SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS, 1967

March 1967, NYC Opera presented SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS by Vittorio Giannini. It was done one season and never again. I don't remember the story or the music. The camera was an old Leica, Kodak Tri X film. This was my first season at NYC Opera.  The set was one basic set for this comedy.
 

The orchestra. Those still alive may recognize some faces. Julius Rudel conducted

Julius Rudel and John White chatting, standard behavior during a dress rehearsal. Daytime March 18th

Oboist is background is Doris Goltzer.  If I remember correctly oboist in middle is related to Leon Uris. I could be mistaken.

Richard Beeson on bass.

Backstage, Tito Capobianco chatting with David Bamberger and Ruth Hider

Dan Butts at control desk

Performance, Premier, Maestro Rudel chatting with Eileen Schauler, Beatrice and, I think, Eve Queller

Dress Rehearsal on the 18th  Eileen Schauler as Beatrice again with Michael Devlin as Pantalone and Nico Castel, Brighella.

Eileen Schauler with Donna Jeffrey as Clarissa.  The Schauler role, Beatrice was a pants and dress part. I don't remember why. Actual performance on the 19th.

David Rae Smith as Lombardi and Michael Devlin as Pantalone

His debut, Raymond Myers as Truffaldino

Frank Poretta as Florindo with Truffaldino

Beatrice with Truffaldino

Beatrice, Eileen Schauler. Sorry,can't remember what was going on.

Beatrice now in her dress identity.

Patrica Brooks as Smeraldina.  She always had the greatest acrylic tips when on stage. She had her own make-up people.

There are other operas that came and went,  NINE RIVERS FROM JORDAN,  LILY,... in my brain and out again. There are a lot of obscure operas in my archive.

MARIA EWING, RIP- Part 2

                        CARMEN,  title role March 1986
 

           The Don Jose is Luis Lima

           TROYENS,  Dec. 1993, Didon

        LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK, Nov. 1994, Katerina

The second run of DIALOGUE OF THE CARMELITES, Marie again with final scene when she goes to her death, gut wrenching ending.

To family, friends, colleagues my heartfelt condolences.

Dear Maria,  THANK YOU!!    RIP

Maria Ewing, RIP - Part 1

Sad news.  Maria Ewing passed away yesterday at home in Detroit. From 1976 to1994 I had the pleasure of documenting her portrayals, always fascinating, fun, interesting, gripping, iconic.  From a massive archive I decided to select the many faces of Maria and post in chronological order. The earliest was MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. Cherubino, Oct. 1976. With Richard Stilwell as the Count.
 

   with Justino Diaz as Figaro

And from Act II, "Voi che sapete" with Judith Blegen as Susanna and Evelyn Lear as the Countess.

The profoundly moving DIALOGUES OF THE CARMELITES,  Blanche, Feb. 1977 with William Dooley as her father and Raymond Gibbs as her brother.

BARBER OF SEVILLE,  Oct. 1982, Rosina and with Dale Duesing    as Figaro.

COSI FAN TUTTE, Jan. 1982, Dorabella

In profile with Kiri TeKanawa as Fiordiligi

With James Morris, Guglielmo

To be continued.

Another Mask

 

Suggested by Matthew Rose, the ultimate "Mask". MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, Bottom is converted to an Ass.  Covid prevention???

Opera Masks

I went hunting for opera masks that are part of the opera action, not a director's "decor". BALLO IN MASCHERA, Sept. 1972, Martina Arroyo as Amelia with Placido Domingo as Riccardo.
 

BALLO IN MASCHERA. Oct. 1975, Louis Quilico as Renato, Roberta Peters as Oscar

FLEDERMAUS, ACT II, NYC Opera, Sept. 1974, Johanna Meier as Rosalinda, Alan Titus as Eisenstein

DON GIOVANNI, Feb. 2015, first scene, Peter Mattei as Don Giovanni, James Morris as the Commendatore

DON GIOVANNI, also Feb. 2015, Don Ottavio, Elvira and Donna Anna, the masked invitees to the Banquet

RIGOLETTO, the masked abductors Feb. 2004 always a dark scene

RIGOLETTO, Feb. 2004  Carlo Guelfi

RIGOLETTO, also Guelfi  Dec. 2005

Juan Pons as Rigoletto Oct. 2006.

I have photographed each of these operas many times. I chose the images for masks, not the performers. Of all the masks I feel the saddest for Rigoletto. Always. Usually a very dark scene, hard to photograph. I may remember other meaningful masks.  These masks are not Covid  safe.