trove thursday

In memoriam Arlene Saunders

As the late Arlene Saunders had a very limited commercial discography and performed mostly in Europe, I thought some readers might be curious to hear more of her.

By Christopher Corwin

May 22, 2020

6 comments

Since posting her “Depuis le jour” from Louise yesterday,I’ve been thinking about and listening to fellow Ohioan, American soprano Arlene Saunders who died last month of COVID-19.

As she had a very limited commercial discography and performed mostly in Europe, I thought some readers might be curious to hear more of her, so I put together a short miscellany lasting about a half-hour that includes several of her live performances.

Included are bits of Saunders in four roles: Pamina (Glyndebourne 1966), Donna Elvira (Lausanne 1967), Eva (San Francisco 1971)—her sole Met assignment for three performances in 1976, and Elsa (Hartford 1977 with Karl-Walter Böhm). The sound quality of these chunks varies wildly I’m afraid.

In addition, YouTube hosts several illuminating clips including a complete performance of Strauss’s Die Liebe der Danae…

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcyRQj4EqQc

as well as excerpts of her Ariadne…

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZIVcy3i-Po

and her celebrated Minnie which she performed at the New York City Opera.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFj-7kXA6Vc

Christopher Corwin

Christopher Corwin began writing for parterre box in 2011 under the pen name “DeCaffarrelli.” His work has also appeared in , The New York Times, Musical America, The Observer, San Francisco Classical Voice and BAMNotes. Like many, he came to opera via the Saturday Met Opera broadcasts which he began listening to at age 11. His particular enthusiasm is 17th and 18th century opera. Since 2015 he has curated the weekly podcast Trove Thursday on parterre box presenting live recordings.