 1972, Gedda as Gherman and Regina Resnik as the Countess
These are the earliest images in my Library, actual performance Oct. 17, 1963, shot with a little Petri camera, a split frame camera so that each picture was 1/2 of the frame, no way to know what was being captured. The real point and shoot, no help from camera. I have no idea why I've kept these films, lots of lint and scratches, but emotionally they rate. Anna Moffo was Manon. Gedda as DesGrieux. The Count DesGrieux was Giorgio Tozzi. Lescaut was Frank Guarrera. Each of the two strips are really two separate images, but this was the only way they could be scanned.
Dec. 10, 1972, a famous Swedish restaurant. I don't remember who said I should do this. I've scanned the wide shot to show smoking permitted in restaurant.  I think this is Nicolai with his wife.
All the images are meant as an emotional gift for all the Gedda fans.
RIP, sweet man.

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Nicolai Gedda RIP

Into the files again with a heavy heart. Another elegant singer has died, wonderful Nicolai Gedda, always a joy to hear and watch. It's not possible to scan everything. I haven't included Traviata or Pique Dame or the tenor in Rosenkavalier. Here are a few memories,  samples of the fun and joy when Gedda was on stage.  First Belmonte in ENTFUHRUNG, Oct. 1979.
 Riccardo in BALLO IN MASCHERA Oct. 1975
BARTERED BRIDE Oct. 1978, Teresa Stratas as Marenka and Gedda as Jenik
Fun time, CARMEN Dec. 1967, Grace Bumbry as Carmen and Gedda as Jose
Faust Dec. 1972
The last scene  FAUST with Colette Boky as Marguerite
From Oct. 1965, the old Met,  Robert Merrill as Valentine, Gedda as Faust, Cesare Siepi as Mephistophele. I heard every performance
Gedda as Ottavio, DON GIOVANNI Sept. 1972
Lensky in EUGENE ONEGIN Oct. 1977
Fun time, DON PASQUALE Dec. 1978,  Gedda as Ernesto with Gabriel Bacquier as Don Pasquale
And PASQUALE again, Gedda and Beverly Sills as Norina
                Finally VESPRI, Jan. 1974,  Caballe as Helene and Gedda as Henri
        I'm eternally grateful for having heard all this wonderful singing. RIP sweet Nicolai.