Tweet
PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.armenianchurch-ed.net
March 31, 2015
_________________
A 90th Birthday Surprise for Opera Legend Lucine Amara
By Florence Avakian
>From the moment legendary opera diva Lucine Amara walked in to her surprise
90th birthday party, to the last spirited and musical tributes, the event
was a joyous and glittering affair.
Taking place on Monday evening March 2, at the Diocesan Center in New York,
close to 100 invited friends, colleagues and admirers had come-from Florida,
Delaware, upstate New York and other faraway locations-to honor the
internationally acclaimed singer, who has performed in 882 productions at
the famed Metropolitan Opera in New York during 41 years, along with 57
radio broadcasts, and many recordings to her credit.
And in the last 20 years, Lucine has been the Artistic Director and guiding
light of the Verismo Opera in Fort Lee, N.J., helping and inspiring young
budding artists in their careers.
On the day of her birthday, March 1, New Jersey's Bergen Record published a
frontpage profile of her in its Better Living section, focusing on why she
was not only the leading star of countless productions at the Metropolitan
Opera, but also the Met's "reliable pinch-hitter" when there was a
cancellation. Notable was the time when with a 102 fever, Lucine had to be
roused from a sickbed to play in Die Meistersinger because no one else could
sing it. She was the only artist who could step in and sing any role.
As Lucine stepped out of the elevator on March 2, with her daughter, singer
Evelyn La Quaif, who had planned and organized the surprise tribute, her
warm smile turned to utter disbelief, as the crowd dressed in their tuxedos
and gowns sang a rousing "Happy Birthday" to her. "I'm glad Evelyn told me
to wear my lashes", she gushed happily in her typically ebullient manner, as
she wiped away tears. "This is the biggest surprise of my life."
On Monday evening, the banquet hall had been transformed into a gala setting
with blown up framed photos of her with the Met's celebrated former general
manager Sir Rudolph Bing, Charles Aznavour, Anita Darian, and several fellow
performers. Running on a screen throughout the evening were stills of her
performances from the time she debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in November
1950. And hanging from the ceiling were huge balloons depicting champagne
glasses and musical instruments. The dinner tables were festooned with large
white flower bouquets.
Sitting with Lucine and her daughter at the head table, topped with a
multi-layered birthday cake decorated with the titles of some of the many
operatic leads she had sung, were three of her well known fellow Met
performers, including Rosalind Elias, Elaine Malbin, and Eleanor Ross.
Among other dignitaries present were Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian, St.
Vartan Cathedral Dean the Very Rev. Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian, and noted
Armenian-American benefactor and supporter of the arts Ardemis Nazarian who
had quietly made a large donation to the Verismo Opera Co. as a birthday
gift to the honoree. Also present were film star Marni Nixon, Dr. Robert
Campbell, makeup artist Victor Caligari, and Anthony Morss, conductor of the
Verismo Opera Company. Met luminary Martina Arroyo was among many who had
sent congratulatory messages.
Opening the program, Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian read a special message from the
Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian "to the Great Lucine Amara" on
her 90th birthday, calling her "a distinguished artist, humanitarian, and an
exemplary daughter of the Armenian Church" He extolled her constant presence
and devotion which he said has been "a jewel in the crown" of this center.
"She has been deeply involved in the cathedral since the very beginning,
being instrumental in determining the way it looks and functions. As a
community, we all felt a part of her great artistic achievements. She is
another precious gift of our community to the wider world, and to
posterity."
The evening then became a spontaneous humorous repartee between the honoree
and the guests, with Lucine piping in with personal stories. "On my first
visit to Armenia, they asked me to sing the lead roles in both Aida and Il
Trovatore at the Yerevan Opera House because they thought I was Italian due
to my name, Amara," she remembered.
"That was changed when I found out that Trovatore would be sung in Armenian.
They then asked me to do two Aidas, instead of Trovatore. Was I relieved",
she declared, as the crowd roared with laughter. And with the Opera House
packed to bursting including the aisles, she asked where the fire exits
were. "There are no fire exits tonight," came the manager's reply.
Director of the Verismo Opera Gianni Simone, who had come to America from
Italy in 1971, recalled that as a lover of classical music, and especially
of two of his favorite operas, Cavalleria and Pagliacci, he first heard
Lucine. "She belongs to the era of the Golden Age of Singing, the era of
mostri sacri (sacred monsters). These are the artists who have greatly
impacted the world of Grand Opera."
Referring to some of the Met artists who were "busy in the gossip pages", he
said Lucine, on the other hand, "was on stage creating some of the most
incredible roles." He pointed out a review of one of Lucine's eight Aida
performances in Rome's Baths of Caracalla on July 1, 1954, which wrote of
Egypt's former King Fuad II "crying profusely. He was so profoundly moved
that he could no longer stay for the rest of the performance."
Gianni Simone also revealed that on April 30, Lucine will be honored with
the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the State of New Jersey. "Thank you
Lucine for all the great performances you have given us over the years, and
may the Lord reward you for all the joy and passion you have shared with
us," he said to loud applause.
The evening also became one of musical delights as young talents of the
Verismo Opera Company, displaying the inspiring spirit of the honoree, rose
and shared operatic solos, with the guests spontaneously joining in the
choruses with joyous singing.
With the audience cheering her on, Lucine Amara then rose and graciously
sang with great emotion, "Never Forget Me", "When I Have Sung My Songs for
You," "Vienna My City of Dreams", and "O Mio Bambino", bringing many to
tears, and garnering a standing ovation lasting several minutes. "I hope I
can sing this well when I'm a 100," she quipped to more thunderous cheering.
Lucine's daughter Evelyn who was in tears during Lucine's performance,
announced that the Daughters of Vartan, in San Diego, last year, had named
Lucine Amara as the first recipient of their "Woman of the Year Award". She
added, "those who follow will have a hard act to follow."
Among the many guests who were present for this gala, and have known and
admired Lucine Amara for decades, was longtime television columnist for The
New York Daily News, George Maksian. In 1993, he staged a performance called
"Live at the Diocese", in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the
Armenian Diocese, featuring several outstanding Armenian-American artists,
including Lucine Amara.
Following this birthday celebration, he commented that the piece de
resistance was the front page tribute to her in New Jersey's Bergen Record
on the day of her birthday. "During this birthday party, I never saw Lucine
looking so happy," he said. "The highlight was her singing which she so
graciously shared. She couldn't stop singing which thrilled the audience.
She had a ball, and so did we all."
###
From: Baghdasarian
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.armenianchurch-ed.net
March 31, 2015
_________________
A 90th Birthday Surprise for Opera Legend Lucine Amara
By Florence Avakian
>From the moment legendary opera diva Lucine Amara walked in to her surprise
90th birthday party, to the last spirited and musical tributes, the event
was a joyous and glittering affair.
Taking place on Monday evening March 2, at the Diocesan Center in New York,
close to 100 invited friends, colleagues and admirers had come-from Florida,
Delaware, upstate New York and other faraway locations-to honor the
internationally acclaimed singer, who has performed in 882 productions at
the famed Metropolitan Opera in New York during 41 years, along with 57
radio broadcasts, and many recordings to her credit.
And in the last 20 years, Lucine has been the Artistic Director and guiding
light of the Verismo Opera in Fort Lee, N.J., helping and inspiring young
budding artists in their careers.
On the day of her birthday, March 1, New Jersey's Bergen Record published a
frontpage profile of her in its Better Living section, focusing on why she
was not only the leading star of countless productions at the Metropolitan
Opera, but also the Met's "reliable pinch-hitter" when there was a
cancellation. Notable was the time when with a 102 fever, Lucine had to be
roused from a sickbed to play in Die Meistersinger because no one else could
sing it. She was the only artist who could step in and sing any role.
As Lucine stepped out of the elevator on March 2, with her daughter, singer
Evelyn La Quaif, who had planned and organized the surprise tribute, her
warm smile turned to utter disbelief, as the crowd dressed in their tuxedos
and gowns sang a rousing "Happy Birthday" to her. "I'm glad Evelyn told me
to wear my lashes", she gushed happily in her typically ebullient manner, as
she wiped away tears. "This is the biggest surprise of my life."
On Monday evening, the banquet hall had been transformed into a gala setting
with blown up framed photos of her with the Met's celebrated former general
manager Sir Rudolph Bing, Charles Aznavour, Anita Darian, and several fellow
performers. Running on a screen throughout the evening were stills of her
performances from the time she debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in November
1950. And hanging from the ceiling were huge balloons depicting champagne
glasses and musical instruments. The dinner tables were festooned with large
white flower bouquets.
Sitting with Lucine and her daughter at the head table, topped with a
multi-layered birthday cake decorated with the titles of some of the many
operatic leads she had sung, were three of her well known fellow Met
performers, including Rosalind Elias, Elaine Malbin, and Eleanor Ross.
Among other dignitaries present were Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian, St.
Vartan Cathedral Dean the Very Rev. Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian, and noted
Armenian-American benefactor and supporter of the arts Ardemis Nazarian who
had quietly made a large donation to the Verismo Opera Co. as a birthday
gift to the honoree. Also present were film star Marni Nixon, Dr. Robert
Campbell, makeup artist Victor Caligari, and Anthony Morss, conductor of the
Verismo Opera Company. Met luminary Martina Arroyo was among many who had
sent congratulatory messages.
Opening the program, Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian read a special message from the
Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian "to the Great Lucine Amara" on
her 90th birthday, calling her "a distinguished artist, humanitarian, and an
exemplary daughter of the Armenian Church" He extolled her constant presence
and devotion which he said has been "a jewel in the crown" of this center.
"She has been deeply involved in the cathedral since the very beginning,
being instrumental in determining the way it looks and functions. As a
community, we all felt a part of her great artistic achievements. She is
another precious gift of our community to the wider world, and to
posterity."
The evening then became a spontaneous humorous repartee between the honoree
and the guests, with Lucine piping in with personal stories. "On my first
visit to Armenia, they asked me to sing the lead roles in both Aida and Il
Trovatore at the Yerevan Opera House because they thought I was Italian due
to my name, Amara," she remembered.
"That was changed when I found out that Trovatore would be sung in Armenian.
They then asked me to do two Aidas, instead of Trovatore. Was I relieved",
she declared, as the crowd roared with laughter. And with the Opera House
packed to bursting including the aisles, she asked where the fire exits
were. "There are no fire exits tonight," came the manager's reply.
Director of the Verismo Opera Gianni Simone, who had come to America from
Italy in 1971, recalled that as a lover of classical music, and especially
of two of his favorite operas, Cavalleria and Pagliacci, he first heard
Lucine. "She belongs to the era of the Golden Age of Singing, the era of
mostri sacri (sacred monsters). These are the artists who have greatly
impacted the world of Grand Opera."
Referring to some of the Met artists who were "busy in the gossip pages", he
said Lucine, on the other hand, "was on stage creating some of the most
incredible roles." He pointed out a review of one of Lucine's eight Aida
performances in Rome's Baths of Caracalla on July 1, 1954, which wrote of
Egypt's former King Fuad II "crying profusely. He was so profoundly moved
that he could no longer stay for the rest of the performance."
Gianni Simone also revealed that on April 30, Lucine will be honored with
the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the State of New Jersey. "Thank you
Lucine for all the great performances you have given us over the years, and
may the Lord reward you for all the joy and passion you have shared with
us," he said to loud applause.
The evening also became one of musical delights as young talents of the
Verismo Opera Company, displaying the inspiring spirit of the honoree, rose
and shared operatic solos, with the guests spontaneously joining in the
choruses with joyous singing.
With the audience cheering her on, Lucine Amara then rose and graciously
sang with great emotion, "Never Forget Me", "When I Have Sung My Songs for
You," "Vienna My City of Dreams", and "O Mio Bambino", bringing many to
tears, and garnering a standing ovation lasting several minutes. "I hope I
can sing this well when I'm a 100," she quipped to more thunderous cheering.
Lucine's daughter Evelyn who was in tears during Lucine's performance,
announced that the Daughters of Vartan, in San Diego, last year, had named
Lucine Amara as the first recipient of their "Woman of the Year Award". She
added, "those who follow will have a hard act to follow."
Among the many guests who were present for this gala, and have known and
admired Lucine Amara for decades, was longtime television columnist for The
New York Daily News, George Maksian. In 1993, he staged a performance called
"Live at the Diocese", in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the
Armenian Diocese, featuring several outstanding Armenian-American artists,
including Lucine Amara.
Following this birthday celebration, he commented that the piece de
resistance was the front page tribute to her in New Jersey's Bergen Record
on the day of her birthday. "During this birthday party, I never saw Lucine
looking so happy," he said. "The highlight was her singing which she so
graciously shared. She couldn't stop singing which thrilled the audience.
She had a ball, and so did we all."
###
From: Baghdasarian