This recording came from a radio braodcast of a concert version conducted by Arturo Toscanini 1954.
Today's Claramae Turner video is her fearsome rendition of Verdi's "Re dell'abisso affretati" from Un ballo in maschera. With thrilling Ab5's, a formidable chest register and a cavernous G3 to finish, surely this must be one of the best performances of Ulrica's satanic aria. This recording came from a radio braodcast of a concert version conducted by Arturo Toscanini 1954.
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This week, as a mark of respect to the great American contralto Claramae Turner who died last month, we will have an aria performed by Claramae each day this week. The first will be her most famous performance, that or Cousin Nettie in the film Carousel. The song is "You'll Never Walk Alone".
I'm glad she liked the site, and I'm also glad that I could bring a little bit of happiness to someone I both admired, and grew up listening to.
Do have a look at her Articles, Websites and Resources page, as I have listed a few obituaries there which give a lot of information about her life and work.
Claudel's relationship to Rodin was a stormy one. She became his model, muse and lover, though he never lived with her. After she had an unwanted abortion, she left her family home (her mother did not approve of her artistic life, though her father did) and stopped the physical side of her relationship with Rodin. Later, she seemed to become mentally ill, exhibiting signs of paranoia. She destroyed several of her statues, and accused Rodin of leading a conspiracy to kill her. She was incarcerated at the behest of her mother and brother. She died abandoned by her family, who kept her in the asylum against the advice of her doctors, who regularly proposed that she be released. None of her family attended her funeral. The performance dates are as follows:
July 31st @ 9:15 pm - Teatro degli Avvaloranti, Città della Pieve August 1st @ 9:15 pm - Teatro degli Avvaloranti, Città della Pieve August 2nd @ 9:15 pm - Teatro degli Avvaloranti, Città della Pieve August 6th @ 9:15 pm - Pavia, Province of Pavia August 8th @ 9:15 pm - Pavia, Province of Pavia
Below is a video of Ammann performing in The Rape of Lucretia by B. Britten. Today's contralto is the Italian Romina Boscolo. Boscolo has a wonderfully dark and mellow voice. In 2002, at the age of 20, she debuted as Ramiro in Mozart's "La Finta Giardiniera" in Genova, and followed that with her first starring role as Isabella in "L'italiana in Algeri" in Turin the following year. Check out her videos, recordings and info. Below is a video of Boscolo performing "Fac, ut portem" by G. B. Pergolesi. Scottish contralto Marion Ramsay has given her website a bit of an overhaul, with a great new title page. She has also added a Donate page to the website.
Marion will be performing next at Holy Trinity Church in Leamington on 22/06, as the Alto Soloist in Rossini's Petite Messe Solenelle. If any followers of the Contralto Corner are considering going, how about writing a review and sending a link, so I can share it here?
Below is a video of Petillot performing "Gemo in un punto e fremo" by A. Vivaldi. Another contralto for you all to hear: Chinese contralto Qui Lin Zhang. Zhang is carving out a spectacular career for herself in France. She has performed in the roles of Erda, Aczucena, Suzuki, Néris, and the third Lady in Die Zauberflöte. She also performs as the alto soloist in Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and in Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody. Do check out her videos and info. Below is a video of Zhang performing "Stride la Vampa" by G. Verdi. Hello everybody! We have another new addition to the site: Swedish contralto Karin Branzell. Branzell was a well known singer in both America (at the Metropolitan Opera) and in Europe. A distinguished exponent of the Wagnerian contralto roles, Branzell as well as the key Straussian roles of Klytemnestra and Herodias. She also sang, with great success, the mezzo roles of Dalila and Carmen. Do make sure you check out her videos, and keep the suggestions coming in! Here is her version of "O schöne Jugendtage" from Wilhelm Kienzl's opera Der Evangelimann. |
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