So much I would love to hold my Mother and tell her I love her and thank her. Four years ago today.
Ancora Musica
•June 6, 2009 • Comments Off on Ancora MusicaIn her dreams, for three nights, she dreams of a white piece of paper with three lines and then a voice tells her to sing this aria, with the words “Paolo, datemi pace,,,,”. She says magnificently, “I must obey the voice….. and sing this great and powerful phrase from Fracesca Di Rimini….even if it not as I would have done years ago….”
Then she gives at 99 years old a perfect example….. of a heart beating in music full of love for the art, the music and for something more important than ourselves…. my god, thank you for this most amazing servant of yours who continues to astound and beguile and help bring us to the truth.
TRANSLATION: as best I can make out.
“I must give an explanation why I am here tonight in this stupenda room to sing? I must explain why I am here. For three nights I had a strange dream. A piece of white paper, with three black lines.
The first night only this.
The second night immediately again I see the same piece of paper with these words, that I couldn’t see, with a voice that said, “YOU MUST DO THIS!”.
I come to the third night, this same voice, this same paper, comes again to me, and then the voice says, “Remember, you must do this!” and I see the music of Francesca (da Rimini)…. this is a little bit but really in it is all of Francesca.
I thought for a moment and I said “I would adore to do this, but I do not sing anymore…. it’s not as if I am singing all the time…. I don’t sing anymore…. however this voice insists, “YOU must do this, it could be of service to someone…. or something”, exactly what I do not know….. but something, supernatural I am certain,how could it not be, that I thought the third night, rising from sleep, I said, “Paolo, datemi pace….”
Then I understood, it was truly this one unique phrase of Francesca di Rimini, that I loved immensely…. that I found myself in the same position on the couch, that I began little by little to sing softly the stupendous words….”Paolo, datemi pace..”
Then I said, I will do it….I will obey…. because in this case I must obey, this voice that perhaps will not come again to me… and so I ask your pardon, if I today give myself permission to present myself to you all to sing this one phrase from Francesca da Rimini….
It will be what it will be…. but I do with all my heart and for me thanks to God for all that my life that I have known, I ask only to excuse me if it is not like it was….. before…..ten years before……”
(when she was 88!)
I got off the internet and called her immediately to give thanks, what a great and gracious lady and an unforgettable “life force” in the service of music. Truth in music.
From both sides now.
•June 6, 2009 • Comments Off on From both sides now.
One of the five best speeches I ever heard, in my life.
What a hopeful start to a necessary thawing in that very holy region of the world. I am so awed by him, and loved that Hillary was there to help him as well.
Keeping watch from both sides…..
Amazing, Mr. President. “All the children of Abraham…..” what a great vision, what a great hope. Amen.
My prayers are with them
•June 1, 2009 • Comments Off on My prayers are with themWord comes a good friend may have been on the Air France flight to Paris from Rio. My heart is sad, I hope for God to send a miracle….
Pray.
UPDATE: Hear from my Brazilian contacts, that indeed Maestro Silvio Barbato was on the flight and is most likely with God even as I write this.
God rest him and keep his family safe and comforted in this terrible moment of pain and loss. Comfort and solace to all concerned.
Captured moments…..
•May 30, 2009 • Comments Off on Captured moments…..
A Salome in motion drenched in emotion. true genius. Ljuba Welitsch
Gina Cigna as Norma.
Helga Dernesch mesmerizing.
Jones as a beguiling Salome.
A great artist and dear friend, the incomparable Licia Albanese.
I love this photo of Ljuba Welitsch. Of course the opera takes place on a warm day in Summer in Rome, the look is still amazing!
Leonie the great Rysanek.
Look at that expression. Even BW photo cannot dull the impact.
Look at this sly smile that speaks volumes.
A great beauty as Violetta, the very beautiful Anna Moffo.
La Stupenda, Joan Sutherland.
Luciano in fighting form
The one and only, the divine claudia, the immensely gifted singing actress, my idol, Claudia Muzio in one of her greatest roles. Violetta of Verdi’s masterpiece, La Traviata.
Tatiana Troyanos, superb in Der Rosenkavlier.
Callas as Norma at the Old Met.
Aida pouring her heart out in one of my favorite moments on stage, “O cieli azzurri….” from Aida of Verdi.
The beauty is off the charts, both vocal and physical, the unforgettable Renata Tebaldi as Violetta in Traviata.
Land of free and the home of the brave
•May 25, 2009 • Comments Off on Land of free and the home of the brave
As this day arrives every year, I am so mindful of those who are overseas fighting in foreign lands to keep us all free and able to pursue happiness. Remembering all the early lives extinguished and the grief of families and their loss. Men and women of great courage. How can we say thank you for your sacrifice?
God bless all of you, and may the good Lord bring you all safely home to a grateful nation and your loved ones as soon as possible.
Cannot resist remembering also all those loved ones and friends on the other side……. we miss you.
Before the great curtains…..
•May 22, 2009 • Comments Off on Before the great curtains…..
Eileen Farrell debut Met.
The great voice and great lady that is Leontyne Price.
Callas in concert here accepting applause with conductor Nicola Rescigno.
La Stupenda Joan Sutherland debut Met.
Montserrat Caballe at La Scala
Callas in La Sonnambula at La Scala.
Regine Crespin
Joan Sutherland. For fun, take a look at the very full prompters box.
The love affair with Tebaldi continued out in the streets.
Eileen Farrell old met debut from outside.
Aware of their great history, and very proud to be a part of it, here I am as Leonora in Trovatore at my beloved Metropolitan Opera. No wonder I am beaming!
Open love letter to Adam Lambert
•May 21, 2009 • Comments Off on Open love letter to Adam Lambert
You are who you are. A gentleman with a great voice; the rock Farinelli.
You deserved that victory tonight, and all the controversy over your preference in life should not have been a factor.
We have all seen the extremes, the hate and the “coalition” formed to defeat you. Why? They fear you that much?
Kris Allen is a baby seal. No one wants to see him hurt, but is he the true idol? Not for me. Safe and unchallenging, he hoped he wouldn’t win because of the “christian vote”. (cough)
Adam, pay them no mind. You win in every category. A gentle, amazingly gifted performer. You will be the one with sold out houses and millions in record sales.
Elvis wouldn’t have won either.
For all you who pray, my prayer is this:
One day this glorious flag will fly over a country that treats all it’s citizens the same.
Ah, rimembranza…..
•May 12, 2009 • Comments Off on Ah, rimembranza…..Heartbreaking and intensely true. As usual Callas brings insight and unflinching courage as she gives a hint of what being an artist and a human being is.
Dolores Sutton
•May 12, 2009 • Comments Off on Dolores SuttonMy very good friend, my dear amazingly talented and beautiful Dolores Sutton crossed into Paradise yesterday.
You taught me a lot about friendship, and the arts, an original member of the Actor’s Studio, a tremendous and intuitive and nuanced actress of great range and variation, and she brought a true laughter and sense of humor to me.
I will miss you so very much.
You must be logged in to post a comment.