deconstructing Harry or reconstructing Rita [Shane]
daniel kessler
Now that you've heard of Woody Allen's new film 船econstructing Harry',
how about 然e-constructing Rita? Rita Shane Tritter--spouse of Daniel
Tritter. I'm speaking about the operatic career of this dramatic
coloratura soprano which was mostly on the fringes which is why so few
recall her time on the lyric stage and few recordings exists. An effort
is being made to 喪econstruct' Rita Shane for the readers of 喪.m.o'
Tritter himself and as of late, James Jorden, a neighbor of Tritters has
joined the fray.
Rita Shane, to my recollection was a possessor of a sometimes unreliable
instrument, often taking time to warm up. My assessment of her was borne
out subsequently by others whose credentials are highly respected in the
operatic field. I always found her performances to be uneven, to say the
least and her career was made at the NYC Opera, briefly at the Met and
she showed up in places like Strasbourg, France; Perugia and Turino,
Italy as well as New Orleans and San Francisco where she played one of
Lear's daughters in Reimann's opera.
Although a New Yorker, Rita (Frances) Shane arrived at the Met by way of
Chattonooga and NYC Opera, and also appeared in New Orleans along with
Richard Tucker in Halevy's LA JUIVE...the venerable Jack Belsom said of
the October 18th, 1973 performance...'strong impressions were registered
by Marisa Galvany, whose dark-hued dramatic voice suited her well to the
Falcon role of Rachel, and by Rita Shane who displayed a coloratura of
some size and quality as Princess Eudoxie. However, the dull third-act
aria restored for Miss Shane was arguably the musical nadir of the
evening'. thank you very much Ms. Shane!
Rita Shane went on to make here Met debut on September 22nd, 1973...Rita
Shane's performance was heard by George Movshon on performance of October
9th, George Movshon's son, Tony Movshon of New York University is a
sometime poster on these threads. George Movshon was a highly respected
and knowledgeable music critic. He writes...'Rita Shane is a dramatic
coloratura who seemed much underpowered in the first aria of the Queen of
the Night; but she triumphed splendidly in the second one, delivering all
of the requisite fireworks up to and including some spot-on high F's.
On January 17th at Strasbourg, Rita Shane was complemented...'delivered
her 践oelle Rache' at terrific speed, the most exciting account in
years.'
A Dec. 1974 FLEDERMAUS for Strasbourg says that 壮uperlative joys were
provided by at least three members of the cast; Jules Bastin as Frank,
Anita Terzian as Orlofsky, and Leo Goeke as Alfred, who would have graced
any festive surroundings...absolutely convincing was Rita Shane as
Rosalinde'.
..a Bertha [LE PROPHETE] for Perugia, Italy in which only Beverly
Woolfe's Fides was singled out for praise but no mention of anything
special about Rita Shane's Bertha.
..of her Queen of the night for Turin in the Spring of 1976, Rita was
described as 創imble' but no other kind phrases were uttered by the
critic in her behalf on that occasion.
..for a LES HUGENOTS back in October , 1975 in New Orleans, which was
mentioned previously, gets mixed reviews in which it was stated that 奏he
principals [including Shane]..lacked the style and the requisite range or
technique to breath fire into Meyerbeer's score handled their roles with
varying degrees of success'....as reported by the ever reliable and
venerable Jack Belsom with whom Enzo Bordello had lunch recently in New
Orleans and had only high praise for Jack Belsom.
..there was a performance in Miami of ENTFUHURUNG on April 18th [3rd
performance of the work] in which Rita Shane's Constanza 層armed up to
become a completely captivating Constanza' but started off cold...
A LUCIA for Caracas--elicited no special notice.
On Sept. 29, 1979 Rita Shane appeared in LE PROPHETE at the Met. Patrick
Smith wrote of her 然ita Shane's spread tone and neutral presence did
little to bring Berthe to musical or dramatic life.' Patrick Smith is
right, Rita, as a performer was so 創eutral' that oftentimes, you
couldn't find her up there on that stage.
Again on April 18, 1982, Shane appeared at the NYC Opera as Glauce in
Cherubini's MEDEA and Patrick Smith [now editor of Opera News] said of
her...'Rita Shane's [voice was] too shrill for Glauce.
Sic transit gloria mundi.... or would 祖aveat emptor' be more appropriate
before you 礎uy' into this reconstructed 鼠egend of the lyric stage'?
CBWeimer
>>An effort
is being made to 喪econstruct' Rita Shane for the readers of 喪.m.o' <<
I have to say I don't understand the rancor in this argument, nor, for that
matter, the frequent tendency among some opera aficionados to deny that someone
else could have derived pleasure from a given singer. If a listener does have
fond memories of a particular performer/performance, then WHY is it necessary
to tell them either "No, in fact you could NOT have enjoyed it" or (even worse)
"If you did enjoy it, then you have no musical taste whatsoever and should be
embarrassed at being such a Philistine"? This urge to undermine someone else's
pleasure seems to me awfully mean-spirited. Whatever happened to "Chacun a son
gout"?!
Chris Weimer
daniel kessler
First, no one is being so 'mean spirited' to suggest that there are not
people out there who did find, on occasion, much to admire about Rita
Shane's performances when she was in good form. The record seems to show
that, for the most part, she was not always at her best. Her chief
calling card was Queen of the Night in Mozart's MAGIC FLUTE which may
demonstrate the perils of an artist attempting to make that role their
'calling card'. Edita Gruberova's career comes to mind, but she quickly
switched to other roles, such as Zerbinetta in Strauss's ARIADNE and then
to bel canto roles. Rita Shane did not seem to make that transition.
Secondly, why don't you prevail on the embittered Mr. Tritter to stop
making his ad hominen attacks on my postings, such as the 'Houston Hotel'
postings which related to finding good lodgings there for those planning
to see the upcoming performance of BILLY BIDD with Bo Skovhus for which
I have a ticket and airline booking. His ad lib posting had nothing to
do with opera, finding suitable lodgings or for that matter, anything
else other than just a 'hit and run' flame attack.
That is why some of us are gaining the impression of seeing some
pathology involved with this individual.
Suzanna
Bravo!
CBWeimer <cbwe...@aol.com> wrote in article
<19980116174...@ladder02.news.aol.com>...
<Big apologetic snip>
TomKauf2
Chris Weimer said
">I have to say I don't understand the rancor in this argument, nor, for that
>matter, the frequent tendency among some opera aficionados to deny that
>someone >else could have derived pleasure from a given singer. If a listener
does >have
>fond memories of a particular performer/performance, then WHY is it necessary
>to tell them either "No, in fact you could NOT have enjoyed it" or (even
>worse) >"If you did enjoy it, then you have no musical taste whatsoever and
should be
>embarrassed at being such a Philistine"? This urge to undermine someone
>else's >pleasure seems to me awfully mean-spirited. Whatever happened to
"Chacun a >son
>gout"?!
>
To which I say, bravo. But in this case, the motivation apparently goes
deeper, and Kessler's remarks are an attempt to "get at" somebody he doesn't
like by dragging his wife's singing into it.
Mr. Kessler insists on constantly drawing unflattering self-portraits. But
that's his affair, and if that's his wish, so be it.
Tom
James Jorden
Hans Christian Hoff wrote:
[a posting of great beauty of meaning and of style.]
I am interested in hearing more from so enlightened an eloquent an
opera-lover.
=====
james jorden
jjo...@ix.netcom.com
http://www.anaserve.com/~parterre
"Mister Johnson, si chiede spesso la man...per avere il braccio!"
Daniel F. Tritter
daniel kessler vomited:
>
> That is why some of us are gaining the impression of seeing some
> pathology involved with this individual.
"some of us" = dimwit danny.
notice the hordes of his friends rising to support his fulminations and
lies. sorry, our ethically deficient parvenu is out on that limb all by
yourself and hasn't noticed that no one will save that worthless
intellectual dungheap named kessler. chainsaws, anyone?
dft
Black
Daniel F. Tritter wrote:
> "some of us" = dimwit danny.
> notice the hordes of his friends rising to support his fulminations and
> lies. sorry, our ethically deficient parvenu is out on that limb all by
> yourself and hasn't noticed that no one will save that worthless
> intellectual dungheap named kessler. chainsaws, anyone?
Daniel,
Danny Boy Kessler always has a friend in Ms. Brainless and Petey... Of
course, that's saying a lot, isn't it?
--
"Should I care?"
http://www.stairway.org/bjorling/
Fritz Lange
In article <19980116174...@ladder02.news.aol.com>,
cbwe...@aol.com (CBWeimer) wrote in part:
> This urge to undermine someone else's
> pleasure seems to me awfully mean-spirited. Whatever happened to
"Chacun a son
> gout"?!
>
> Chris Weimer
Does anyone else have the impression that Herr K's condescending and
mean-spirited posts are simply feeble attempts at self-aggrandizement?
flange
janeh...@*no-spam*hotmail.com
cbwe...@aol.com (CBWeimer) wrote:
>>>An effort
>is being made to 喪econstruct' Rita Shane for the readers of 喪.m.o' <<
>
>I have to say I don't understand the rancor in this argument, nor, for that
>matter, the frequent tendency among some opera aficionados to deny that someone
>else could have derived pleasure from a given singer. If a listener does have
>fond memories of a particular performer/performance, then WHY is it necessary
>to tell them either "No, in fact you could NOT have enjoyed it" or (even worse)
>"If you did enjoy it, then you have no musical taste whatsoever and should be
>embarrassed at being such a Philistine"? This urge to undermine someone else's
>pleasure seems to me awfully mean-spirited. Whatever happened to "Chacun a son
>gout"?!
>
>Chris Weimer
Bravo, Chris! You took the words right out of my mouth.
Here's my deux centimes:
As for the "WHY", it strikes me that certain contributors here are
unhappy and deeply troubled people venting their hostilities and
taking out their rage and frustrations (very possibly sexual) on the
well-adjusted majority of this wonderful group of music lovers.
However, I believe in positive thinking. Let us pray that they will
eventually be guided to the proper therapist.
And yet, there's always the frightening possibilty that
rec.music.opera IS their therapy. In which case, I suggest an urgent
call to Dr. Kevorkian. Nurse Ratchit suggests electroshock, straight
jackets, and 10,000 milligrams of Thorazine to be applied STAT!
In the meantine, there's a wonderful little thing called a
"killfile."
Have a great weekend, Chris!
Yours professionally,
Anna Banana Freud
-- to reply by e-mail, remove the obvious
Sara Freeman
In <EMw3n...@news2.new-york.net> daniel kessler
>That is why some of us are gaining the impression of seeing some
>pathology involved with this individual.
>
I just dug out one of my old Met yearbooks and her picture was in it.
It didn't give any performances she was singing.
That picture reminds me of Jocelyn Wildenstein.
--
*********************************
* 1997 CD of the Year *
* Jorma Hynninen / Summer Moods *
*********************************
Hans Christian Hoff
TomKauf2 wrote:
>
> Chris Weimer said
>
> ">I have to say I don't understand the rancor in this argument, nor, for that
> >matter, the frequent tendency among some opera aficionados to deny that
> >someone >else could have derived pleasure from a given singer. If a listener
> does >have
> >fond memories of a particular performer/performance, then WHY is it necessary
> >to tell them either "No, in fact you could NOT have enjoyed it" or (even
> >worse) >"If you did enjoy it, then you have no musical taste whatsoever and
> should be
> >embarrassed at being such a Philistine"? This urge to undermine someone
> >else's >pleasure seems to me awfully mean-spirited. Whatever happened to
> "Chacun a >son
> >gout"?!
> >
> deeper, and Kessler's remarks are an attempt to "get at" somebody he doesn't
> like by dragging his wife's singing into it.
>
> Mr. Kessler insists on constantly drawing unflattering self-portraits. But
> that's his affair, and if that's his wish, so be it.
Judging from afar, having never heard Rita Shane sing and never before
having heard her name mentioned other than in passim, I do believe that
if the CV outlined by mr. Tritter (who, it must be admitted, does not
belong to the soft-spoken lot, and with whom I too have had my
skirmishes) is anywhere near correct (and he ought to be a prime
source), Rita Shane's career was an unusual successful one. Here in
Scandinavia (pop. 22 mill., from where nevertheless such not totally
insignificant singers as Lind, Norena, Andresen, Thorborg,Flagstad,
Melchior, Björling, Gedda, Borg, Nilsson, Soderstrom, Talvela, Hynninen,
Mattila and Salminen (to mention a just a few) do come)),such a career
is normally considered a major and illustrious one; only to get to sing
a major role like the Queen of the Night on the Met only once (even if
as a cover) seem to us uninitiated ones to be a proof of success which
is obtained only by the select few.
It is really sad to see that someone find it fitting to try to tarnish
the name and reputation of such a talent as a means in a personal feud
with her husband. One should like to think that the participants on this
newsgroup more than most people in general should have a vested interest
in pointing out the excellence and accomplishments of extraordinarily
successful singers like Ms. Shane; on the contrary it seems that some
find that the most rewarding exercise is to try to nigrate as many of
those talented singers as possible (in our days predominantly the 'three
tenors', even when they are performing separately). Inquiring minds
wonders why it should be so, and one theory among others is that it is
done out of a need to bolster one's own ego when there is precious
little else to bolster it.
HCH
Stregata
Daniel Kessler wrote:
>Now that you've heard of Woody Allen's new film 船econstructing Harry', how
about 'Re-consstructing Rita? Rita Shane Tritter--spouse of Daniel Tritter.
And who reconstructs you, my dear? Obviously your operatic knowledge is
cipher.
Stregata
Salome45
>Danny Boy Kessler always has a friend in Ms. Brainless and Petey... Of
>course, that's saying a lot, isn't it?
>
>
ROFL!!!! Ack, you guys are crackin me UP!!
Amanda
Daniel F. Tritter
Sara Freeman wrote:
> That picture reminds me of Jocelyn Wildenstein.
> --
the above is what comes of a reading lifetime confined to The Picture of
Dorian Grey. the poster of that report looks in the mirror in the
morning and carries that dessicated image about for 24 hours. i have
noted on another newsgroup that she is also an enthusiastic admirer of
such great men as joe mccarthy and j edgar hoover, which may classify
the accuracy of her reporting.
dft
Daniel F. Tritter
fascinating footnote [and coincidence] to the above:
all my e-mails to dimwit danny and freeman are returned as : "user
unknown." is cybernetics imitating life? a consummation devoutly to be
wished, as the late and prophetic w. shakespeare suggested.
dft
James Jorden
Daniel F. Tritter wrote:
> i have noted on another newsgroup that she [Sara Freeman] is also an
> enthusiastic admirer of such great men as ... j edgar hoover, which
Not to mention her taste in clothes.
daniel kessler
By the way, on my forthcoming trip, I'm staying at the Ritz Hotel. I
thought that Fred and Ginger would approve, don't you? I have told the
maitre d'hotel that no calls or messages from dft are to be put through
to me. After all, one has to protect oneself from the pathological
minded and one's privacy is of utmost importance!
Black
danny boy scribbled some moronic thoughts:
> After all, one has to protect oneself from the pathological minded and
> one's privacy is of utmost importance!
What???!!! Every post you make seems to contradict yourself and this one
definitely contradicts your actions. I swear, you only use this ng to
promote your wealth and promoting one's wealth is HARDLY a way yo "protect
oneself from the pathological minded." Get a life pal! Or better yet go
and fly to some remote corner of the globe and STAY there! Oh, and while
you're at it, take Freeman and Petey with you as well!
Benjamin Rous
Black wrote:while
> you're at it, take Freeman and Petey with you as well!
Didn't she want us to refer to her as "cunt" or "twat" ? It hardly seems
fair to go against her wishes , does it? :-)
Ben
---------------------------------------------------------------
"On ne meurt pas chacun pour soi, mais les uns pour les autres,
ou meme les uns a la place des autres, qui sait ?"
---------------------------------------------------------------
Black
Benjamin Rous wrote:
> Didn't she want us to refer to her as "cunt" or "twat" ? It hardly seems
> fair to go against her wishes , does it? :-)
That is so true Ben. I forget the specific formal address of the cunt, but
would appreciate the specific name to address Ms. Brainless.
daniel kessler
..and speaking of 'getting a life' what about poor little Michael Black
stuck in Youngstown, Ohio in the heart of the Bible belt! ..the only form
of amusement for him is visiting his own very 'gay-positive' little
website!..sort of a form of masturbation, if you get what I mean!
Michael, before you do anything that might cause you personal
embarrasement, just pull the shades [I'm sure you cannot afford
curtains] on your digs so that the neighboring bible belters won't have a
clue as to what you're up to!
Sara Freeman
In <34c0a...@news7.kcdata.com> "Daniel F. Tritter"
<"dtri...@bway.net"@bway.net> writes:
>
>Sara Freeman wrote:
>> That picture reminds me of Jocelyn Wildenstein.
>> --
>
>the above is what comes of a reading lifetime confined to The Picture
of
>Dorian Grey. the poster of that report looks in the mirror in the
>noted on another newsgroup that she is also an enthusiastic admirer of
>such great men as joe mccarthy and j edgar hoover, which may classify
>the accuracy of her reporting.
>
>
I've never said a thing about McCarthy or Hoover on any newsgroup. In
fact I've never thought much about them for quite a few years.
Black
daniel kessler wrote:
Ha ha! This is just typical of the moronic musings of Danny Boy! Ohio is
not considered part of the bible belt. And what I do in the privacy of my
own bedroom is my own business, certainly not yours. And just in case you
haven't been able to read, yes we know you have trouble reading and
comprehending simple statements, I am very much a heterosexual. And don't
worry Danny Boy, I get outside of Youngstown plenty. In fact, I'll be in NY
next month just so I can pester Danny Boy. You know, with that disposable
income of mine...
Sara Freeman
>
>all my e-mails to dimwit danny and freeman are returned as : "user
>unknown." is cybernetics imitating life? a consummation devoutly to
be
>wished, as the late and prophetic w. shakespeare suggested.
>
>
I'm having no trouble getting email from others. Maybe yours just
smells too much when it reaches my mailbox and the mailbox throws it
out.
Sara Freeman
In <34C0D2...@ix.netcom.com> James Jorden <jjo...@ix.netcom.com>
writes:
>
>Daniel F. Tritter wrote:
>> i have noted on another newsgroup that she [Sara Freeman] is also an
>> enthusiastic admirer of such great men as ... j edgar hoover, which
>> may classify the accuracy of her reporting.
>
>Not to mention her taste in clothes.
Hey, I'm an Eddie Bauer broad.
>=====
>
>james jorden
>jjo...@ix.netcom.com
>http://www.anaserve.com/~parterre
>
>"Mister Johnson, si chiede spesso la man...per avere il braccio!"
--
Sara Freeman
In <69qmkp$e...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net> Black
<bjoe...@cyberdude.com> writes:
>
>danny boy scribbled some moronic thoughts:
>
>> After all, one has to protect oneself from the pathological minded
and
>> one's privacy is of utmost importance!
>
> What???!!! Every post you make seems to contradict yourself and this
one
>definitely contradicts your actions. I swear, you only use this ng to
>promote your wealth and promoting one's wealth is HARDLY a way yo
"protect
>oneself from the pathological minded." Get a life pal! Or better yet
go
>and fly to some remote corner of the globe and STAY there! Oh, and
>you're at it, take Freeman
That's Ms. Brainless to you!
and Petey with you as well!
>
>--
>"Should I care?"
>http://www.stairway.org/bjorling/
>
>
--
Black
Sara Freeman wrote:
> That's Ms. Brainless to you!
I'll call you whatever I feel like.
Daniel F. Tritter
get this one, solecism fans:
daniel kessler wrote:
>
> By the way, on my forthcoming trip, I'm staying at the Ritz Hotel.
he probably thinks it was named after a pre-dinner cracker.
>I > thought that Fred and Ginger would approve, don't you? I have told the> maitre d'hotel that no calls or messages from dft are to be put through> to me. After all, one has to protect oneself from the pathological> minded and one's privacy is of utmost importance!
I suppose that he meant to say the concierge, but, as ever, class will
tell, as here.
The likelihood of a call such as he describes is as remote as that of a
cognizable idea issuing from the empty kessler skull. He'd better be
careful how he uses my name in that city, since my nephews there would
cheerfully use that useless headpiece for a soccer ball. Some Texans
have good judgment.
dft
daniel kessler
Black <bjoe...@cyberdude.com> wrote:
....'In fact, I'll be in NY next month....'
that's why I'm leaving for London, Paris...Houston
Black
daniel kessler wrote:
> that's why I'm leaving for London, Paris...Houston
You mean to tell me you haven't left yet??? If I were you, I'd steer
clear of Houston, they don't take a shining to litttle punks such as
yourself.
Peter
Black wrote:
> Sara Freeman wrote:
>
> > That's Ms. Brainless to you!
>
> I'll call you whatever I feel like.
and haven't I been quiet
Peter
The man with a secret is the man with power.