|
Christian Du Plessis
Christian du Plessis (born 2 July 1944) is a South African baritone, largely based in England, and particularly associated with the bel canto repertory. Born in Vryheid, South Africa, he studied in Johannesburg with Teasdale Griffiths and Esme Webb, and made his stage debut there, with the Transvaal Opera, as Yamadori in ''Madama Butterfly'', in 1967. Further studies followed in London with Otokar Kraus, making his debut there in 1970, as Mathieu in ''Andrea Chénier''. He became a member of the English National Opera, where he sang the standard baritone repertory: Faust (opera), Valentin, Il trovatore, Luna, Don Carlo, Posa, La bohème, Marcello, Maria Stuarda, Cecil, also Germont in a recording of ''La traviata'', etc. In the mid-1970s, he began concentrating in the bel canto repertory, making a specialty of lesser-known works by Donizetti and Vincenzo Bellini, Bellini, appearing in concert performances for the London Opera Society and stage productions by Opera Rara, notably ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Baritone
A baritone is a type of classical music, classical male singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the bass (voice type), bass and the tenor voice type, voice-types. It is the most common male voice. The term originates from the Greek language, Greek (), meaning "low sounding". Composers typically write music for this voice in the range from the second F below C (musical note), middle C to the F above middle C (i.e. Scientific pitch notation, F2–F4) in choral music, and from the second G below middle C to the G above middle C (G2 to G4) in operatic music, but the range can extend at either end. Subtypes of baritone include the baryton-Martin baritone (light baritone), lyric baritone, ''Kavalierbariton'', Verdi baritone, dramatic baritone, ''baryton-noble'' baritone, and the bass-baritone. History The first use of the term "baritone" emerged as ''baritonans'', late in the 15th century, usually in French Religious music, sacred Polyphony, polyphonic music. At t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Torquato Tasso
Torquato Tasso ( , also , ; 11 March 154425 April 1595) was an Italian poet of the 16th century, known for his 1591 poem ''Gerusalemme liberata'' (Jerusalem Delivered), in which he depicts a highly imaginative version of the combats between Christians and Muslims at the end of the First Crusade, during the Siege of Jerusalem (1099), Siege of Jerusalem of 1099. Tasso had mental illness and died a few days before he was to be Poet laureate, crowned on the Capitoline Hill as the king of poets by Clement VIII, Pope Clement VIII. His work was widely translated and adapted, and until the beginning of the 20th century, he remained one of the most widely read poets in Europe. Biography Early life Born in Sorrento, Torquato was the son of Bernardo Tasso, a nobleman of Bergamo and an epic and lyric poet of considerable fame in his day, and his wife Porzia de Rossi, a noblewoman born in Naples of Tuscany, Tuscan origins. His father had for many years been secretary in the service of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Operatic Baritones
Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libretto, librettist and incorporates a number of the performing arts, such as acting, Theatrical scenery, scenery, costume, and sometimes dance or ballet. The performance is typically given in an opera house, accompanied by an orchestra or smaller musical ensemble, which since the early 19th century has been led by a conducting, conductor. Although musical theatre is closely related to opera, the two are considered to be distinct from one another. Opera is a key part of Western culture#Music, Western classical music, and Italian tradition in particular. Originally understood as an sung-through, entirely sung piece, in contrast to a play with songs, opera has come to include :Opera genres, numerous ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1944 Births
Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 2 – WWII: ** Free France, Free French General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny is appointed to command First Army (France), French Army B, part of the Sixth United States Army Group in North Africa. ** Landing at Saidor: 13,000 US and Australian troops land on Papua New Guinea in an attempt to cut off a Japanese retreat. * January 8 – WWII: Philippine Commonwealth troops enter the province of Ilocos Sur in northern Luzon and attack Japanese forces. * January 11 ** United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposes a Second Bill of Rights for social and economic security, in his State of the Union address. ** The Nazi German administration expands Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp into the larger standalone ''Konzentrationslager Plaszow bei Krakau'' in occupied Poland. * January 12 – WWII: Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle begin a 2-day conference in Marrakech. * Janua ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Noël Goodwin
Trevor Noël Goodwin (25 December 1927 – 27 March 2013) was an English music critic, dance critic and author who specialized in classical music and ballet. Described as having a "rare ability to write about music and dance with equal distinction", for 22 years Goodwin was Chief music and dance critic for the ''Daily Express''. He held criticism posts at many English newspapers, including the '' News Chronicle'', ''Truth'' and '' The Manchester Guardian'' among others; from 1978 to 1998 he also reviewed performances for ''The Times''. Goodwin wrote an early history of the Scottish Ballet and was coauthor for two books: ''London Symphony: Portrait of an Orchestra'' with Hubert J. Foss and a ''Knight at the Opera'' with Geraint Evans. Life and career Trevor Noël Goodwin was born on 25 December 1927 in Fowey, Cornwall, England, UK. Published in print on 8 April 2013, p. 49 Born to a seafaring family, Goodwin was sent to the Royal Merchant Navy School (now the Bearwood Hous ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dame Joan Sutherland
Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, (7 November 1926 – 10 October 2010) was an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano known for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s to the 1980s. She possessed a voice combining agility, accurate intonation, pinpoint staccatos,"Icons of Opera – Dame Joan Sutherland" ''Opera Britannia'' (6 July 2009). Retrieved 27 September 2010. a trill and a strong upper register, although music critics complained about her poor diction. Sutherland was the first Australian to win a , for the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti (, , ; 12 October 19356 September 2007) was an Italian operatic tenor who during the late part of his career crossed over into popular music, eventually becoming one of the most acclaimed tenors of all time. He made numerous recordings of complete operas and individual arias, gaining worldwide fame for his tone, and gaining the nickname "King of the High Cs". As one of the Three Tenors, who performed their first concert during the 1990 FIFA World Cup before a global audience, Pavarotti became well known for his televised concerts and media appearances. From the beginning of his professional career as a tenor in 1961 in Italy to his final performance of " Nessun dorma" at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Pavarotti was at his best in bel canto operas, pre-'' Aida'' Verdi roles, and Puccini works such as ''La bohème'', '' Tosca'', '' Turandot'' and '' Madama Butterfly''. He sold over 100 million records, and the first Three Tenors recording became the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rigoletto
''Rigoletto'' is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the 1832 play '' Le roi s'amuse'' by Victor Hugo. Despite serious initial problems with the Austrian censors who had control over northern Italian theatres at the time, the opera had a triumphant premiere at La Fenice in Venice on 11 March 1851. The work, Verdi's sixteenth in the genre, is widely considered to be the first of the operatic masterpieces of Verdi's middle-to-late career. Its tragic story revolves around the licentious Duke of Mantua, his hunch-backed court jester Rigoletto, and Rigoletto's daughter Gilda. The opera's original title, ''La maledizione'' (The Curse), refers to a curse placed on both the Duke and Rigoletto by the Count Monterone, whose daughter the Duke has seduced with Rigoletto's encouragement. The curse comes to fruition when Gilda falls in love with the Duke and sacrifices her life to save him from the assassin hired by he ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maria Padilla
''Maria Padilla'' is a '' melodramma'', or opera, in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Gaetano Rossi and the composer wrote the Italian libretto after François Ancelot's play. It premiered on 26 December 1841 at La Scala, Milan. The plot is loosely based on the historical figure María de Padilla, the mistress of Pedro the Cruel, King of Castile. Performance history The first 20th century performance, and UK premiere, took place at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 8 April 1973 by Opera Rara with Janet Price in the lead role, Margreta Elkins, Christian du Plessis and Gunnar Drago, with the Bournemouth Sinfonietta conducted by Kenneth Montgomery. The American premiere took place in Stony Brook on 23 April 1983 by the Long Island Opera Society (an uncut concert performance of the Naples version) with Marilyn Brustadt in the title role, conducted by David Lawton. In 1990 Renée Fleming made her major debut in the opera with Opera Omaha. Among other performances, the opera wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
L'assedio Di Calais
''L'assedio di Calais'' (''The siege of Calais'') is an 1836 ''melodramma lirico'', or opera, in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti, his 49th opera. Salvatore Cammarano wrote the Italian libretto, which has been described as "...a remarkable libretto, the closest Cammarano ever got to real poetry, particularly in his description of the embattled city and the heartfelt pride of its citizens". It was based on Luigi Marchionni's play ''L'assedio di Calais'' (also called ''Edoardo III''), which had been presented in Naples around 1825, and secondarily on Luigi Henry's ballet ''L'assedio di Calais'', which had been performed in Naples in 1828 and revived in 1835. Both of these were probably derived from the French play ''Eustache de St Pierre, ou Le siège de Calais'' by Hubert (pen name of Philippe-Jacques Laroche), which had been given in Paris in 1822 and was in turn taken from the 1765 play ''Le siège de Calais'' by Pierre-Laurent Buirette de Belloy. The historical basis was Edwa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gabriella Di Vergy
''Gabriella di Vergy'' is an opera seria in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti written in 1826 and revised in 1838, from a libretto by Andrea Leone Tottola, which was based on the tragedy ''Gabrielle de Vergy'' (1777) by Dormont De Belloy. Prior to that, the play was itself inspired by two French medieval legends, '' Le châtelain de Coucy et la dame de Fayel'' and '' Le Roman de la chastelaine de Vergy''. The story had already been the subject of an opera by Michele Carafa (1816) and had previously been used by Johann Simon Mayr (''Raul di Créqui'', Milan, 1809), Francesco Morlacchi (''Raoul de Créqui'', Dresden, 1811), and Carlo Coccia (''Fayel'', Florence, 1817). It was also subsequently used as ''Gabriella di Vergy'' by Saverio Mercadante in 1828. "In its original form the opera was never performed",Ashbrook and Hibberd 2001, p. 227 but parts of the original version were re-used by Donizetti in his other operas '' Otto mesi in due ore'' (Naples, 1827), '' L’esule di Roma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ugo, Conte Di Parigi
''Ugo, conte di Parigi'' (''Hugo, Count of Paris'') is a ''tragedia lirica'', or tragic opera, in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Felice Romani wrote the Italian libretto after Hippolyte-Louis-Florent Bis's ''Blanche d'Aquitaine''. It premiered on 13 March 1832 at La Scala, Milan. Roles Synopsis :Time: 10th century :Place: ParisOsborne 1994, p. 205 Sesynopsis on opera-rara.com Recordings References Notes Cited sources * Osborne, Charles, (1994), ''The Bel Canto Operas of Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini'', Portland, Oregon: Amadeus Press. Other sources *Allitt, John Stewart (1991), ''Donizetti: in the light of Romanticism and the teaching of Johann Simon Mayr'', Shaftesbury: Element Books, Ltd (UK); Rockport, MA: Element, Inc.(USA) * Ashbrook, William (1982), ''Donizetti and His Operas'', Cambridge University Press. *Ashbrook, William (1998), "Donizetti, Gaetano" in Stanley Sadie (Ed.), ''The New Grove Dictionary of Opera'', Vol. One. London: Macmillan Publishe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
