Richard Nass RIP

Richard Nass was the Metropolitan Opera English Horn player. He did the onstage solo at the start of TRISTAN, Act III. He passed away this month. I believe he was about 94 years old. I'll never forget hearing him play. Gorgeous. And I'll never forget his friendship during my formative years. His father would come to rehearsals. His young daughter Jenny would also come to rehearsals. With Richard it was music FIRST.  The images are from 1971.  The figure in the shadow of the stage shot is Tom Stewart as Kurvenal.

Don Carlo fun

Back in the film days it was fun playing with negatives in the darkroom.  What does the music sound like? Make the images. DON CARLO, auto de fe scene, the Inquisition, tuba music, glorious, but my favorite scene in all of opera is the Grand Inquisitor entrance, done as Act III, scene i at the Met, contrabassoon music, absolutely intestinal. Here, 1979, the Grand Inquisitor is James Morris.

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Memory Lane 2005

Tripping through the files and found this image from 2005, Licia Albanese with Carlo Bergonzi.  There will be a special program March 13th at John Jay College, 7:30, a celebration of their lives.  Details on Metropolitan Opera Guild web site. Oh, both artists were wonderful.
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Joyce DiDonato surprise

At the close of the DONNA del LAGO final dress yesterday the orchestra played "Happy Birthday" for the Diva, a surprise greeting and a delight to everyone. Sweetest gesture I've seen at the opera house in a long time.  Grand final to a day of superb singing.
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Elena Obraztsova RIP

I didn't mean for this site to turn into an obituary site, but that seems to be how it is developing. Not everyone would agree on vocal quality or preferences, but Elena Obraztsova was fun when she was on stage. Hot stuff.  First as Amneris, AIDA, 1976   with Carlo Bergonzi as Radames.

Ulrica in BALLO IN MASCHERA  1990

Carmen in 1978

The GAMBLER, 2001, Grammy

Adalgisa in NORMA 1979 with Shirley Verrett in title role

Delilah in SAMSON with Guy Chauvet as Samson 1977

WAR AND PEACE, 2002, Madame Akhrosimova  and then with Anna Netrebko as Natasha Rostova

Charlotte in WERTHER, 1978

and with Werther, Placido Domingo

This is meant as a tribute. Not all images are razor sharp. Not meant to be. It was fun and that whats counts in opera. Memorable good stuff.

Russell Christopher

There's an obituary notice in today's New York Times for Russell Christopher. He did many of the character roles at the Met.  I don't have everything digitalized, but had this one delicious image from October 1976, GIANNI SCHICHI.  From left to right,  Russell Christopher as Betto,  Shirley Love as Ciesca, Italo Tajo as Simone, behind him Ron Boucher as Marco, Fedora Barbieri as Zita, above Neil Shicoff as Rinuccio, in front Charlie Anthony as Gherardo, Betsy Nordon as Nella.  This was one fun cast.
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Leonie Rysanek

There's a link on www.parterre.com   to the Rysanek 25th Anniversary Concert, an audio of this event, brilliant, gorgeous. Into the files I went to find images that were already digitalized. Memory Lane time.  Totally emotional. Feelings, not furniture.  First- the Bing Gala with Vickers.

Fidelio, Vickers and Leonie, the old house.

Frau in 1978 with James King as the Kaiser

At home, August 1972

Parsifal, Act II with Vickers

Salome 1972

Elizabeth, Tannhauser, "Dich teure Halle"  new Met

Same thing, old Met

Marschallin, Rosenkavalier.

There are more images in the files, but not yet digitalized. Opera is about feelings, emotions. Here they are, total love and respect for the integrity and the glory of it all.
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