"Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's ""Così fan tutte"" and Violetta in Giuseppe Verdi's ""La traviata"", lyric soprano roles like Micaëla in Georges Bizet's ""Carmen"" and Hanna Glawari in Franz Lehár's ""The Merry Widow"", and spinto soprano roles like the title heroines in Giacomo Puccini's ""Madama Butterfly"" and ""Tosca"". She even spent three years at the Metropolitan Opera singing mainly Wagnerian soprano roles. Born in Olean, New York in 1925, Beverly was the daughter of Archie and Esther Bowser. Her first musical experiences were at the First Presbyterian Church of Olean where her family attended. At the young age of three she was"
"Anna Bolena Anna Bolena is a tragic opera (""tragedia lirica"") in two acts composed by Gaetano Donizetti. Felice Romani wrote the Italian libretto after Ippolito Pindemonte's ""Enrico VIII ossia Anna Bolena"" and Alessandro Pepoli's ""Anna Bolena"", both recounting the life of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of England's King Henry VIII. It is one of four operas by Donizetti dealing with the Tudor period in English history—in composition order, ""Il castello di Kenilworth"" (1829), ""Anna Bolena"" (1830), ""Maria Stuarda"" (named for Mary, Queen of Scots, it appeared in different forms in 1834 and 1835), and ""Roberto Devereux"" (1837, named for"
"playing a season at the Saville Theatre in London. She also appeared as the Mother Abbess in the 1981 London revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's ""The Sound of Music"" at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Bronhill was perhaps best known for the title role of Hanna Glawari in Franz Lehár's ""The Merry Widow"", with the Sadler's Wells Opera (now known as English National Opera), with Thomas Round as Danilo in 1958 and revised in 1960. She sang the role more than 200 times, capturing a faithful following. Bronhill made frequent visits back to her homeland, singing in operas such as ""The"
"The Transposed Heads (opera) The Transposed Heads is an opera in one act with six scenes composed by Peggy Glanville-Hicks. She also wrote the libretto which was adapted from Lowe-Porter's English translation of Thomas Mann's novella, ""Die vertauschten Köpfe"". It was a commission from the Louisville Philharmonic Society and premiered on 3 April 1954 at the Columbia Auditorium in Louisville, Kentucky. Set in India, the story centers on the love triangle between Sita, her husband Shridaman, and Shridaman's friend Nanda. During a fraught episode in a temple to Kali, each of the male protagonists beheads himself. Kali brings them back"
"Salomon. Since Salomon was aiming for a form of communication that combined various arts, Dalbalvie felt that her story needed music. He was quoted as saying ""She recreated her life through a work of art."" Just as Dalbavie's opera ""Gesualdo"" (based on the life of Carlo Gesualdo) incorporates portions of his subject's compositions, so too does Dalbavie incorporate existing music into his opera, such as the ""Habañera"" from Bizet's ""Carmen"" and ""Wir winden dir den Jungfernkranz"" from Weber's ""Der Freischütz"". The opera includes a character representing the author Charlotte Salomon (speaking role), and also her fictive creation, named Charlotte Kann"
"Bartered Bride"" (1940), Minni in ""Die Fledermaus"" (1940), Giulietta in ""The Tales of Hoffmann"" (1941), the Marschallin in ""Der Rosenkavalier"" (1941), a young girl in ""Spiel oder Ernst"" (1941), and Dorabella in ""Così fan tutte"" (1942). In May 1944 Lewis made her Manhattan, New York City debut on Broadway with the New Opera Company as Hanna Glawari in Lehar's ""The Merry Widow"" opposite Jan Kiepura. With that company she was also seen on Broadway in 1944 as the title heroine in Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari's ""Il segreto di Susanna"". In 1948 she returned to Broadway to portray the role of the Female"
"a short opera."" In 1970, ""The Transposed Heads"" became the first major work of Glanville-Hicks to be premiered in her native Australia when it was performed by the University of New South Wales opera. It was staged again in 1986 at the Australian Festival when it was presented in a double-bill with her 1959 one-act opera ""The Glittering Gate"". Setting: Rural India in mythical times Scene 1 Shridaman is a learned merchant with a noble face but a thin, weedy body. Nanda is a blacksmith with a strong and beautiful body but a rather ordinary intellect. Despite these differences, they"
"as the original short introduction is preferred. The Vienna Philharmonic performed the overture at Lehár's 70th birthday concert in April 1940. The embassy in Paris of the poverty-stricken Balkan principality of Pontevedro is holding a ball to celebrate the birthday of the sovereign, the Grand Duke. Hanna Glawari, who has inherited twenty million francs from her late husband, is to be a guest at the ball – and the Pontevedrin ambassador, Baron Zeta, is scheming to ensure that she will keep her fortune in the country, saving Pontevedro from bankruptcy. The Baron intends that Count Danilo Danilovitsch, the first secretary"
"to life but with the heads on the wrong bodies. Living with the mix-up ultimately results in Shridaman and Nanda committing suicide again and Sita throwing herself on their joint funeral pyre. ""The Transposed Heads"" was Glanville-Hicks's first attempt at a full length opera. It was the result of a $4000 commission from the Louisville Philharmonic Society with extra funding from the Rockefeller Foundation. She wrote the libretto herself, by her own admission basing it virtually verbatim on Lowe-Porter's English translation of Thomas Mann's 1940 novella, ""Die vertauschten Köpfe"". However, she shortened it considerably and eliminated some elements of the"
"will lose her fortune only because it will become the property of her new husband. Valencienne assures Baron Zeta of her fidelity by pointing out her reply to Camille's declaration of love written on the fan: """" (""I'm a respectable wife""). All ends happily. The operetta was produced in 1906 in Hamburg's Neues Operetten-Theater, Berlin's (starring Gustav Matzner as Danilo and Marie Ottmann as Hanna, who made the first complete recording in 1907), and Budapest's Magyar Színház in a faithful Hungarian translation. The piece became an international sensation, and translations were quickly made into various languages: in 1907, Buenos Aires"
"December 2015 she created the role of Roxane Coss in the world premiere of Jimmy López's opera ""Bel Canto"" at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. 2017 saw her stage debut in Australia as Hanna Glawari in Graeme Murphy's production of ""The Merry Widow"" for Opera Australia in performances at the Arts Centre Melbourne and the Sydney Opera House, conducted by Vanessa Scammell. In September 2018, she was featured as the castaway on long-running BBC Radio 4 programme, Desert Island Discs. De Niese (called Danni by her friends and colleagues) married Gus Christie, grandson of John Christie and chairman of Glyndebourne"
"Hannah (oratorio) Hannah is an oratorio in three acts by Christopher Smart with a score composed by John Worgan. It was first performed in Haymarket theater 3 April 1764. It was supposed to have a second performance, but that performance was postponed and eventually cancelled over a lack of singers. A libretto was published for its run and a libretto with full score was published later that year. ""Hannah"" tells the story of Hannah and of her devotion to God which resulted in her being blessed with fertility by God. It was the first of two oratorio librettos written by"
"National Maritime Museum. She played the lead role of Hanna Glawari in the Welsh National Opera's production of ""The Merry Widow"", which toured the United Kingdom in 2005. In 2006 she sang the role of Mother Abbess in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of ""The Sound of Music"". In 2008, she joined the cast of ""Carousel"" as Nettie Fowler. The production toured the UK and then transferred to the West End's Savoy Theatre. In 2013 she returned to opera with the monodrama ""La Voix humaine"" for Opera North. She created the role of Val in ""Pleasure"", the first opera by Mark"
"New Zealand Opera, National Theatre of Prague, and Opera North. In 2006 she performed as Hanna Glawari in Franz Lehár's ""The Merry Widow"" for Opera Holland Park in London in 2006. In 1996, Caine made a guest appearance on The Future Sound of London's album ""Dead Cities"", performing operatic vocals on the song ""Everyone in the World Is Doing Something Without Me"". On October 7, 2006, Caine reunited with her former cast colleagues from the original London production of ""Les Misérables"" to sing ""One Day More"" after a performance in celebration of the show's 21st anniversary making it the longest"
"Charlotte Salomon (opera) Charlotte Salomon is an opera by Marc-André Dalbavie. The libretto is by Barbara Honigmann (portions translated into French by Johannes Honigmann) who based much of it on Charlotte Salomon's autobiographical and posthumous work ""Leben? Oder Theater?"" The opera was first performed at the Salzburg Festival on July 28, 2014. The nature of ""Leben? Oder Theater?"" is of an artist fashioning her own life into an artistic creation. Dalbavie said that the ""intrinsically musical and even cinematic qualities of 'Leben? Oder Theater?'"" combined with an attraction to real-life drama inspired him to compose an opera based on Charlotte"
"retirement from the stage. Bower began her professional career singing on radio and television during the 1950s, including making appearance with Jack Paar on ""The Tonight Show"". She made her professional opera debut in 1956 as Violetta in Verdi's ""La traviata"" at the New York City Opera (NYCO) with Barry Morell as Alfredo. The NYCO became her principal home through 1963. Her many roles at that house included Diana in Jacques Offenbach's ""Orpheus in the Underworld"", Donna Anna in Mozart's ""Don Giovanni"", Fiordiligi in Mozart's ""Così fan tutte"", Hanna Glawari in Lehár's ""The Merry Widow"", Konstanze in Mozart's ""Die Entführung"
"2007 she again sang Marguerite at the Cincinnati Opera, and sang the role of Hannah Glawari in the Dallas Opera's The Merry Widow in November–December 2007 opposite Rod Gilfry. In June 2008 she sang Ginevra in Handel's ""Ariodante"" opposite mezzo Susan Graham at the San Francisco Opera, a production that marked Swenson's 25th anniversary with the company. Also in 2008, she sang Violetta at the Metropolitan Opera. On July 6, 2008, Swenson was awarded the San Francisco Opera Medal, the company's highest artistic honor. According to David Gockley, General Director of the San Francisco Opera, ""Swenson has had a long"
"that Jane and Henry VIII are being acclaimed by the populace on their wedding day. Anna says that she does not invoke vengeance on the wicked couple. She faints. Guards enter to lead the prisoners to the block. Smeaton, Percy and Rochefort say that one victim has already been sacrificed. Notes Cited sources Other sources Anna Bolena Anna Bolena is a tragic opera (""tragedia lirica"") in two acts composed by Gaetano Donizetti. Felice Romani wrote the Italian libretto after Ippolito Pindemonte's ""Enrico VIII ossia Anna Bolena"" and Alessandro Pepoli's ""Anna Bolena"", both recounting the life of Anne Boleyn, the second"
"Mala vita Mala vita (Wretched Life) is an opera in three acts composed by Umberto Giordano to a libretto by Nicola Daspuro adapted from Salvatore Di Giacomo and Goffredo Cognetti's verismo play of the same name. Giordano's first full-length opera, ""Mala vita"" premiered on 21 February 1892 at the Teatro Argentina. It was subsequently performed in Naples, Vienna, Berlin and Milan, and other Italian cities over the next two years. In 1897 a considerably re-worked and revised version under the title Il voto (The Vow) premiered in Milan. Within a few years both versions had disappeared from the repertoire. Amongst"
"in the open-eyed dreams of ordinary people. There was nothing more normal than that a young woman-turned-diva in a foreign country would want the help of a husband in managing the rapture of fame suddenly thrust upon her at only 23 years of age, and which her prudent consort tried to make her careful about, especially in regard to the crush of ensuing obligations. And so Lanfranchi, the Pygmalion responsible for the start of the great transformation and discoverer of the versatile artistic gifts of his wife, was a unique case in the history of an opera singer. He assumed"
"Signe Asmussen Signe Asmussen Manuitt (born 1970) is a Danish mezzosoprano singer who has performed widely, not only in classical concerts, chamber music and opera but also in Latin jazz and as a member of the Tolkien Ensemble. Since 2001, she has made a mark as one of Denmark's most impressive female signers. In addition to appearances in Denmark, she has given recitals in London's Wigmore Hall and Amsterdam's Concertgebouw. Asmussen recently starred as Hanna Glawari in Operette Kompagniet's production of ""The Merry Widow"". She is married to the Cuban Salsa singer Ernesto Manuitt. Born in 1970 in Copenhagen, Signe"
"Giovanna Gray Giovanna Gray is a tragic opera () in three acts composed by Nicola Vaccai. The libretto by Carlo Pepoli is based on the last days of the English noblewoman Lady Jane Grey who was executed for treason in 1554. The opera premiered on 23 February 1836 at La Scala, Milan, with Maria Malibran in the title role. It was a failure at its premiere, and the work never entered the repertoire. Malibran's performances in ""Giovanna Gray"" were the last time she appeared on the stage of La Scala. ""Giovanna Gray"" marked Vaccai's return to opera composing after a"
"is set in Hackney during the oppressive reign of Oliver Cromwell. Hannah leads the people of Hackney on to London Fields where, in a series of increasingly vivid prophecies, she sings of a new proto-Marxist Kingdom of Heaven. Among her followers are an idealistic young couple called Deborah and Abel. Eventually the meeting is brutally suppressed by a group of Puritan soldiers led by Sir Bawnagayne Surly. Abel tries to oppose the soldiers and is killed. The opera ends with his young widow singing a poignant lullaby to the couple's unborn child. For the original production Matthew King composed for"
"herself). He accuses her of breaking her promises to him but she claims that he undertook his voyage for pride and vanity, guided by Lucifer. Even so, she offers herself to him but he rejects her, saying that the journey he is about to undergo is far more seductive. Pondering man's eternal quest for knowledge and exploration, he is transported up to the stars. The libretto is published as part of ""Trying to Find Chinatown: The Selected Plays"" of David Henry Hwang by Theatre Communications Group. In July 2006, a long-awaited complete recording of the opera became available on Glass'"
"his hermitage. Shridaman follows her there and confronts them. He proposes the only solution for a situation where a woman is simultaneously in love with one man's body and another man's head. They must ""merge their separate essences in the universal whole."" The two men commit suicide by simultaneously stabbing each other in the heart. Sita throws herself on the men's joint funeral pyre. The Transposed Heads (opera) The Transposed Heads is an opera in one act with six scenes composed by Peggy Glanville-Hicks. She also wrote the libretto which was adapted from Lowe-Porter's English translation of Thomas Mann's novella,"
"P. Herbert was presented by C. B. Cochran at the Lyceum Theatre in London in May 1937, with Tauber as Paganini and Evelyn Laye as Anna Elisa. They recorded seven numbers from the show for Parlophone Records, including the new number 'Fear Nothing' that Lehár had written for the London production. In 1934 the operetta was adapted into the German film ""Paganini"". Set in Lucca, the story concerns the love affair of Niccolò Paganini, the irresistibly charming violinist, with Élisa Bonaparte, the arts and theatre-loving younger sister of Napoleon. Paganini (operetta) Paganini is an operetta in three acts by Franz"
"to her home, where her father berates her for shaming the family. The Duke however, realising that he truly loves her, pursues her, and all ends happily. Notes Sources Clari Clari is an opera semiseria in three acts by Fromental Halévy, to an Italian libretto by Pietro Giannone. It was first produced at the Théâtre-Italien in Paris on 19 December 1828. ""Clari"" was based on a popular novella, the storyline of which had already been set as an opera by Henry Bishop in London in 1823 (""Clari, or the Maid of Milan"" – it included what came to be Bishop's"
"opera based on Lulu's life, but as he draws out the scenes he comes to the conclusion that they are too gruesome. Applause can be heard, and the Prince enters and reveals his wish to marry Lulu. It is apparent her sudden fame is due to favourable reviews published by Schön. Suddenly the bell starts ringing incessantly and an uproar is heard off stage. Alwa appears startled and Lulu enters suddenly, flinging herself in a chair, followed by the dresser and theatre manager who explain that she fainted. She implies it was because she saw Schön with his fiancée, ""Mit"
"to abandon opera composition for the next six years. He would return in 1866 with ""Mignon"" which proved to be a great success both in France and abroad. Setting: Palermo in 1600 The young libertine Gennaro d'Abani refuses to marry the beautiful, and wealthy Elvire, preferring instead a life of unfettered dissipation and the pursuit of his dream to become a wealthy diamond merchant. To exact her revenge, Elvire conceives the idea of passing herself off as an old woman via the magic potions provided by Lilla, a gypsy fortune-teller. Under this guise she attracts the courtship of Malatesta, Palermo's"
"folie! la folie!"" (""Poor demented child, poor demented child!""). The information for the recordings is from Brian Capon's opera discography website. Notes Sources La Navarraise La Navarraise is an opera in two acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Jules Claretie and Henri Cain, based on Claretie's short story ""La Cigarette"". It was first performed at Covent Garden in London on 20 June 1894, with Emma Calvé in the title role. The first performance was attended by the Prince of Wales and a command performance was then given at Windsor Castle. Flon conducted the Brussels premiere on 26"
"Rosalind Plowright Rosalind Anne Plowright (born 21 May 1949) is an English opera singer who spent much of her career as a soprano but in 1999 changed to the mezzo-soprano range. Rosalind Plowright was born in Worksop and studied at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and at the London Opera Centre. Plowright made her professional debut with Glyndebourne Touring Opera in 1975 as Agathe in ""Der Freischütz"". She sang Donna Elvira in ""Don Giovanni"" and the Countess in ""The Marriage of Figaro"" with the Glyndebourne Touring Opera in 1976 and 1977. Also in 1975, she appeared with"
"Rosa Mannion Rosa Mannion (born 1962) is a British operatic soprano who has sung leading roles both in the opera houses of the UK and Europe and in the recording studio. Although particularly known for her roles in the operas of Handel and Mozart, she sang a wide repertoire during her career including Violetta in ""La traviata"" and all three of the leading female roles in ""The Tales of Hoffmann"" (Olympia, Antonia, and Giulietta). Mannion was born in Liverpool and studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music before making her operatic debut in 1984 as Adina in ""L'elisir d'amore"""
"the opera, representing the distinct yet subtly connected realms of Sāvitri and Death. Donald Mitchell, in his highly critical comments on the opera, noted the influence of Richard Wagner in the vocal style, even as Holst had nominally renounced the epic scale of Wagner's operas in terms of size of musical forces. Byron Adams has described the opera's characters as more ""archetypes"" than people. By contrast, Andrew Clements has written highly of how well the opera combines 'Eastern' culture into a 'Western' music format. Sāvitri, wife of the woodman Satyavān, hears the voice of Death calling to her. He has"