At the age of nine, I began studying piano. In one of the early piano books I was assigned there was a piece called Habanera from the opera Carmen. Immediately the thought of the combination of music and drama appealed to me.
In 1950 at the age of 13, I watched the opening night of the Metropolitan Opera season on television. It was Rudolf Bing's first season as general manager and I felt that it was an omen. Mr. Bing's beginning at the Met was my beginning to the world of opera. Finally in 1952
I actually attended an opera for the first time. Carmen it was again, this time at the Boston Opera House. The Metropolitan was on its annual spring tour and the Wednesday matinee had in the balcony a group of high school kids eager to experience the Bizet score performed by one of the world's great opera companies. We were not disappointed, not with Rise Stevens in the cast.
Since then music has been of the utmost importance in my life. I have studied opera at Boston University. I have worked with opera groups in Boston and Cambridge. I have for many years been a ballet accompanist for Boston Ballet.
I have written articles for the New England Opera Club and the Boston Wagner Society. I have given programs on singers and composers for the NEOC. My in-home classes - Opera Soirees, which began in 2002, are only the latest manifestations of my willingness and ability to share my knowledge and enthusiasm for opera with others.
|