Evening at the Opera, Tuesdays at 8:00 pM

November 5

Peter Shimkin hosts a program titled La Boheme: Puccini and Leoncavallo. First we hear the evergreen Puccini version with Pavarotti and Freni. Then we assess the competing Leoncavallo rendition which focuses more on Musetta and Marcello. Is its almost universal neglect warranted?

November 12

Mel Siegel features Austrian tenor Leo Slezak. Mel tells us “Slezak was one of the greatest tenors of the 20th century. He sang many of the heroic roles in the Italian and German repertory such as Aida, Otello, Tannhauser and Lohengrin. Yet he could find his voice down to a wonderful mezza-voce and also sang Mozart and was noted for his leider singing. He kept his voice well into his fifties. This program will contain all the facets of his remarkable career.”

November 19

Peter Shimkin presents Così fan tutte IN ENGLISH. The last of Mozart's three operas using Lorenzo da Ponte as librettist. A supposedly silly comic plot set to a top grade Mozart score. However da Ponte was too cynical and as the plot evolves, it becomes serious and the ending is both ambivalent and disturbing. You will see what I mean as you follow this reasonably intelligible English language version.

November 26

Barry Gold features the artistry of Aksel Shiøtz who was a lyric tenor (opera, operetta, oratorio, art songs) and was considered the leading interpreter of lieder in Europe in the 30s and 40s. While recording the program here in Monroe, CT, Barry was joined by Ole Nielsen, Shiøtz’s grandson, who helped with background and Danish pronunciation. Nielsen’s mother Annette Schiøtz recorded six segments of narration from Copenhagen. Her insight illuminates the various stages Schiøtz’s life and career and is integrated with the music.