From Johnson's Kids to Lemonade Opera

From Johnson's Kids to Lemonade Opera PDF Author: Victoria Etnier Villamil
Publisher: UPNE
ISBN: 9781555536350
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 362

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Book Description
American baritone Lawrence Tibbett created an overnight sensation at the Metropolitan Opera in 1925 when the audience stopped the performance of Falstaff to honor their compatriot for his exceptional talent. Tibbett's now legendary curtain call foreshadowed a startling new era for classically trained native singers who rarely received the public recognition or respect given to their European colleagues. In this absorbing work, Victoria Etnier Villamil chronicles the extraordinary time from 1935 to 1950 when American artists, who felt intensely inferior to foreign performers, journeyed from being unappreciated in their own country to standing without apology on stages at home and abroad. Drawing on exhaustive primary research and extensive interviews, Villamil tells the remarkable story of a generation of American opera singers whose profession, image, and art were forever altered by the upheavals of World War II, as well as sweeping cultural and technological changes. The author's in-depth look at these breakthrough years explores such defining factors as Edward Johnson's drive to "Americanize the Met" in his first seasons as general manager, the impact of the microphone on singers and singing styles, and the importance of radio and motion pictures in introducing classical music voices to wider audiences. Villamil also considers how travel restrictions imposed on European artists during the war unlocked opportunities for American artists, and the role of political and Jewish refugees in enriching music education and training in this country. In addition, the author discusses thoroughly the founding of the New York City Opera, the rise of regional and smaller opera companies, including the enterprising and popular Lemonade Opera, and advancements for African American classical singers. Brimming with entertaining anecdotes and colorful figures, both famous and little remembered, the fascinating book concludes with an examination of this crucial period's legacy for the American classical music scene in the 1950s and beyond. From Johnson's Kids to Lemonade Opera contains an invaluable appendix that provides biographical sketches of the over 250 opera and radio singers, as well as art song specialists, featured in this illuminating study.

From Johnson's Kids to Lemonade Opera

From Johnson's Kids to Lemonade Opera PDF Author: Victoria Etnier Villamil
Publisher: UPNE
ISBN: 9781555536350
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 362

Get Book

Book Description
American baritone Lawrence Tibbett created an overnight sensation at the Metropolitan Opera in 1925 when the audience stopped the performance of Falstaff to honor their compatriot for his exceptional talent. Tibbett's now legendary curtain call foreshadowed a startling new era for classically trained native singers who rarely received the public recognition or respect given to their European colleagues. In this absorbing work, Victoria Etnier Villamil chronicles the extraordinary time from 1935 to 1950 when American artists, who felt intensely inferior to foreign performers, journeyed from being unappreciated in their own country to standing without apology on stages at home and abroad. Drawing on exhaustive primary research and extensive interviews, Villamil tells the remarkable story of a generation of American opera singers whose profession, image, and art were forever altered by the upheavals of World War II, as well as sweeping cultural and technological changes. The author's in-depth look at these breakthrough years explores such defining factors as Edward Johnson's drive to "Americanize the Met" in his first seasons as general manager, the impact of the microphone on singers and singing styles, and the importance of radio and motion pictures in introducing classical music voices to wider audiences. Villamil also considers how travel restrictions imposed on European artists during the war unlocked opportunities for American artists, and the role of political and Jewish refugees in enriching music education and training in this country. In addition, the author discusses thoroughly the founding of the New York City Opera, the rise of regional and smaller opera companies, including the enterprising and popular Lemonade Opera, and advancements for African American classical singers. Brimming with entertaining anecdotes and colorful figures, both famous and little remembered, the fascinating book concludes with an examination of this crucial period's legacy for the American classical music scene in the 1950s and beyond. From Johnson's Kids to Lemonade Opera contains an invaluable appendix that provides biographical sketches of the over 250 opera and radio singers, as well as art song specialists, featured in this illuminating study.

Kurt Weill's America

Kurt Weill's America PDF Author: Naomi Graber
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190906588
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 329

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Book Description
"This book traces composer Kurt Weill's changing relationship with the idea of "America." Throughout his life, Weill was fascinated by the idea of America. His European works such as The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (1930), depict America as a capitalist dystopia filled with gangsters and molls. But in 1935, it became clear that Europe was no longer safe for the Jewish Weill, and he set sail for New World. Once he arrived, he found the culture nothing like he imagined, and his engagement with American culture shifted in intriguing ways. From that point forward, most his works concerned the idea of "America," whether celebrating her successes, or critiquing her shortcomings. As an outsider-turned-insider, Weill's insights into American culture are somewhat unique. He was more attuned than native-born citizens to the difficult relationship America had with her immigrants. However, it took him longer to understand the subtleties in other issues, particularly those surrounding race relations. Weill worked within transnational network of musicians, writers, artists, and other stage professionals, all of whom influenced each other's styles. His personal papers reveal his attempts to navigate not only the shifting tides of American culture, but the specific demands of his institutional and individual collaborators"--

Beyond the Handsomeness

Beyond the Handsomeness PDF Author: Nancy Spada
Publisher: Universal Publishers
ISBN: 1627344403
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 166

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Book Description
A lightning rod for powerful emotions, Thomas Schippers began his escalation to fame at nineteen continuing with performances in many renowned venues in the world. Here his career is traced through the accounts of those who knew or performed with him, redressing the astonishing lack of information about him which could be of interest to music historians and performers of today. "The brilliant young conductor, Thomas Schippers, is tall, with the face and body of a Greek god at a time when Greek gods are hard to find." (Life magazine, December 6, 1963). Admired by many for his classic handsomeness, he was highly praised for his musicianship and for the ease with which he conducted complex scores, often by memory. But following his untimely death at the age of forty-seven, he was rapidly forgotten. He was Leonard Bernstein's assistant touring Iron Curtain Russia with the New York Philharmonic. He made a large contribution to American cultural life by championing the composers Barber, Rorem, Copland, and Proto and premiered a number of their works in addition to those of Menotti. Schippers was a brilliant conductor of the symphonic repertoire but he had a special gift for opera, with his extraordinary ear for the human voice. Justino Diaz, Jane Marsh, Roberta Peters, Leonard Warren, Martina Arroyo, Leontyne Price, Tito Del Bianco, and numerous other celebrated singers of his time all sang under his baton. He conducted Maria Callas in Cherubini's Medea which was her last performance at La Scala. The opening of the new Metropolitan Opera House in 1966 was under his direction.

John Charles Thomas

John Charles Thomas PDF Author: Michael J. Maher
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 0786483873
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 233

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Book Description
Buoyant, irrepressible and hot-tempered, John Charles Thomas captivated audiences worldwide with his incredible voice. The son of a minister, he studied voice at the Peabody Conservatory under the tutelage of Adelin Fermin, one of the few voice teachers in America capable of training Thomas in the French operatic style. By 1915, Thomas had become a leading performer on Broadway, and ten years later had embarked on a trans-Atlantic career in opera and concerts. At the height of his popularity from 1934 through 1946, he was a popular star of radio, phonographs, and the Metropolitan Opera, a favorite of both popular and classical audiences. His decision to leave opera and focus on his radio career during the Second World War cost him his reputation as a serious artist. The singer who introduced "Home on the Range" and launched many other American standards has been largely forgotten today. This thorough biography details Thomas's life and career. Beginning with his school days at the Peabody, it traces his Broadway career as the star of Step This Way and Maytime and his highly successful career as a concert, recording, and opera star. Appendices provide a discography of his recordings, a list of operatic appearances in Brussels and the United States, and the songs he performed on radio broadcasts from 1934 to 1948.

"O ma Carmen"

Author: Victoria Etnier Villamil
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 1476629242
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 228

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Book Description
"Qu'est-ce que c'est?" (What is it?) mezzo-soprano Celestine Galli-Marie asked when offered the title role in the 1875 premier of Bizet's new opera, Carmen. She was only the first in a long line of performers to ask. In the 140+ years since, each singer has crafted her own portrayal of the inscrutable Gypsy. The famous soprano Geraldine Farrar wrote: "Each one of us probably sees something that the others have not seen--or thinks she does--and that 'something' is her individual Carmen." This book explores the history of operatic portrayals of Bizet's elusive enchantress, tracing the development of vocal and dramatic interpretations from generation to generation around the globe.

The Record Collector

The Record Collector PDF Author: James F. E. Dennis
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 340

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Book Description
"A magazine for collectors of recorded vocal art" (varies).

Saying It With Songs

Saying It With Songs PDF Author: Katherine Spring
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199842213
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 244

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Book Description
Saying It With Songs is a groundbreaking study of the ways in which Hollywood's conversion to synchronized-sound filmmaking in the late 1920s gave rise not only to enduring partnerships between the film and popular music industries, but also to a rich and exciting period of song use in American cinema.

From Paderewski to Penderecki: The Polish Musician in Philadelphia

From Paderewski to Penderecki: The Polish Musician in Philadelphia PDF Author: Paul Krzywicki
Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: 1483442675
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 398

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Book Description
Extraordinary stories and accomplishments of 170 Polish musicians whose presence in Philadelphia influenced music in America. Paul Krzywicki, a native of Philadelphia, was a member of the Philadelphia Orchestra for thirty-three years, performing in over four thousand concerts, more than 60 recordings and presenting master classes throughout the world. He is currently on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music. A full biography is in Part I.

A Dictionary for the Modern Singer

A Dictionary for the Modern Singer PDF Author: Matthew Hoch
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
ISBN: 0810886561
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 319

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Book Description
Titles in the Dictionaries for the Modern Musician series offer both the novice and the advanced artist key information designed to convey the field of study and performance for a major instrument or instrument class, as well as the workings of musicians in areas from conducting to composing. Each dictionary covers topics from instrument parts to technique, major works to key figures—a must-have for any musician’s personal library! A Dictionary for the Modern Singer is an indispensable guide for students of singing, voice pedagogues, and lovers of the art of singing. In addition to classical singing, genres, and styles, musical theatre and popular and global styles are addressed. With an emphasis on contemporary practice, this work includes terms and figures that influenced modern singing styles. Topics include voice pedagogy, voice science, vocal health, styles, genres, performers, diction, and other relevant topics. The dictionary will help students to more fully understand the concepts articulated by their teachers. Matthew Hoch’s book fills a gap in the singer’s library as the only one-volume general reference geared toward today’s student of singing. An extensive bibliography is invaluable for students seeking to explore a particular subject in greater depth. Illustrations and charts further illuminate particular concepts, while appendixes address stage fright, tips on practicing, repertoire selection, audio technology, and contemporary commercial music styles. A Dictionary for the Modern Singer will appeal to students of singing at all levels. For professionals, it will serve as a quick and handy reference guide, useful in the high school or college library and the home teaching studio alike; students and amateurs will find it accessible and full of fascinating information about the world of the singing.

Voice Secrets

Voice Secrets PDF Author: Matthew Hoch
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1442250267
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 282

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Book Description
In Voice Secrets: 100 Performance Strategies for the Advanced Singer, Matthew Hoch and Linda Lister create order out of the chaotic world of singing. They examine all aspects of singing, including nontechnical matters, such as auditioning, performance anxiety, score preparation, practice performance tips, business etiquette, and many other important topics for the advanced singer. Voice Secrets provides singers with a quick and efficient path to significant improvement, both technically and musically. It is the perfect resource for advanced students of singing, professional performers, music educators, and avid amateur musicians. The Music Secrets for the Advanced Musician series is designed for instrumentalists, singers, conductors, composers, and other instructors and professionals seeking a quick set of pointers to improve their work as performers and producers of music. Easy to use and intended for the advanced musician, contributions to Music Secrets fill a niche for those who have moved beyond what beginners and intermediate practitioners need.