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.

New York City Opera Reunion - Group 3

Third group of images, New York City Opera Reunion,  April 27, 2012

I can't begin to describe the depth of emotions, past meets present, an overlay of joyous music, integrity, real life.   It was time to watch interactions of this day.

I had feelings as a young photographer, mostly awe. Everyone worked hard. There was always more talent than work opportunity. People got hurt. People were lucky. It was a total emotional assault. Yesterday it all came back, the joy, the sorrow, what was, what is.  And the many expressions of thanks stunned me. "I have your pictures all over my walls".   But no photographer can create without a good subject. Still, at this date those memories mean so much. I'm immeasureably thankful. And stunned.

Nadja Witkowska... Violetta and Constanza from the late 60s.   I don't know what the conversation was about, but it was wonderfully animated.

Doris Jung Popper in conversation with Eileen Schauler

Joshua Hecht

Cori Ellison

William Ledbetter

Rosalind Nadell

Honor time.  Harriet Greene being honored as one of the earliest choristers.  Helped by Michael Davis

Cynthia Edwards

Lila leading speeches

Julius address everyone assisted by Susan Woelzl. Ann Pretzat in rear.

Jane Schaulis

Chris Nance

Janen Schaulis with husband, Joseph Gasperec

Michael Davis giving greetings from his mother, Regina Resnik. His phone went off.

Carol Gutknecht

Tito Capobianco addresses group. Very emotional. He made it clear what has been lost in our opera heritage.

Jane Schaulis and Pat Craig

Jeannine Crader

Bridget Hendrix and Bill Dyzel

Lila introduces the daughter of Laszlo Halasz

Louis Perry with Candy Itow

 

Elaine Malbin

There were many others at the Reunion.  I couldn't photograph everyone because I wanted to socialize. It will take a few days to settle down and absorb all this.  We had something so unique,so powerful and now it no longer exists. Can the past ever be restored? Does the audience even know what opera is anymore?    Does anyone understand artistic integrity?  Yesterday was bitter sweet. and wonderful.  My profound thanks to everyone.

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