Word: wagnerism
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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That crusade originated in Florence, where Zeffirelli was born 44 years ago. The illegitimate son of a textile salesman and a seamstress, he grew up, he recalls, "amongst dresses and dressmakers." At nine, he was taken to see Wagner's Walküre-and got lost onstage after the performance. In a sense, he has been swallowed up in scenery ever since his one-man student production at the University of Florence led Luchino Visconti to sign him for a bit part in Crime and Punishment. Zeffirelli then talked his way into assistant directorships with the maestros of postwar...
Mention should be made of Michael Bennett's fast and loose choreography, particularly the sardine-can motif with which he conjures up a Second Avenue bar, of Robin Wagner's sensible sets, of Jonathan Tunick's really hot orchestrations, and of Robert Moore's uncommanding but attractive direction. Mention must be made of Marian Mercer, who in a small part does the best musical-comedy drunk in memory...
...three years running-1962, 1963, 1964-the tall, shapely mezzo sang powerful Carmens in Spoleto, Moscow and at the New York City Opera. But it was the Met that Verrett was aiming for. She declined Rudolf Bing's offer to sing several minor Wagner and Verdi roles. At length, Bing came through with the role she craved...
...United Farmworkers Organizing Committee, AF of L-CIO, has been on strike against all California growers for more than two years, asking union recognition (they are not covered by the Wagner Act), higher wages, and better working conditions...
Some conductors prefer Beethoven, others Wagner. Some like sopranos, others tenors. Conductor Peter Maag's rather specialized preference is for the key of E-flat major. "Tonalities are like colors," he explains. "Have you noticed that when Mozart attacks E-flat he al ways uses clarinets, and when he attacks D-major he always uses oboes? E-flat suggests something very mature and saturated. D-major music is whiter and sharper. E-flat suggests a dark tone, a dark color like dark blue or green...