Tag Archives: opera

That Midnight Kiss(1949)

“That Midnight Kiss” was the first film ever to star Mario Lanza, and Hollywood immediately fell in love with this shy young man with the golden voice. He plays Johnny Donnetti, truck driver and son of Italian immigrants who run a restaurant. He studied opera for a time, but it never panned out for him, so he spends his time delivering furniture. Kathryn Grayson is Prudence Budell, a young lady who desperately wants to be an opera star. Her grandmother, Abigail Budell (Ethel Barrymore) is a wealthy woman who donates much of her fortune to the arts. She decides to … Continue reading →

Luciano Pavarotti Dies

He was arguably the most famous opera singer in the world for more than 35 years… and now, as actress Whoopi Goldberg announced this morning on ABC’s “The View,” God’s choir of angels just gained an amazing tenor. For those of you who missed the news: Luciano Pavarotti, the great Italian tenor who helped popularize opera in the 20th century, has died. He was 71. The singer had been battling pancreatic cancer since last year and last night (early morning in Italy) he finally succumbed to the insidious disease at his home in Modena. According to Pavarotti’s manager, the Maestro … Continue reading →

Trouble for Tenors

I am not much of an opera fan. That is to say, I am not an opera fan at all, but I can appreciate a great voice. One of those great voices just passed away and there are speculations that another one is seriously ill. World class tenor Jerry Hadley died today, a week after he attempted suicide. He was found unconscious last week in his Clinton Corners home after shooting himself with a air rifle. The 55-year-old had been on life support, but was removed from it two days ago. Hadley had a reputation for taking on demanding work, … Continue reading →

The Dog Who Sang at the Opera – Jim West and Marshall Izen

In “The Dog Who Sang at the Opera,” Pasha is a beautiful Russian wolfhound. She has a pedigree as long as your arm, and she carries herself with grace and dignity. “I am a queen,” she tells herself. Whenever she goes to the park with Shirley, her owner, everyone stops to stare at her, and she takes it in her due as being the loveliest dog there is. Shirley plays the piano for the Metropolitan Opera, and one day she comes home with exciting news. There is to be a carnival scene in the next production, and the director wants … Continue reading →

The Student Prince (1954)

A gorgeous and sweeping musical, “The Student Prince” has been one of my most favorite movies since the first time I saw it. I believe I was around ten, and the magic of it captured me and carried away. Edmund Purdom stars as Prince Karl, the selfish, stubborn prince of Karlsberg who is supposed to get married in order to secure the future of his kingdom. A lovely princess has been chosen for him, a gracious girl named Johanna, and they meet for the first time when the engagement is announced. He does very little to make her feel welcome, … Continue reading →

Music Notes

The state the late John Denver once called home is now honoring the legendary singer with a noteworthy tribute. Colorado lawmakers recently voted to make “Rocky Mountain High,” Denver’s love letter to his adopted state, the state’s second official song. The singer’s 1972 hit joins the state’s lesser-known “Where the Columbines Grow,” which was adopted in 1915, as the state’s co-anthem. Denver’s brother called the resolution “very cool” and said the singer would be “very honored.” Denver can thank Senator Bob Hagedorn who pushed for Denver’s song to be adopted. Hagedorn told reporters “Rocky Mountain High” has been an unofficial … Continue reading →

Make Mine Music (1946)

“Make Mine Music” is a classic Disney film that was probably a lot more popular with kids of a past era than it is with kids today. It’s a series of songs accompanied by illustrations, but it has no overriding plot to tie it all up. It’s like watching a whole bunch of shorts strung together, and while all of them are well done, I’m not sure all of them are very interesting to today’s more particular audience. We start the movie with the song “Blue Bayou,” where we see everything painted in blue. We drift through some dangling Spanish … Continue reading →

Runaway Bride—The Opera

No, the new show isn’t a way for actress Julia Roberts to prove that she has a terrific set of lungs. In fact, the new opera isn’t a take off of the 1999 film version of “Runaway Bride.” Rather, the musical is using the story of real-life runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks as its inspiration. “Runaway Bride” will be appearing at a local Minnesota theater in the form of a rock opera. The show is scheduled to open in October at the Red Clay Theatre and Arts Center in Duluth. If you decide to attend don’t expect to see a comedic … Continue reading →

Two Sisters from Boston (1946)

I had never heard of this film until I saw it on the shelf at my library, but being a huge Kathryn Grayson fan, I was pleased to make its acquaintance. Kathryn Grayson stars as Abigail Chandler, a young woman who wants to be an opera star. She has left behind her Boston home to study music in New York City, generously aided by her uncle. When the money he sends turns out to be inadequate, she hesitates to ask for more, and instead takes a job singing at The Golden Rooster, a bawdy house of song and dance. When … Continue reading →

The Song of the Lark – Willa Cather

“The Song of the Lark” by Willa Cather is similar in a lot of ways to “A White Bird Flying” by Bess Streeter Aldrich. “Lark,” too, is about a young girl who grows up knowing that she has a gift and wants to develop it into everything it can and should be, in this case the talent of singing, whereas in “Bird,” the talent is writing. Thea Kronberg is our heroine in “Lark.” The daughter of a preacher with seven children, she understands that her place is to help with the children, do her chores, and be obedient. Beyond that, … Continue reading →