parterre box

18 comments

• Quanto Painy Fakor says:

  
  

  on November 1, 2009 at 12:06 PM
• javier says:

  Happy birthday Victoria. They call me Javier de Los Angeles, you know?

  on November 1, 2009 at 12:07 PM
• CruzSF says:

  This is the kind of history lesson I like. Brava!

  on November 1, 2009 at 12:37 PM
• Jay says:

  A true lady of Spain and a great artist.
  I remember going backstage after a concert in South Pasdena, Florida (St. Petersburg suburb) in the early 1950s. She had been promised payment immediately after the concert ended, but there was no $. She didn’t yell or scream or throw a fit. But she did very determinedly insisted that the contract be honored. I felt like an eavesdropper, got my autograph and skeddaled.

  Her performances with Alica della Rocha and were wonderful, even if she her voice was a fascimile of what it once been. De los Angeles accompanied herself on the guitar. and her stage presence and charm helped her garner several ovations.

  But is the 1959 recording of Butterfly with Bjoerling that brings back especially treasurable memories. (Her earlier recording of the role was not available in the early 196s, at least not in central Florida, where I grew up.)

  on November 1, 2009 at 1:12 PM
• Camille says:

  In April 2002, @ the time NY Review of Books re-issued James McCourt mythical “Mawrdew Czgowchwz” I had the delightful experience of meeting the author @ the Irish Historical Society. When I spoke to him.upon offering my copy for autograph, he absolutely insisted that the book was much more dedicated to, and inspired by La Gran de los Angeles, rather than Maria Callas.
  At the back of my copy remains a sort of cryptic note to that effect, which I’ve since forgotten, and can no more decipher than read Gaelic.
  Wayne Koestenbaum may invoke the obvious in his reference in his introduction re “M. C.”, but Mr. McCourt made it emphatically clear it was all about Vicki D.

  A myth from my childhood on, I only had occasion to hear her once, in the late 70′s in Miami, when much of the vocal sheen was gone, but the acute interpretive skills still intact, and every inch a Grande Dona de Espana!

  These days she is truly singing with the angels.

  Con dulces recuerdos———–
  .
  Felices Cumpleanos, Estimada Senora!!!

  on November 1, 2009 at 2:00 PM
• squirrel says:

  QPF we all know you are the YouTube Queen, but what has this got to do with anything?

  on November 1, 2009 at 4:04 PM
• Often admonished says:

  There are some outstanding recordings: the first Butterfly, any of the Debussy, Faure or Hahn demonstrate a truly unique voice and musicianship that hasn’t really been rivaled in subsequent generations of the Spanish school.

  Tapes of her Desdemona are incredible but even more extraordinary are the live Elizabeth and Elsa which are textbook lessons in lyrical Wagner singing.

  on November 1, 2009 at 4:15 PM
• manou says:

  @6 – squirrel : for once this is apposite as it is apparently Happy Birthday Russian style. This being said, QPF does have a serious YouTube habit – Betty Ford Center beckons…

  on November 1, 2009 at 4:47 PM
• squirrel says:

  Oh, yes, I see your point, but I think that’s just a rationalization on QPF’s part. Don’t enable him!

  on November 1, 2009 at 4:50 PM
• Quanto Painy Fakor says:

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  on November 1, 2009 at 7:23 PM