Biserka Cvejic, RIP

I have read online that Biserka Cvejic has passed away at the age of 97.  She was very much a part of my operatic learning experience. I heard her as Amneris and Azucena, all thrilling performances. The five images posted require a knowledge of AIDA. These are live performance shots, January 13, 1964, very early images from my archives, old Leica camera. All Act II.  The cast included Leontyne Price as Aida, Cvejic as Amneris, Sandor Konya as Radames, Justino Diaz as the King, Vladimir Ruzdak as Amonasro, John Macurdy as Ramfis and Robert Nagy as the Messenger. I recognize many faces of chorus members but don't know their names. There was nothing complex about the staging. The singing was superb. I can still hear it in my memory. That which is good is treasured forever. To Madam Cvejic, THANK YOU!
 

Ming Cho Lee RIP

Sadly MING CHO LEE, master stage designer has passed away in New York, Oct. 23, 2020. Over the years my lens documented his fabulous set designs at the New York City Opera, Juilliard, the Mini Met and the Metropolitan Opera. I didn't scan everything, because it's a massive archive. I've selected representative powerful memories. First DON RODRIGO, NYC Opera 1967. (2)

                                           GIULIO CESARE, New York City Opera  1967 (2)

                                                  COQ D'OR, New York City Opera 1967

                                                 BOMARZO, New York City Opera  1968  (2)

                                       HELP HELP, THE  GLOBOLINKS, City Center 1969

                                               THE RAKE'S PROGRESS, Juilliard  1970 (2)

                                                FAUST, New York City Opera  1968

             TALES OF HOFFMANN,  New York City Opera   1972  (2) special use of mylar

                                                        BOHEME, Juilliard   1972

                                                    DIDO AND AENEAS, Mini Met  1973

                                           FOUR SAINTS IN THREE ACTS, Mini Met 1973

                                                             PHEDRE,  Mini Met 1973

                                               SUSANNAH, New York City Opera  1971

    ROBERTO DEVEREUX, ANNA BOLENA, MARIA STUARDA, New York City Opera. the 70s

                                                IDOMENEO, New York City Opera   1975

                                                 LOHENGRIN, Metropolitan Opera 1976  (2)

                                                  PURITANI, Metropolitan Opera  1976 (2)

                                  KHOVANSHCHINA, Metropolitan Opera, shot digitally in 2012

                                                BORIS, Metropolitan Opera 1982 (2)

It was always a pleasure documenting Ming's production, fun chatting with the family, total satisfaction seeing productions that did honor to the composer's intentions.  I'm sorry the earlier productions could not have been shot with the digital tools we have today.

Dear Ming, THANK YOU.  Condolences to the Lee family, all the friends, all the students who were inspired by Ming's integrity.
 

Gabriella Tucci R.I.P.

Gabriella Tucci  passed away on July 11, 2020. She was very much a part of my opera education. I went to everything, listened, watched, asked questions. I've pulled images from my files beginning in 1964, not brilliant photography, many negatives scratched, but these are treasured memories.  First AIDA, Dec. 29, 1965  with Rita Gorr as Amneris and Anselmo Colzani as Amonasro.

LA BOHEME, Feb. 29, 1964 with Alicio Depaulis as Alcindoro, Frank Guerrara as Marcello and Franco Corelli as Rodolfo.

BOHEME. Oct. 23, 1965, with Lorenzo Alvary as Benoit, Jerome Hines as Colline,  Clifford Harvuot as Schnaurd, Gianni Raimondi as Rodolfo, and Sereni in shadow as Marcello

MADAM BUTTERFLY Jan. 1965, Sandor Konya as Pinkerton with Gabriella as Butterfly

Same as above with Norman Scott as the Bonze.

FALSTAFF, Mar. 6, 1964 with Rosalind Elias as Meg Page, Judith Raskin as Nanetta, Regina Resnik as Dame Quickly and Gabriella as Alice Ford.

Same as above, Raskin, Tucci, Resnik, Elias.

FAUST  Oct. 23, 1965 with Cesare Siepi as Mephistophele. Gabriella as Marguerita, and Nicolai Gedda as Faust

            Faust again, with Marcia Baldwin as Siebel and Robert Merrill as Valentin.

FAUST, final trio, Gabriella, Gedda and Siepi

F0RZA DEL DESTINO, Jan, 1965, curtain call as Leonore

After FORZA in dressing room, her husband, Leonardo Filoni in background

TROVATORE. Dec. 8, 1964, Leonore with Robert Merrill as DiLuna

TROVATORE Oct, 20, 1965   with John McCurdy as Ferrando, Robert Merrill as DiLuna, Gabriella and Flaviana Labo as Manrico

add Irene Dalis as Azucena

TRAVIATA, Sept. 1972, the last time I photographed Gabriella, Violetta with Robert Merrill as Germont

Traviata again with Jean Kraft as Flora

A fun image from April 1972, the BING GALA, a member of the Board, forgot his name, Fernando Corena, Gabriella, Anna Moffo, Placido Domingo, Grace Bumbry, Sir Rudolf Bing, Dorothy Kirsten, Leontyne Price, Leonie Rysanek, Irene Dalis, Loretta DiFranco, Batyah Godfrey and behind her Chris Mann. In window on left top is Eleanor Steber.
During these formative years I heard everything and learned about the music, vocal technique, staging, everything that is involved in what the audience witnesses. I look at the pictures from the past and can hear the music.  The memories are treasured.  To Gabriella's family and friends my heartfelt condolences.  Thank you, Gabriella, R.I.P.