TOD
My thoughts this morning have been in the area of classical music, and I see that DR Elmore and I share a fun celebrity: Roberta Peters.
I didn't get to know her, but I was around her during a week of rehearsals when she sang RIGOLETTO with us at Meadowbrook in 1968. That cast included Jan Peerce, who was also extremely personable and even humorous, as he was a few years later in our DON GIOVANNI.
Another opera singer I was around for a while when playing a few rehearsals (I want to say this was for Schoenberg's GURRELIEDER around, um, 1975?), Nico Castel, was a very friendly and humorous guy...as well he might have been, having been known for great character singing and acting.
I was also quite taken with Nike Wagner (the man's great-granddaughter? - I need to review my history) who spent some time in Cleveland and we enjoyed a few meals and conversations with her. I have no idea what she is, or was, REALLY like, otherwise, but at that time she was young (well, duh, weren't we all), attractive, friendly, and even a bit funny.
Will try to come up with a few from other celebrity worlds later, but I can't close the subject on the classical world without a fond shout-out for the singularly warm and witty Arthur Loesser.
(EDIT: I typed FRANK Loesser at first! Oy!)
