Elektra

New ELEKTRA at the Met. Musically sensational.Everyone is brilliant. What the artists do make the images,  first Mommy Dearest, Waltraut Meier as Klytaemnetra and then Nina Stemme as Elektra. At the final dress the audience roared their approval. It was emotionally stunning.
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Charlotte Povia RIP

Sadly, Charlotte Povia has died. She was a friend and I had the pleasure of photographing her at the New York City Opera 1967-1968.  I've scanned a few images, live performances and one rehearsal. First CAVALLERIA March 1968, as Mama Lucia.

CRUCIBLE, March 17, 1968, Charlotte as Rebecca Nurse and Robert Hale as Reverend Smith

MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, Feb. 26, 1967  as Marcellina with Malcolm  Smith as Bartolo

the same FIGARO, Act I with Joan Summers in background as Susannah, the Act I duet

In Rehearsal downstairs, TRAVIATA,  March 26, 1967, Patricia Brooks as Violetta and Charlotte as Flora.  RIP dear friend.
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COPYRIGHT ALERT!

There is an online site for CutandStyles in which the New York City Opera reunion images have been taken from my blog and used in an unauthorized and illegal manner.  The attendees are shown, their hair styles described, their names listed.

One: These images are registered copyright. They are not in the public domain.
Two: No company or individual can use a person's likeness  without written permission from the subject.
Three: For the subjects shown by CutandStyles this has been done without  permission. I would not have granted permission.

There is no contact information on this CutandStyles site.  If you read this, CutandStyles, this use must be removed.

The digital tools are so easy for everyone that legal responsibility is often forgotten. Pictures are owned by the photographer.That's the law, Federal law!  Read the alert on right border of my blog site. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  They are not automatically in public domain. A photographer has to protect the subjects shown.  Being sued for copyright infringement, unauthorized use can be very costly for an infringer.  CutandStyles take note! REMOVE THOSE IMAGES.
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Robert Cahen. RIP

Robert Cahen photographed predominantly for the San Francisco Opera, for decades. He adored opera, respected the performers and that showed in his photo studies. He photographed the great of the greats... Callas, DeStefano, Nilsson, Horne, Thomas, Schwarzkopf, Sutherland, Rysanek... to mention a few. He befriended the singers who recognized both his enthusiasm and seriousness.  Sadly, Bob passed away this week after being in failing health. We e-mailed up until the end. He always wanted to know what was going on. He was thrilled that Hvorostovsky is here for DeLuna sounding brilliant.  Bob was a fun guy, a total opera person. I'll miss the schmoozing.
 RIP Bob.
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Mario Sereni RIP

Mario Sereni passed away this month. Into the files.... time to scan some images. First, BOHEME Oct. 1972 with Fernando Corena as Alcindoro and Colette Boky as Musetta. Unidentified super on left.

Also BOHEME  Oct. 23, 1965, actual performance with Jerome Hines (face hidden) as Colline, Clifford Harvout as Schaunard, kneeling Andrea Velis as Alcindoro, Beverly Bower partially hidden as Musetta,  Gabriella Tucci as Mimi, Gianni Raimondi as Rodolfo and Sereni as Marcello

MADAME BUTTERFLY January 1979, Sereni as Sharpless with Renata Scotto as Cio Cio San

L'ELISIR D'AMORE April 1980 with Gail Robinson as Adina, Loretta DiFranco as Giannetta and  Sereni as Belcore

FALSTAFF Nov. 11, 1964, actual performance, Sir Geraint Evans as Falstaff and Sereni as Ford

Sereni as Barnaba, GIOCONDA Nov. 1979

MANON LESCAUT, Dec. 1973  Gilda Cruz Romo as Manon, Sereni as Lescaut and Carlos Montane as Des Grieux

It's fun going into the files, seeing different photo technique, seeing wonderful singers of the past.
Mario Sereni,   thank you!

Jon Vickers RIP

After a long battle with Altzheimer's beloved Jon Vickers has gone to his peace. He was one of my inspirational idols, always true to the art form, always the character he was portraying, thrilling, brilliant, and behind the theatrical intensity a gentle human being. He is now of the world, forever.  First as Florestan with Leonore, the great Birgit Nilsson, FIDELIO 1966, the old Met.

Peter Grimes, 1977

Otello, 1974

                                                                     Parsifal, 1985
Yes, there are lots more pictures, but no time right now to scan everything...... perhaps for a future posting.   RIP, dear Jon.
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Don Yule, RIP

Sadly, Don Yule died last week. During his long career with New York City Opera he did a huge assortment of character roles. These are a sampling, all performance images. First The Police Commissioner in BARBER OF SEVILLE with Enrico DiGiuseppe as the Count, 1968.

BELLE HELENE, 1976 as Euthycles with Richard McKee

Alcindoro in BOHEME 1978 with Sharon Daniels as Musetta

Couldn't resist including this, BUTTERFLY 1967, first act wedding scene, Don as the Commissioner with Nico Castel as Goro. The person in the white sailor suit on the right is Placido Domingo as Pinkerton

The CONSUL, 1974, Don as Mr. Kosner, Sandra Walker as the secretary

Didn't remember taking this FANCIULLA 1977, Don as Bill with Kathleen Hegierski as Wowkle

FIGARO, 1976, Don as Antonio

FIGARO 1968, Don as Dr. Bartolo

MEISTERSINGER, 1975 the Night Watchman

NINE RIVERS FROM JORDAN by Hugo Weisgall 1968, Don as the Leader of the Bedoins

PELLEAS ET MELISANDE, 1970, Don a the Doctor, Patricia Brooks as the dying Melisande

Same as above, but add Malcolm Smith in halo of light as Arkel and Goulaud with back to audience, Louis Quilico

GIANNI SCHICHI  1969, Don as Betto

TOSCA 1968, Don as the Sacristan

All images posted with thanks for great memories, RIP Don.
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