Ever-present Ever-present

Edita Gruberová was one of the most fascinating individuals I have ever known. 

Her favorite roles Her favorite roles

Edita Gruberova considered her greatest pride and loves not her career but her daughters Klaudia and Barbara and grandchildren Cris, Denis, and Alyssa.

The rest is silence The rest is silence

Despite the diminishing returns of her vocal means, Edita Gruberova‘s last years of her career were if anything more successful than ever.

Edita Gruberova enters the 21st century Edita Gruberova enters the 21st century

The worst criticism perhaps was the gleeful Schadenfreude noting Edita’s voice wasn’t as under her command as it used to be.

The ultimate 101 course on how to handle fame and success The ultimate 101 course on how to handle fame and success

Artistic temperament she had, but not including self-centered megalomania.  She was one of the most fully human individuals I have ever known.

Close as pages in a book Close as pages in a book

I had no idea whatsoever of the reality of the life of this strong, vibrant woman I had gotten to know, the traumas she suffered; the extent and the horror of her experiences was all very surreal to me.

Star quality Star quality

The 1990s effectively signaled a new phase in Edita Gruberova‘s career with her undertaking more demanding, heavier roles, while still essaying Zerbinetta and Lucia.

Out of the repast Out of the repast

The entire dinner was spent discussing conductors.

Suspended in time Suspended in time

You know in some of those old Jeanette MacDonald movies where she plays a prima donna and receives applause in a public setting? That’s just what happened when the three of us walked into that restaurant, one patron calling out “Brava!”

An idea so bold and crazy An idea so bold and crazy

I proposed to Edita that we turn my 20-page paper into a book, a musical biography.

A life-changing LP A life-changing LP

I never fathomed I’d be writing words as these this soon.

Lucrezia Borgia Lucrezia Borgia

In tribute to Edita Gruberova, a 2010 performance of one of her favorite later-career vehicles, Lucrezia Borgia.

Edita Gruberova 1946-2021 Edita Gruberova 1946-2021

The Slovak soprano, whose career spanned more than 50 years, died yesterday in Zurich. She was 74.

Queen Bee Queen Bee

Happy 73rd birthday soprano Edita Gruberova.

Königin par excellence! Königin par excellence!

Happy 72nd birthday soprano Edita Gruberova.

Being alive Being alive

Orfeo’s  latest edition is a 1978 performance of Lucia di Lammermoor with a very estimable cast that on its surface may seem a tad mundane but the extensive liner notes (with performance photos) tell the story of why it held such magic.

The trouble with Norma The trouble with Norma

If one looks at trends in the last 40 or so years, the most successful Normas are mainly those who’ve made not just bel canto, but Bellini as a mainstay in their repertoire.

The priestess with the mostest The priestess with the mostest

Edita Gruberova takes on the requirements of the title role in Bellini’s Norma.

Elements of style Elements of style

Edita Gruberova essentially revived and propagated the bel canto repertoire in central Europe, specifically in the German-speaking countries.

Laughing song Laughing song

It can be confidently asserted that Edita Gruberova is one opera’s most gifted comediennes. 

Sie ist eine Meisterin im Improvisieren! Sie ist eine Meisterin im Improvisieren!

No 50th anniversary career tribute would be complete without covering Edita Gruberova’s legendary status as the premier Zerbinetta of her long reign in the role!

Königin of Mozart Königin of Mozart

The third installment of my 50th anniversary tribute to Edita Gruberova was impossible to narrow down to one selection.

The first time ever I heard her voice The first time ever I heard her voice

The Summer of 1983 is when “it” happened.

Sì bella, sì pura, del ciel creatura Sì bella, sì pura, del ciel creatura

In observance of Edita’s Gruberova’s 50th anniversary in opera, I would like to offer a series of commentaries, over successive days, of my favorite performances.