Re: Lanza's Surviving Tanglewood Colleagues
242 views
Skip to first unread message
Message has been deleted
gary from N.S.
Nov 23, 2008, 6:31:05 PM11/23/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Hi Derek and Lou,
This was a very interesting post. Derek, I must agree with Lou, on the
point of trying to make a contact with either or both of the ladies
mentioned. I enjoyed reading about the musical accomplishments of
Helen Boatwright as I checked some leads on her on google.She has
spent many years involved in music,and from what I see she is at her
advanced years a very 'sharp' individual. It would be terrific if she
had something interesting to say about Mario.I shall try today or
tomorrow (Sunday) to locate more info. on Helen and if I turn up
something useful,I shall pass it on to you,so you can make contact.
I was not successful in getting info. on Irma Gonzalez..
Cheers
Gary
On Nov 23, 7:06 am, Lou <louab...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi Derek: Perhaps Ms. Boatwright's comment that Mario would take
> one's hand if one got near him was what Goldovsky had in mind when he
> said that Mario
> was "pawing the girls" at Tanglewood. :-)
>
> I'd urge you, Derek, to give in to the temptation of contacting Ms.
> Boatwright. Also Ms. Gonzalez. They and all other living persons who
> knew Mario personally and whose memories are still reliable are fast-
> dwindling, non-renewable resources in the Lanza world. We are lucky
> that they are still around. If we have the chance, I think it'd be a
> shame not to track them down for the precious nuggets, perhaps lodes,
> of firsthand information they may be willing to share.
>
> On Nov 22, 5:40 pm, Derek McGovern <derek.mcgov...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Today I came across an online news report about soprano Helen
> > Boatwright, whose name was vaguely familiar to me. It turns out that
> > she sang with Lanza in his second performance of The Merry Wives of
> > Windsor at Tanglewood in 1942 under the name of Helen Strassburger --
> > and, at 92, she is still singing today! In fact, she's due to perform
> > a recital of lieder tomorrow.
>
> > I find it strangely moving -- not to mention extraordinary -- that one
> > of Mario's colleagues (and five years his senior to boot) is still
> > active as a performer in 2008.
>
> > Ms. Boatwright, who, like Lanza, had won a scholarship to Tanglewood
> > that year, sang the role of Anne Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor.
> > (Six days earlier, Lois McMahon, with whom Mario privately recorded O
> > Soave Fanciulla that year, had sung this part.) Unfortunately, in the
> > news report, Ms. Boatwright doesn't offer any assessment of Lanza's
> > singing at Tanglewood, though amusingly she says of him, "Don't get
> > near him. He'll take your hand."
>
> > Here's the link to this story:
>
> >http://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-2...
>
> > Actually, I'm tempted to try to contact Ms. Boatwright for further
> > reminiscences! It shouldn't be too difficult to track her down.
>
> > Coincidentally, another of Lanza's Tanglewood colleagues, soprano Irma
> > Gonzalez -- with whom he performed Act III of La Boheme to excellent
> > reviews -- also spoke recently of her time with him:
>
> > "Maestro Carlos Chavez sent me to study at the Berkshire Music Center.
> > There I saw Leonard Bernstein again along with Aaron Copeland. There I
> > also sang one of my first Mimis with Mario Lanza.
>
> > "Later I went with him to an audition at the Met in New York. He was
> > a
> > charming boy, very correct, likeable with a powerful, beautiful
> > voice".
>
> > What a contrast to the reminiscences of conductor Boris Goldovsky
> > (discussed elsewhere on this forum)! Lanza presumably felt the same
> > way about Irma, for he once referred to her in an interview as "South
> > America's greatest diva."
>
> > Incidentally, her reference to a Met audition is curious, and I'd love
> > to know more about it. I wonder if she meant that Lanza accompanied
> > *her* to an audition there?
>
>
This was a very interesting post. Derek, I must agree with Lou, on the
point of trying to make a contact with either or both of the ladies
mentioned. I enjoyed reading about the musical accomplishments of
Helen Boatwright as I checked some leads on her on google.She has
spent many years involved in music,and from what I see she is at her
advanced years a very 'sharp' individual. It would be terrific if she
had something interesting to say about Mario.I shall try today or
tomorrow (Sunday) to locate more info. on Helen and if I turn up
something useful,I shall pass it on to you,so you can make contact.
I was not successful in getting info. on Irma Gonzalez..
Cheers
Gary
On Nov 23, 7:06 am, Lou <louab...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi Derek: Perhaps Ms. Boatwright's comment that Mario would take
> one's hand if one got near him was what Goldovsky had in mind when he
> said that Mario
> was "pawing the girls" at Tanglewood. :-)
>
> I'd urge you, Derek, to give in to the temptation of contacting Ms.
> Boatwright. Also Ms. Gonzalez. They and all other living persons who
> knew Mario personally and whose memories are still reliable are fast-
> dwindling, non-renewable resources in the Lanza world. We are lucky
> that they are still around. If we have the chance, I think it'd be a
> shame not to track them down for the precious nuggets, perhaps lodes,
> of firsthand information they may be willing to share.
>
> On Nov 22, 5:40 pm, Derek McGovern <derek.mcgov...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Today I came across an online news report about soprano Helen
> > Boatwright, whose name was vaguely familiar to me. It turns out that
> > she sang with Lanza in his second performance of The Merry Wives of
> > Windsor at Tanglewood in 1942 under the name of Helen Strassburger --
> > and, at 92, she is still singing today! In fact, she's due to perform
> > a recital of lieder tomorrow.
>
> > I find it strangely moving -- not to mention extraordinary -- that one
> > of Mario's colleagues (and five years his senior to boot) is still
> > active as a performer in 2008.
>
> > Ms. Boatwright, who, like Lanza, had won a scholarship to Tanglewood
> > that year, sang the role of Anne Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor.
> > (Six days earlier, Lois McMahon, with whom Mario privately recorded O
> > Soave Fanciulla that year, had sung this part.) Unfortunately, in the
> > news report, Ms. Boatwright doesn't offer any assessment of Lanza's
> > singing at Tanglewood, though amusingly she says of him, "Don't get
> > near him. He'll take your hand."
>
> > Here's the link to this story:
>
> >http://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-2...
>
> > Actually, I'm tempted to try to contact Ms. Boatwright for further
> > reminiscences! It shouldn't be too difficult to track her down.
>
> > Coincidentally, another of Lanza's Tanglewood colleagues, soprano Irma
> > Gonzalez -- with whom he performed Act III of La Boheme to excellent
> > reviews -- also spoke recently of her time with him:
>
> > "Maestro Carlos Chavez sent me to study at the Berkshire Music Center.
> > There I saw Leonard Bernstein again along with Aaron Copeland. There I
> > also sang one of my first Mimis with Mario Lanza.
>
> > "Later I went with him to an audition at the Met in New York. He was
> > a
> > charming boy, very correct, likeable with a powerful, beautiful
> > voice".
>
> > What a contrast to the reminiscences of conductor Boris Goldovsky
> > (discussed elsewhere on this forum)! Lanza presumably felt the same
> > way about Irma, for he once referred to her in an interview as "South
> > America's greatest diva."
>
> > Incidentally, her reference to a Met audition is curious, and I'd love
> > to know more about it. I wonder if she meant that Lanza accompanied
> > *her* to an audition there?
>
>
Derek McGovern
Nov 23, 2008, 7:27:00 PM11/23/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Hi Lou & Gary: Yes, I will try to get into contact with both ladies --
but not until early in the new year, as another distraction from my
thesis would probably prove fatal to it :-) But, of course, there's
nothing stopping any of our other sleuths here from approaching either
woman in the meantime.
Yes, sadly, there's very little information available on the internet
(or at least in English) on Irma Gonzalez, who, incidentally,
shouldn't be confused with a wrestler of the same name who's appeared
in films :-) I assume she didn't have a particularly long career as a
singer -- and, from memory, it was mainly confined to South America --
as by the 1970s she was teaching at Mexico's Conservatorio Nacional de
Musica. One of her students was the Mexican tenor Francisco Araiza.
On Nov 24, 12:31 pm, "gary from N.S." <gmaid...@ns.sympatico.ca>
wrote:
but not until early in the new year, as another distraction from my
thesis would probably prove fatal to it :-) But, of course, there's
nothing stopping any of our other sleuths here from approaching either
woman in the meantime.
Yes, sadly, there's very little information available on the internet
(or at least in English) on Irma Gonzalez, who, incidentally,
shouldn't be confused with a wrestler of the same name who's appeared
in films :-) I assume she didn't have a particularly long career as a
singer -- and, from memory, it was mainly confined to South America --
as by the 1970s she was teaching at Mexico's Conservatorio Nacional de
Musica. One of her students was the Mexican tenor Francisco Araiza.
On Nov 24, 12:31 pm, "gary from N.S." <gmaid...@ns.sympatico.ca>
wrote:
Derek McGovern
Nov 23, 2008, 8:12:55 PM11/23/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
OK, I couldn't help myself :-) I've just e-mailed the information
person at Civic Morning Musicals, a New York-based organization with
which Helen Boatwright has been associated for many years, to see if
he/she can put me in touch with the soprano. And here's the link to a
radio interview from just a few days ago with Ms. Boatwright on WCNY-
FM: http://www.civicmorningmusicals.org/ . Unfortunately, she doesn't
discuss Lanza (though at the end, when she starts reminiscing about
her early career, one senses that she's about to mention him -- before
being abruptly cut off by the announcer), but the interview does
feature a couple of her recordings.
person at Civic Morning Musicals, a New York-based organization with
which Helen Boatwright has been associated for many years, to see if
he/she can put me in touch with the soprano. And here's the link to a
radio interview from just a few days ago with Ms. Boatwright on WCNY-
FM: http://www.civicmorningmusicals.org/ . Unfortunately, she doesn't
discuss Lanza (though at the end, when she starts reminiscing about
her early career, one senses that she's about to mention him -- before
being abruptly cut off by the announcer), but the interview does
feature a couple of her recordings.
Armando
Nov 25, 2008, 8:58:14 PM11/25/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
I found the following links for Helen Boatwright:
http://blog.syracuse.com/video/2006/11/helen_boatwright.html
http://sunews.syr.edu/story_details.cfm?id=1965
Message has been deleted
Derek McGovern
Dec 3, 2008, 9:53:49 PM12/3/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Lou, Muriel, and Gary will no doubt be pleased to hear that I'm on the
trail of Mexican soprano Irma González and that I may well have
contact details for her soon. In the meantime, Armando has managed to
speak via telephone with Helen Boatwright, thanks to the detective
work of Muriella.
Ms. Boatwright (née Strassburger) didn't have a great deal to say on
her memories of singing with Lanza at Tanglewood in 1942. Theirs
appears to have been only a working relationship, and I think it's
fair to say that a serious-minded academic like herself -- a protege
of Goldovsky and a singer for whom correct musicianship was (& still
is) of supreme importance -- wouldn't have had a great deal in common
with the zestful, uninhibited 21-year-old Lanza. She recalled that he
was handsome, with a stunning voice, but, unsurprisingly, was critical
of his lack of musicianship at the time. She did, however, acknowledge
that he was musical. (Musicality and musicianship are quite different
things, of course.)
So there you have it! Many thanks to Armando for letting me share the
above.
trail of Mexican soprano Irma González and that I may well have
contact details for her soon. In the meantime, Armando has managed to
speak via telephone with Helen Boatwright, thanks to the detective
work of Muriella.
Ms. Boatwright (née Strassburger) didn't have a great deal to say on
her memories of singing with Lanza at Tanglewood in 1942. Theirs
appears to have been only a working relationship, and I think it's
fair to say that a serious-minded academic like herself -- a protege
of Goldovsky and a singer for whom correct musicianship was (& still
is) of supreme importance -- wouldn't have had a great deal in common
with the zestful, uninhibited 21-year-old Lanza. She recalled that he
was handsome, with a stunning voice, but, unsurprisingly, was critical
of his lack of musicianship at the time. She did, however, acknowledge
that he was musical. (Musicality and musicianship are quite different
things, of course.)
So there you have it! Many thanks to Armando for letting me share the
above.
Message has been deleted
Derek McGovern
Dec 4, 2008, 8:03:08 PM12/4/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Here's a chilling coincidence: I spent much of yesterday trying to
obtain contact details for Irma González -- finally succeeding
overnight, when I was given her phone number in Mexico -- and now I
have just learned that Ms. González died earlier today (December 4th,
Mexican time). Unbelievable. She was 92.
RIP, Irma.
obtain contact details for Irma González -- finally succeeding
overnight, when I was given her phone number in Mexico -- and now I
have just learned that Ms. González died earlier today (December 4th,
Mexican time). Unbelievable. She was 92.
RIP, Irma.
Muriel
Dec 4, 2008, 8:53:38 PM12/4/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Hi Derek: I was glad to help find Helen Boatwright's phone number.
Yes, from what I read and heard from the links, she seemed to be very
serious-minded musically. I'm glad she recalled Mario's stunning
voice, though. It would be fun to have a recording of his
"uninhibited" approach to singing, wouldn't it? That she recalls his
musicality after so many years, is quite a compliment!!
Thanks, Armando for phoning her. Her voice sounds many years younger
than I'd expect.
Yes, from what I read and heard from the links, she seemed to be very
serious-minded musically. I'm glad she recalled Mario's stunning
voice, though. It would be fun to have a recording of his
"uninhibited" approach to singing, wouldn't it? That she recalls his
musicality after so many years, is quite a compliment!!
Thanks, Armando for phoning her. Her voice sounds many years younger
than I'd expect.
Muriel
Dec 4, 2008, 9:02:46 PM12/4/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
That is eerie, Derek. Helen Boatwright is also 92. Mario's generation
is becoming fragile now. Molto triste....
is becoming fragile now. Molto triste....
Lou
Dec 5, 2008, 2:22:43 AM12/5/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
How sad and frustrating, Derek, that Irma Gonzalez should die on you
only a few hours after you finally succeeded in getting her phone
number. Now we'll probably never know what she and Mario auditioned
for at the Met. (If he merely accompanied her to *her* audition,
wouldn't she have said so outright?) At any rate, I'm glad it's on
record that she found Mario charming, very correct, and likeable;
otherwise, those who are curious about what he was like at Tanglewood
would have only Goldovsky's description of him to go by: "a fat,
uncouth individual who behaved like a vulgar lecher." (Shades of
Jekyll and Hyde!)
Many thanks to Muriel for tracking down Helen Boatwright's phone
number and to Armando for sharing the result of their phone
conversation. One hit out of two tries is not bad. Mario was five
years younger than both Helen and Irma, so there must be a number of
potential information sources closer to his age who are still around
and, who knows, just waiting to be tapped. I think it's worthwhile
following every promising lead.
> > RIP, Irma.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
only a few hours after you finally succeeded in getting her phone
number. Now we'll probably never know what she and Mario auditioned
for at the Met. (If he merely accompanied her to *her* audition,
wouldn't she have said so outright?) At any rate, I'm glad it's on
record that she found Mario charming, very correct, and likeable;
otherwise, those who are curious about what he was like at Tanglewood
would have only Goldovsky's description of him to go by: "a fat,
uncouth individual who behaved like a vulgar lecher." (Shades of
Jekyll and Hyde!)
Many thanks to Muriel for tracking down Helen Boatwright's phone
number and to Armando for sharing the result of their phone
conversation. One hit out of two tries is not bad. Mario was five
years younger than both Helen and Irma, so there must be a number of
potential information sources closer to his age who are still around
and, who knows, just waiting to be tapped. I think it's worthwhile
following every promising lead.
>
> - Show quoted text -
Derek McGovern
Dec 5, 2008, 1:59:02 PM12/5/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Hi Lou: Yes, it was incredibly bad luck and indeed "eerie", as
Muriella has noted. Still, as you say, at least we have Ms. González's
brief but glowing comments on Lanza from an interview that she gave
earlier this year. As for the Met audition that she mentioned, I do
think it's more likely that she meant that Mario had attended *her*
audition, rather than the pair of them auditioning together there. As
Armando pointed out to me privately, if Lanza thought he wasn't ready
for the Met in 1946 (when he turned down General Manager Edward
Johnson's invitation to join that company), why would he have
auditioned there four years earlier?
Cheers
Derek
Muriella has noted. Still, as you say, at least we have Ms. González's
brief but glowing comments on Lanza from an interview that she gave
earlier this year. As for the Met audition that she mentioned, I do
think it's more likely that she meant that Mario had attended *her*
audition, rather than the pair of them auditioning together there. As
Armando pointed out to me privately, if Lanza thought he wasn't ready
for the Met in 1946 (when he turned down General Manager Edward
Johnson's invitation to join that company), why would he have
auditioned there four years earlier?
Cheers
Derek
Derek McGovern
Dec 5, 2008, 2:11:42 PM12/5/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
> Mario was five
> years younger than both Helen and Irma, so there must be a number of
> potential information sources closer to his age who are still around
> and, who knows, just waiting to be tapped. I think it's worthwhile
> following every promising lead.
Lou: I agree that it's worthwhile, but it's just that currently I have
> years younger than both Helen and Irma, so there must be a number of
> potential information sources closer to his age who are still around
> and, who knows, just waiting to be tapped. I think it's worthwhile
> following every promising lead.
so little free time for sleuthing :-) I would, however, like to locate
Gloria Boh (assuming she's still alive -- she'd be in her late 70s or
early 80s if she is), as I have several burning questions for her
about the Otello duet that she recorded with Lanza. I know that you
discovered that she has an "alternative" rock musician son, but so far
I haven't managed to find an e-mail address for him.
Message has been deleted
Lou
Dec 6, 2008, 4:50:14 AM12/6/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Hi Derek: My suggestion to follow every promising lead is addressed
to
all members of this forum. Although I know how totally committed you
are to Lanza's cause, I would be the first to insist that it take a
back seat to your thesis-writing. Those of us who have relatively more
discretionary time can keep our eyes and ears open for clues from
articles, interviews, etc. and do the googling or other spadework. I
believe, though, that the actual contact is best left to you and
Armando as your names have the cachet to guarantee the legitimacy of
the inquiry.
Re Gloria Boh's son, Warren Fischer, I found this email address of
his
Fischerspooner band: in...@fischerspooner.com.
to
all members of this forum. Although I know how totally committed you
are to Lanza's cause, I would be the first to insist that it take a
back seat to your thesis-writing. Those of us who have relatively more
discretionary time can keep our eyes and ears open for clues from
articles, interviews, etc. and do the googling or other spadework. I
believe, though, that the actual contact is best left to you and
Armando as your names have the cachet to guarantee the legitimacy of
the inquiry.
Re Gloria Boh's son, Warren Fischer, I found this email address of
his
Fischerspooner band: in...@fischerspooner.com.
Message has been deleted
Message has been deleted
gary from N.S.
Dec 6, 2008, 7:57:57 AM12/6/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Hello to all..this is an interesting thread to say the least..
Muriel I must ask you, when you found Helen Boatwright's tel.
number,was it listed under the name Helen Boatwright 111..that is a
listing I found,but did not pass it on as I found it after you had
made mention.
Derek, what an incredible coincidence in your search re. Irma.
I am glad you are not searching for me :-)
I am also not able to give much time in these types of searches,but I
do what I can,when time permits. It is all part of doing an
investigation that just might "pay off" with something that could be
of tremendous interest in "Lanza World"..and its' always a challenge.
I started checking on Gloria Boh a while back when her name first
appeared here, and I had no luck. Derek,and Muriel if you have any
leads and no time re. Gloria Boh,pass on what you have, via e-m and I
will try to find something.I enjoy "sleuthing" :-)
Muriel I must ask you, when you found Helen Boatwright's tel.
number,was it listed under the name Helen Boatwright 111..that is a
listing I found,but did not pass it on as I found it after you had
made mention.
Derek, what an incredible coincidence in your search re. Irma.
I am glad you are not searching for me :-)
I am also not able to give much time in these types of searches,but I
do what I can,when time permits. It is all part of doing an
investigation that just might "pay off" with something that could be
of tremendous interest in "Lanza World"..and its' always a challenge.
I started checking on Gloria Boh a while back when her name first
appeared here, and I had no luck. Derek,and Muriel if you have any
leads and no time re. Gloria Boh,pass on what you have, via e-m and I
will try to find something.I enjoy "sleuthing" :-)
Muriel
Dec 6, 2008, 8:33:36 AM12/6/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Hi Gary: No, that isn't what I found in my search. I Googled in the
Fayetteville, NY phone directory and found two listings for that name.
One stated the age as 65+ and the other 92. I was curious and paid a
whopping $2.90 for further information. It then gave all ages as 92,
but with two different addresses. I then figured that she had moved
and the listings included all addresses. I forwarded both to Derek and
Armando and Armando called successfully as we have discovered. It even
gave the names of two relatives. Actually, you can pay for more
detailed info if you are searching for background checks, etc. This
was all the info we needed, though.
Perhaps if we investigate that e-mail address Lou has found, we might
be able to catch up with Gloria Boh. Thanks, Lou, for that.
Derek, what do you think? It might be fun.....
Derek and Armando, I'll keep trying to get Placido Domingo's e-mail
address.....or maybe I should take a trip down to the Watergate in DC
where the Washington National Opera has its offices.
> > I haven't managed to find an e-mail address for him.- Hide quoted text -
Fayetteville, NY phone directory and found two listings for that name.
One stated the age as 65+ and the other 92. I was curious and paid a
whopping $2.90 for further information. It then gave all ages as 92,
but with two different addresses. I then figured that she had moved
and the listings included all addresses. I forwarded both to Derek and
Armando and Armando called successfully as we have discovered. It even
gave the names of two relatives. Actually, you can pay for more
detailed info if you are searching for background checks, etc. This
was all the info we needed, though.
Perhaps if we investigate that e-mail address Lou has found, we might
be able to catch up with Gloria Boh. Thanks, Lou, for that.
Derek, what do you think? It might be fun.....
Derek and Armando, I'll keep trying to get Placido Domingo's e-mail
address.....or maybe I should take a trip down to the Watergate in DC
where the Washington National Opera has its offices.
Message has been deleted
Message has been deleted
Message has been deleted
Message has been deleted
Derek McGovern
Dec 10, 2008, 8:00:11 PM12/10/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Hi Lou: Thanks to your help, I finally managed to get in touch with
Warren Fischer! You'll be delighted to know that he not only confirmed
that his mother, Gloria Boh, was alive and well, but after checking
with her (and telling her the purpose of my inquiry), he gave me her
home phone number. I've just finished talking to her -- we must have
chatted for over 40 minutes! -- and I'm happy to report that she was
an absolute delight. "You've made my day," she told me at the end.
Well! She certainly made *mine*. I don't have time today to write any
more, but rest assured that I'll be posting something tomorrow.
Thanks again, Lou.
Warren Fischer! You'll be delighted to know that he not only confirmed
that his mother, Gloria Boh, was alive and well, but after checking
with her (and telling her the purpose of my inquiry), he gave me her
home phone number. I've just finished talking to her -- we must have
chatted for over 40 minutes! -- and I'm happy to report that she was
an absolute delight. "You've made my day," she told me at the end.
Well! She certainly made *mine*. I don't have time today to write any
more, but rest assured that I'll be posting something tomorrow.
Thanks again, Lou.
Message has been deleted
Muriel
Dec 10, 2008, 8:49:48 PM12/10/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
The old adage "never say die" has a new meaning today. Thanks to Lou
and Derek! We've had many false starts, even recently, but I cannnot
tell you how this one satisfying bit of news has warmed my heart
today. I've wondered for years about the mysterious Ms. Boh and now
Derek is holding the *mystery* in his very capable hands. Knowing our
brilliant leader, I'm sure he has asked all the right questions and
has gotten all the important facts lined up in a row.
I wish I were more computer savvy as I know I'd find so much more that
is wonderful about our world and the people in it. My grandchildren
run rings around me each day.
I'm already trying not to hold my breath, but when that shoe drops
I'll be beside myself. This link to Mario is a treasure.
Mille gracie ancora...Muriel
PS: An ongoing course of steroids for a severely painful medical
problem has put this already emotional me quite out of control. Have
patience....
and Derek! We've had many false starts, even recently, but I cannnot
tell you how this one satisfying bit of news has warmed my heart
today. I've wondered for years about the mysterious Ms. Boh and now
Derek is holding the *mystery* in his very capable hands. Knowing our
brilliant leader, I'm sure he has asked all the right questions and
has gotten all the important facts lined up in a row.
I wish I were more computer savvy as I know I'd find so much more that
is wonderful about our world and the people in it. My grandchildren
run rings around me each day.
I'm already trying not to hold my breath, but when that shoe drops
I'll be beside myself. This link to Mario is a treasure.
Mille gracie ancora...Muriel
PS: An ongoing course of steroids for a severely painful medical
problem has put this already emotional me quite out of control. Have
patience....
Lou
Dec 10, 2008, 9:13:29 PM12/10/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
You've made my day, too, Derek, with that wonderful news!
On Dec 10, 5:26 pm, "Jan Hodges" <jmhod...@netspace.net.au> wrote:
> Wow Derek you certainly don't let the grass grow under your feet. I can't
> wait. Thanks Lou for being such a good detective.
> Jan
>
> Derek wrote <Hi Lou: Thanks to your help, I finally managed to get in touch
> With her (and telling her the purpose of my inquiry), he gave me her
> Home phone number. I've just finished talking to her -- we must have
> Chatted for over 40 minutes! -- and I'm happy to report that she was
> An absolute delight. "You've made my day," she told me at the end.
> Thanks again, Lou.>
On Dec 10, 5:26 pm, "Jan Hodges" <jmhod...@netspace.net.au> wrote:
> Wow Derek you certainly don't let the grass grow under your feet. I can't
> wait. Thanks Lou for being such a good detective.
> Jan
>
> Derek wrote <Hi Lou: Thanks to your help, I finally managed to get in touch
> with
> Warren Fischer! You'll be delighted to know that he not only confirmed
> That his mother, Gloria Boh, was alive and well, but after checking
> Warren Fischer! You'll be delighted to know that he not only confirmed
> With her (and telling her the purpose of my inquiry), he gave me her
> Home phone number. I've just finished talking to her -- we must have
> Chatted for over 40 minutes! -- and I'm happy to report that she was
> An absolute delight. "You've made my day," she told me at the end.
> Well! She certainly made *mine*. I don't have time today to write any
> More, but rest assured that I'll be posting something tomorrow.
> Thanks again, Lou.>
Message has been deleted
Message has been deleted
Armando
Dec 10, 2008, 10:48:12 PM12/10/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Magnificent work, Derek!
Mike McAdam
Dec 11, 2008, 10:17:27 AM12/11/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
Lou, Derek: kudos to you both. The remaining threads of linkage to
Mario Lanza are so gossamer thin or gone to dust that it is truly
uplifting to think we may be treated to some *first-hand*
reminiscences about Mario from one who sang with him. Great work,
cats.
M.
> > Thanks again, Lou.- Hide quoted text -
Mario Lanza are so gossamer thin or gone to dust that it is truly
uplifting to think we may be treated to some *first-hand*
reminiscences about Mario from one who sang with him. Great work,
cats.
M.
Mike McAdam
Dec 11, 2008, 10:20:21 AM12/11/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
In this Tanglewood thread I must ask: did George London not get
featured at all (or recorded ) in that famous 1947 Hollywood Bowl
concert. We only see Mario and Frances. Was George not part of that
evening? Curious. (Derek: forgot to look if a Hollywood Bowl thread
was still within its 60 days?)
> > Thanks again, Lou.- Hide quoted text -
featured at all (or recorded ) in that famous 1947 Hollywood Bowl
concert. We only see Mario and Frances. Was George not part of that
evening? Curious. (Derek: forgot to look if a Hollywood Bowl thread
was still within its 60 days?)
Derek McGovern
Dec 11, 2008, 6:41:36 PM12/11/08
to The Mario Lanza Forum
On Dec 12, 4:20 am, Mike McAdam <macadame...@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:
> In this Tanglewood thread I must ask: did George London not get
> featured at all (or recorded ) in that famous 1947 Hollywood Bowl
> concert. We only see Mario and Frances. Was George not part of that
> evening? Curious.
Mike: George London was only in the audience that evening. Pity! But
> In this Tanglewood thread I must ask: did George London not get
> featured at all (or recorded ) in that famous 1947 Hollywood Bowl
> concert. We only see Mario and Frances. Was George not part of that
> evening? Curious.
it wasn't a Bel Canto Trio concert as such; Mario had simply stepped
in for an indisposed Ferruccio Tagliavini.
Cheers
Derek
Derek McGovern
Apr 27, 2017, 10:52:23 AM4/27/17
to mario...@googlegroups.com
Today I came across an online news report about soprano Helen
Boatwright, whose name was vaguely familiar to me. It turns out that
she sang with Lanza in his second performance of The Merry Wives of
Windsor at Tanglewood in 1942 under the name of Helen Strassburger --
and, at 92, she is still singing today! In fact, she's due to perform
a recital of lieder tomorrow.
I find it strangely moving -- not to mention extraordinary -- that one of Mario's colleagues (and five years his senior to boot) is still active as a performer in 2008.
Ms. Boatwright, who, like Lanza, had won a scholarship to Tanglewood that year, sang the role of Anne Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor. (Six days earlier, Lois McMahon, with whom Mario privately recorded O Soave Fanciulla that year, had sung this part.) Unfortunately, in the news report, Ms. Boatwright doesn't offer any assessment of Lanza's singing at Tanglewood, though amusingly she says of him, "Don't get near him. He'll take your hand."
Here's the link to this story:
http://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-2/1227347730291590.xml&coll=1
Actually, I'm tempted to try to contact Ms. Boatwright for further reminiscences! It shouldn't be too difficult to track her down.
Coincidentally, another of Lanza's Tanglewood colleagues, soprano Irma Gonzalez -- with whom he performed Act III of La Boheme to excellent reviews -- also spoke recently of her time with him:
"Maestro Carlos Chavez sent me to study at the Berkshire Music Center. There I saw Leonard Bernstein again along with Aaron Copeland. There I also sang one of my first Mimis with Mario Lanza.
"Later I went with him to an audition at the Met in New York. He was a charming boy, very correct, likeable with a powerful, beautiful voice".
What a contrast to the reminiscences of conductor Boris Goldovsky (discussed elsewhere on this forum)! Lanza presumably felt the same way about Irma, for he once referred to her in an interview as "South America's greatest diva."
Incidentally, her reference to a Met audition is curious, and I'd love to know more about it. I wonder if she meant that Lanza accompanied *her* to an audition there?
I find it strangely moving -- not to mention extraordinary -- that one of Mario's colleagues (and five years his senior to boot) is still active as a performer in 2008.
Ms. Boatwright, who, like Lanza, had won a scholarship to Tanglewood that year, sang the role of Anne Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor. (Six days earlier, Lois McMahon, with whom Mario privately recorded O Soave Fanciulla that year, had sung this part.) Unfortunately, in the news report, Ms. Boatwright doesn't offer any assessment of Lanza's singing at Tanglewood, though amusingly she says of him, "Don't get near him. He'll take your hand."
Here's the link to this story:
http://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-2/1227347730291590.xml&coll=1
Actually, I'm tempted to try to contact Ms. Boatwright for further reminiscences! It shouldn't be too difficult to track her down.
Coincidentally, another of Lanza's Tanglewood colleagues, soprano Irma Gonzalez -- with whom he performed Act III of La Boheme to excellent reviews -- also spoke recently of her time with him:
"Maestro Carlos Chavez sent me to study at the Berkshire Music Center. There I saw Leonard Bernstein again along with Aaron Copeland. There I also sang one of my first Mimis with Mario Lanza.
"Later I went with him to an audition at the Met in New York. He was a charming boy, very correct, likeable with a powerful, beautiful voice".
What a contrast to the reminiscences of conductor Boris Goldovsky (discussed elsewhere on this forum)! Lanza presumably felt the same way about Irma, for he once referred to her in an interview as "South America's greatest diva."
Incidentally, her reference to a Met audition is curious, and I'd love to know more about it. I wonder if she meant that Lanza accompanied *her* to an audition there?
Lou
Jul 6, 2017, 12:26:47 AM7/6/17
to mario...@googlegroups.com
Hi Derek: Perhaps Ms. Boatwright's comment that Mario would take
one's hand if one got near him was what Goldovsky had in mind when he
said that Mario
was "pawing the girls" at Tanglewood. :-)
I'd urge you, Derek, to give in to the temptation of contacting Ms.
Boatwright. Also Ms. Gonzalez. They and all other living persons who
knew Mario personally and whose memories are still reliable are fast-
dwindling, non-renewable resources in the Lanza world. We are lucky
that they are still around. If we have the chance, I think it'd be a
shame not to track them down for the precious nuggets, perhaps lodes,
of firsthand information they may be willing to share.
one's hand if one got near him was what Goldovsky had in mind when he
said that Mario
was "pawing the girls" at Tanglewood. :-)
I'd urge you, Derek, to give in to the temptation of contacting Ms.
Boatwright. Also Ms. Gonzalez. They and all other living persons who
knew Mario personally and whose memories are still reliable are fast-
dwindling, non-renewable resources in the Lanza world. We are lucky
that they are still around. If we have the chance, I think it'd be a
shame not to track them down for the precious nuggets, perhaps lodes,
of firsthand information they may be willing to share.
Muriel
Jul 6, 2017, 12:27:21 AM7/6/17
to mario...@googlegroups.com
Did you say she is 92? That is amazing as her voice is very much
intact. Thanks, I enjoyed listening. She speaks well and seems to have
total recall mentioning the names of composers, conductors, singers,
etc. (Well, except for Eugene Ormandy.) She was talking about
Philadelphia, though, so might have been on the verge of mentioning
Mario....I wonder.
intact. Thanks, I enjoyed listening. She speaks well and seems to have
total recall mentioning the names of composers, conductors, singers,
etc. (Well, except for Eugene Ormandy.) She was talking about
Philadelphia, though, so might have been on the verge of mentioning
Mario....I wonder.
Steff Walzinger
Apr 23, 2017, 8:25:16 AM4/23/17
to Mario Lanza, Tenor
Another of Mario’s fellow students from Tanglewood: SHEILA VOGELLE:
The other day I looked through some of my archive material about Mario Lanza’s Tanglewood time and had a closer look at the names of the students who performed the third act of Giacomo Puccini’s opera “La Bohème” on the occasion of the “Russian War Relief Benefit” on 14 August 1942. Irma Gonzales was “Mimi,” Mario was Rodolfo and Sheila Vogelle sang the role of “Musetta” (Boris Goldovsky conducting). When I browsed the Web to find a photo of the coloratura soprano Sheila Vogelle I learned that she only died last year at the age of 95!
From her obituary (in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 6 March 2016): “Gollub, Sheila Vogel died in University City, Missouri, on March 2, 2016, of heart failure. She was 95. Sheila Vogel was born June 21, 1920, in Chicago, Illinois, where she graduated from John Marshall High School. She had a long career as a singer under the name Sheila Vogelle, performing lyric soprano roles with the Chicago Civic Opera and San Carlo Opera as well as elsewhere. She appeared on Broadway in the 1948 musical Ballet Ballads. She married Myron Gollub in 1948 […].”
Now you might understand how delighted I was to even come across a few recordings of Sheila on you-tube which her son David Gollub uploaded about half a year ago and which you can find here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKY023ZEgY4kvdy9z4_O2OQ
All recordings are with piano accompaniment, and given the scratchy sound they appear to be private ones (maybe rehearsals with a voice coach?).
I hope you enjoy!
As an aside, in April 1942, Sheila Vogelle appeared in a radio broadcast of “Great Moments in Music” opposite Jean Tennyson, Jan Peerce and Robert Weede in excerpts from Ambroise Thomas’ opera “Mignon.” George Sebastian was conducting.
Steff
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages