Maestro Julius Rudel, RIP

Maestro Rudel passed away this morning.  He was all that is wonderful in opera, respect  for the music, a sense of adventure, giving the audience excitement and wonder. Instead of selecting posed, editorial images I've gone into the files, the candid behind the scene images, the work before the audience got the polished production. It was hard work, frustrating work, but satisfying and fun. First, in the auditorium during a BALLO rehearsal with John White. Mr. White watched the money.

MAGIC FLUTE rehearsal. Veronica Tyler as Pamina. 1967. David Bamberger stage director.

Working with Patricia Brooks,TRAVIATA 1967

Before a performance with Spiro Malas, MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, 1967

Before ROSENKAVALIER 1967  with Felix Popper and Hans Sondheimer. Julius knew every light cue and where every bulb was.

Rehearsing CAVALLERIA 1967 with Frank Corsaro

More CAVALLERIA 1967, Corsaro and Francesca Roberto

Sills and Rudel before Act II MANON, 1969

Rehearsing 1968

FAUST rehearsal 1968 with Norman Treigle and Corsaro

Also with Sills  1968

MEFISTOFELE rehearsal 1969 with Tito Capobianco

MEFISTOFELE 1969 with Robert Nagy

MANON rehearsal  1970 with Placido Domingo and Felix Popper at piano

Rehearsal room, wide angle lens, 1970

ROBERTO DEVEREUX rehearsal with Sills, 1970

YOUNG LORD rehearsal 1973 with Sarah Caldwell

YOUNG LORD rehearsal 1973 with Sir Rudolf Bing

YOUNG LORD rehearsal 1973 with Christopher Keene and Sarah Caldwell

TURK IN ITALY rehearsal with Donald Gramm 1978

Birthday party 2011 with Placido Domingo

Birthday party 2011 with Sherrill Milnes

Maestro Rudel, we'll never forget what you gave us.   We love you.

ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT PROTECTED.
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Jean Kraft, A Tribute Afternoon

Jean Kraft was honored this afternoon with a musical tribute for her many years as a glorious performer.

Jean was in the audience as the program was led by Louis M. Barrella.  He had a number of video segments from the Met Archives.

Suor Angelica

Ernani

The 1983 Centennial Gala with Mirella Devia

After the presentation with Mr. Barrella

With Batyah Godfrey Ben-David

Fabrizio Milano, Claudia Catania, Brian Kellow, Jean, Batyah and Mr. Barrella

Claudia taking a group picture with her cell phone.

A quiet moment, Fabrizio and Jean.

A tribute such as this can be intensely emotional, gorgeous musical memories the likes of which we don't hear anymore.  Musical friendships, true human friendships, huge thankfulness.  None of the video segments were high-tech but the impact was gut wrenching.  We were all shattered.  This was a difficult chore for the camera. Some moments were too personal to make public.  This event was all about love for a very dear person.
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Claramae Turner 1920- 2013

  Claramae was an important American contralto. I was lucky to catch her with the camera during 1967-1969 at New York City Opera.  No matter what she did she was that character, strong on stage.  We were friends. "Come over for lunch", she said. That  was  1967. We kept in touch until the last year.  Claramae loved gardening. She loved her dogs...  a great dane and Schatzie, the dachshund. These are a sampling of what Claramae did at the New York City Opera.   First BOMARZO as Diana Orsini with Salvador Novoa as Pier Francesco Orsini

Claramae as Lady Jane in PATIENCE.  Her cello routine always brought down the house.

Claramae as La Principessa in SUOR ANGELICA.

Rehearsing with Audrey Schuh

Zita in TABARRO

With Malcolm Smith, Tinca

A group of GIANNI SCHICHI images, alone as Zita

Big caption: From left to right, Michael Devlin as Spinellochio, William Ledbetter as Marco, Lois Crane as Nella, Malcolm Smith as Simone, Claramae, Jerry LoMonaco as Rinuccio, Judith Anthony as LaCiesca, and Nico Castel as Gherardo. 1968.

This time in rehearsal,  in 1967, from left to right,  David Rae Smith as Betto, William Ledbetter as Marco, Malcolm Smith as Simone, Frank Poretta as Rinuccio, Nico Castel as Gherardo, and the ladies- Lou Ann Wyckoff as La Ciesca, Claramae as Zita again, and LaVergne Monette as Nella

The ZARZUELLA in 1969 at City Center.  I don't remember the characters' names.  First with Nico Castel and then happy alone.

It's nice to have good memories.Claramae was a gem. Posted with love.
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Rise Stevens

On January 8, 2006 Rise Stevens was honored by the Metropolitan Opera Guild at the Rose Theater down at the Time Warner Building at Columbus Circle.  It was a love fest.  There should be an umlaut over the "e" in Rise's name. I can't figure how to do that on this blog site.  The images are now, obviously, totally emotional.  First Rise with Anna Moffo.

Rise with Van Cliburn.  The background could not be changed, because it was hard for her to move around.

Onstage at tribute with son, Nicolas Surovy, and Van Cliburn.

This was a beautiful evening, a sold out house, a wonderful tribute to a beautiful lady.

The Stewarts

We should never forget the artists who have given so much of themselves.  Our paths didn't cross very often, but when they did it was wonderful.  Evelyn Lear and Tom Stewart shared with the world- their musical gifts, their warmth and caring towards friends and young artists and their sense of humor.    I wasn't sure what to select for this post. There are so many images. Instead I opted for images of  happy moments and some never before seen.

First: Dido and Aeneas, February 1973 , Evelyn as Dido, Tom as Aeneas, and in the third image with Susan Belling as Belinda

Next, not technically excellent. I don't remember which lab developed the film. They are now dirty and scratched negatives, but the happiness remains, "Nozze di Figaro", Salzburg, August 20, 1964.   In the first image, curtain call following Act I- Sir Geraint Evans as Figaro, Graziella Sciutti as Susannah,  Dietrich Fischer Dieskau as the Count and Evelyn as Cherubino.

Final curtain calls-  Fischer Dieskau again, Hilde Gueden as the Countess and Evelyn

Gueden, Fischer Deskau, Evelyn and Evans.  The smiles say it all.

A private time. Tennis.  April 10, 1974, a sports club down at Grand Central

The last time our paths crossed,  May 23, 2006, the Memorial Tribute to Birgit Nilsson

            These are posted as a huge thank you. Quality and integrity are never forgotten.
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William Chapman

This was not announced at the Reunion. It would have thrown a damper on the event. 

Last week William Chapman passed away.  I don't have dates. I know he had been in poor health for a long time.  My scanning set-up is broken for now or I would have scanned a smiling image.

When Bill smiled my knees went week.  He was the swellest Pirate I ever watched. Every role,-  Bill Chapman was a joy for the lens.   Bill Chapman, I sure did love you.

William Chapman as Frank Maurrant, STREET SCENE, Oct. 13, 1979 

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Guide for Reunion photos

There are three groups of photos from the April 27, 2012 Reunion, a total of 77 pictures.  They're posted in reverse order, - Group 3, Group 2-  and then Group 1. To get to Group 1,  at the end of the first run click on "Older posts"  and you'll find the first group. 

Thanks to everyone for their outpouring of gratitude. I'm still stunned.