tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895194662060253694.post9090803652261185274..comments2023-07-27T07:16:22.532-05:00Comments on Girl From Texas: My Knight at the OperaGirl From Texashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545987489918132431noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895194662060253694.post-70019834281217715272008-06-28T08:30:00.000-05:002008-06-28T08:30:00.000-05:00My very first opera was a school field trip to Pag...My very first opera was a school field trip to <I>Pagliacci</I>, when I was in sixth grade. The cast for this student performance included Maria Spacagna as Nedda and Lenus Carlson as Silvio. (The grownups got to hear Jon Vickers as Canio and Raina Kabaivanska as Nedda.)<BR/><BR/>My second opera was <I>Siege of Corinth</I>, with the Metropolitan Opera on tour in Dallas, and yes, it was Beverly Sills who sang the leading role, Pamira. (Others in the cast included Shirley Verrett, Justino Díaz, and Harry Theyard; conductor was Richard Woitach.) My godmother and I went backstage to meet Sills after the performance, and I was hooked on opera from that day to this.<BR/><BR/>My first opera in New York was one of Sills’ final performances, in Menotti’s <I>La Loca</I>. I got my ticket at the last minute, and found myself fourth row center, four rows ahead of Sills’ mother. Mrs. Silverman would show up at almost every performance - of opera, of ballet, of every kind - that I attended, throughout my first years as a New Yorker. It was as if she oversaw the process that her daughter had set in motion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895194662060253694.post-7242377622851776142008-06-22T15:38:00.000-05:002008-06-22T15:38:00.000-05:00Dear Girl from Texas, You mentioned that the first...Dear Girl from Texas, <BR/><BR/>You mentioned that the first opera that you saw might have been "Siege of Corinth." Do you recall if you saw Beverly Sills in your first opera? Where were you? In New York? <BR/><BR/>Cheers, <BR/>TansuiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895194662060253694.post-52312931748989866622008-06-22T15:18:00.000-05:002008-06-22T15:18:00.000-05:00Actually, I wasn't an opera fan until I saw "Siege...Actually, I wasn't an opera fan until I saw "Siege of Corinth" - it was only the second opera I'd ever seen, but it was sufficient to win me over, permanently. <BR/><BR/>Since then, I've come to know hardcore Wagnerites who laugh out loud when I tell them we went to "Tristan und Isolde" on our first date. But we were exceptional people. And I daresay we still are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com