Comments for http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:38:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU Comment on In memory of Inelda Tajo by David DiChiera http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com/2008/07/05/in-memory-of-inelda-tajo/#comment-294 David DiChiera Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:52:36 +0000 http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com/?p=37#comment-294 For those of us who were fortunate to have Inelda Tajo come into our lives we can never forget the delight and warmth of her impish and lovable personality. Italo Tajo came to Detroit in 1970 and gave my efforts to establish an opera company credibility by directing our very first full length opera - The Barber of Seville with a young and very talented coloratura mezzo-Maria Ewing in her professional debut. From that time on Italo and Inelda became a wonderful part of our family. As godparents to Karen and my youngest daughter Cristina, they spent many wonderful weekends at our home and Indlda always spoiled us with the most savory Italian meals. In the years after Italo's death, she would call me after every opera she attended with her comments and encourage me to hear a young singer with romise Ho will miss your Inelda - but our memories of you will always bring a smile into our hearts. David DiChiera For those of us who were fortunate to have Inelda Tajo come into our lives we can never forget the delight and warmth of her impish and lovable personality. Italo Tajo came to Detroit in 1970 and gave my efforts to establish an opera company credibility by directing our very first full length opera - The Barber of Seville with a young and very talented coloratura mezzo-Maria Ewing in her professional debut. From that time on Italo and Inelda became a wonderful part of our family. As godparents to Karen and my youngest daughter Cristina, they spent many wonderful weekends at our home and Indlda always spoiled us with the most savory Italian meals. In the years after Italo’s death, she would call me after every opera she attended with her comments and encourage me to hear a young singer with romise Ho will miss your Inelda - but our memories of you will always bring a smile into our hearts.
David DiChiera

]]> Comment on An open letter to Chris Dolen by Christopher Jahn http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/an-open-letter-to-chris-dolen/#comment-276 Christopher Jahn Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:09:34 +0000 http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/an-open-letter-to-chris-dolen/#comment-276 I'm posting this late because I've only just discovered your blog. I wish I had found it earlier. I echo your sentiments; I handled budgets for the remaining Playhouse, and a 600 seat theater for locally produced works is a huge undertaking. I was shocked when the last administration at the Grove signed with IATSE; nothing against the union, but I just couldn't believe their numbers could support it. And it seems I was right. Reviving the Coconut Grove Playhouse needs more than under-researched plans. It needs real leadership and vision, and we haven't seen that over there in a very, very, long time. I’m posting this late because I’ve only just discovered your blog. I wish I had found it earlier.

I echo your sentiments; I handled budgets for the remaining Playhouse, and a 600 seat theater for locally produced works is a huge undertaking. I was shocked when the last administration at the Grove signed with IATSE; nothing against the union, but I just couldn’t believe their numbers could support it. And it seems I was right.

Reviving the Coconut Grove Playhouse needs more than under-researched plans. It needs real leadership and vision, and we haven’t seen that over there in a very, very, long time.

]]> Comment on My All-time Favorite Desert Island Opera Videos by Rafael de Acha http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/my-all-time-favorite-desert-island-opera-videos/#comment-269 Rafael de Acha Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:32:18 +0000 http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com/?p=26#comment-269 Dear Nina, Thanks for the tip on the Villazon-Dessay CD of Manon which I will order and look at... I have no doubt that they both are amazing in those roles. He sang last year here in Miami the best opera recital I ever heard...I find Dessay a bit mechanical in some of the stuff she does as I do Dianna Damrau too. My idea of Manon harks back to De Los Angeles, whom I saw in Havana in 1960 and the accounts of Manons by Sayao and those divas. Modern day Manons??? Sills for the singing, although she was a bit matronly when she finally got to do it at City Opera in the 1960's and 70's. I hope against hope that Dessay will turn my head in this role as her awesome Lucia did recently. Happy listening! Rafael Dear Nina,
Thanks for the tip on the Villazon-Dessay CD of Manon which I will order and look at… I have no doubt that they both are amazing in those roles. He sang last year here in Miami the best opera recital I ever heard…I find Dessay a bit mechanical in some of the stuff she does as I do Dianna Damrau too. My idea of Manon harks back to De Los Angeles, whom I saw in Havana in 1960 and the accounts of Manons by Sayao and those divas. Modern day Manons??? Sills for the singing, although she was a bit matronly when she finally got to do it at City Opera in the 1960’s and 70’s. I hope against hope that Dessay will turn my head in this role as her awesome Lucia did recently. Happy listening!

Rafael

]]> Comment on My All-time Favorite Desert Island Opera Videos by Nina http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/my-all-time-favorite-desert-island-opera-videos/#comment-264 Nina Thu, 07 Feb 2008 04:02:37 +0000 http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com/?p=26#comment-264 Please include Manon, Barcelona, Liceu.2007. Villazon is out of this world, last scene like all life is in a capsule. Absolutely unforgettable. All his genious imprinted in one's memory who saw him in this role. Manon is Dessay. Very different from all Manons, finally is really 16 years old girl who does not know where she is getting in. Anyway, please look at that and you will not want anybody else. Please include Manon, Barcelona, Liceu.2007.
Villazon is out of this world, last scene like all life is in a capsule. Absolutely unforgettable. All his genious imprinted in one’s memory who saw him in this role.
Manon is Dessay. Very different from all Manons, finally is really 16 years old girl who does not know where she is getting in.
Anyway, please look at that and you will not want anybody else.

]]> Comment on My All-time Favorite Desert Island Opera Videos by Rafael de Acha http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/my-all-time-favorite-desert-island-opera-videos/#comment-263 Rafael de Acha Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:42:59 +0000 http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com/?p=26#comment-263 Dear Fan of Sills, Other than Amazon.com, there are two other sources that I check into all the time. One is http://www.hbdirect.com/index.php?tab=Classical. The other is http://www.premiereopera.com/ I am familiar with that Sills recording – which I remember only as an LP, so if there is a re-issue in CD that would be news to me. But the search will be worth it. Good luck! Rafael Dear Fan of Sills,
Other than Amazon.com, there are two other sources that I check into all the time. One is http://www.hbdirect.com/index.php?tab=Classical. The other is http://www.premiereopera.com/

I am familiar with that Sills recording – which I remember only as an LP, so if there is a re-issue in CD that would be news to me. But the search will be worth it. Good luck!

Rafael

]]> Comment on My All-time Favorite Desert Island Opera Videos by Gail Gersh http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/my-all-time-favorite-desert-island-opera-videos/#comment-262 Gail Gersh Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:02:41 +0000 http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com/?p=26#comment-262 I am looking for the VHS of Manon by Massenet with Beverly Sills. I can't find the darn thing anywhere. Can you help? Thanks, Gail Gersh, fan of Sills I am looking for the VHS of Manon by Massenet with Beverly Sills. I can’t find the darn thing anywhere. Can you help?

Thanks, Gail Gersh, fan of Sills

]]> Comment on Blind Date by Mario Diament getting productions around the world by ltraiger http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com/2007/03/16/blind-date-by-mario-diament-getting-productions-around-the-world/#comment-211 ltraiger Sun, 16 Sep 2007 23:35:52 +0000 http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com/2007/03/16/blind-date-by-mario-diament-getting-productions-around-the-world/#comment-211 Mr. Esta, I am a writer for a publication in Washington DC. I have had the good fortune to interview Mr. Diament for a story I am preparing on his play, Blind Date. I found the following quote by you: Mario’s writing is a rich and rare amalgam with a very strong dose of Jewish irony, gallows humor, and old-world philosophy in a happy mix with a sassy Argentine sensibility born not far from the bordellos where the tango was born. But all that fuses into a style that changes from play to play according to the dramatic requirements at hand. Mario is a true citizen of the world, a pragmatist, a disillusioned idealist with a deep love for theatre, life, and the arts. I would love to have permission to use it in my story. It provides a powerful contextualization of Mr. Diament's work. Please let me know at the address above. Mr. Esta,

I am a writer for a publication in Washington DC. I have had the good fortune to interview Mr. Diament for a story I am preparing on his play, Blind Date. I found the following quote by you:

Mario’s writing is a rich and rare amalgam with a very strong dose of Jewish irony, gallows humor, and old-world philosophy in a happy mix with a sassy Argentine sensibility born not far from the bordellos where the tango was born. But all that fuses into a style that changes from play to play according to the dramatic requirements at hand. Mario is a true citizen of the world, a pragmatist, a disillusioned idealist with a deep love for theatre, life, and the arts.

I would love to have permission to use it in my story. It provides a powerful contextualization of Mr. Diament’s work.

Please let me know at the address above.

]]> Comment on About Rafael by Phil Morehead http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com/about/#comment-102 Phil Morehead Thu, 03 May 2007 18:32:15 +0000 #comment-102 Hi Rafael I'm so dreadful at keeping in touch with anyone. I've put some NECOG pictures on our website, but don't have the programs here and missing names, if you have a chance to take a look and help me fill stuff in, I'd be most grateful. Hope you and Kim are well, we're bumbling along here in Chicago, I'm still at Lyric Opera, Pat's teaching all over. We're at 9 grandkids going on 10... gets pretty wild at Christmas! Be well Phil Hi Rafael

I’m so dreadful at keeping in touch with anyone. I’ve put some NECOG pictures on our website, but don’t have the programs here and missing names, if you have a chance to take a look and help me fill stuff in, I’d be most grateful. Hope you and Kim are well, we’re bumbling along here in Chicago, I’m still at Lyric Opera, Pat’s teaching all over. We’re at 9 grandkids going on 10… gets pretty wild at Christmas!

Be well

Phil

]]> Comment on About Miami’s Performing Arts Center by Barry Steinman http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com/2007/03/22/off-my-chest/#comment-76 Barry Steinman Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:01:11 +0000 http://rafaeldeacha.wordpress.com/2007/03/22/off-my-chest/#comment-76 Beautifully and articulatly astute observations made without the preverbial ax to grind. Thanks, Rafi, for making your thoughtful statements. Have you sent this to the Center's cheerleading team at the Herald? There were a few Letters in this morning's edition, but they were mostly caustic about the elected officials, Commissioners, statements of ill treatment during the opening ceremonies...just after they laid out a multi-million dollar co-sign for a loan to be paid by "promised donations." Our own Miami Dade County Auditorium still holds its own relying on rentals ranging from small local empresarios (FundArte) to the unusal biggies in the community events (high school graduations, ballet school recitals) and continues to assist producers and presenters with an agressive granting program to make sure there is a quality mix of artists from around the world being seen by our audiences...at costs upwards to $35 for a front row seat! And you get free parking on site with over 600 parking spaces that are secured by a great team of City of Miami off-duty police. Yes, there is a bit of a moldy smell to the old "lady" and she needs a paint job and new carpeting; however, over the next three years we will be investing upwards to $1 million in technical and cosmetic upgrades to the theatre and are working feverishly to attract national touring groups to utilize this geographically centered facility in South Florida which will remain the premier house (though not the marbleiest or prettiest in the County. We have yet, in our 57 year history (which includes the world's great orchestras, ballets, opera singers and local tapdancers)to seek funds from our parent company (Miami Dade County), but live on a bare bones balanced budget of $700,000 a year. Thanks for your comments. And your support of the arts and culture community of this County for so many many years. (If you wish to post this, you may, however it cannot be shared with the media or other sources without my permission...sorry, I'm still a bureaucrat in the game.) Barry Beautifully and articulatly astute observations made without the preverbial ax to grind. Thanks, Rafi, for making your thoughtful statements. Have you sent this to the Center’s cheerleading team at the Herald? There were a few Letters in this morning’s edition, but they were mostly caustic about the elected officials, Commissioners, statements of ill treatment during the opening ceremonies…just after they laid out a multi-million dollar co-sign for a loan to be paid by “promised donations.”
Our own Miami Dade County Auditorium still holds its own relying on rentals ranging from small local empresarios (FundArte) to the unusal biggies in the community events (high school graduations, ballet school recitals) and continues to assist producers and presenters with an agressive granting program to make sure there is a quality mix of artists from around the world being seen by our audiences…at costs upwards to $35 for a front row seat! And you get free parking on site with over 600 parking spaces that are secured by a great team of City of Miami off-duty police.
Yes, there is a bit of a moldy smell to the old “lady” and she needs a paint job and new carpeting; however, over the next three years we will be investing upwards to $1 million in technical and cosmetic upgrades to the theatre and are working feverishly to attract national touring groups to utilize this geographically centered facility in South Florida which will remain the premier house (though not the marbleiest or prettiest in the County. We have yet, in our 57 year history (which includes the world’s great orchestras, ballets, opera singers and local tapdancers)to seek funds from our parent company (Miami Dade County), but live on a bare bones balanced budget of $700,000 a year.
Thanks for your comments. And your support of the arts and culture community of this County for so many many years.
(If you wish to post this, you may, however it cannot be shared with the media or other sources without my permission…sorry, I’m still a bureaucrat in the game.)
Barry

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