tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post7043267592420253138..comments2024-03-05T22:44:45.962-05:00Comments on Great Opera Singers: Florence Quartararo: A Great Singer ForgottenUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-41616758921863048732014-03-10T21:54:42.549-04:002014-03-10T21:54:42.549-04:00What a delightful trip down memory lane to find t...What a delightful trip down memory lane to find this article on Florence Quartararo and the aria "Care Selve". I heard her sing in the middle 1940's at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, probably a couple of years before she went to the Met. She was one of the two gypsies playing cards with Carmen. I wish I still had my program from that night!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-87619307288007399802013-04-06T17:41:53.336-04:002013-04-06T17:41:53.336-04:00Believe me, I understand you!Believe me, I understand you!Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-28505303506774879402013-04-06T13:16:24.565-04:002013-04-06T13:16:24.565-04:00I had to post here again. My reaction mirrors you...I had to post here again. My reaction mirrors yours when hearing Care Selve although I lack your descriptive eloquence, Edmund. Ultimately, what I can't get over is that we got Italo Tajo in exchange for the loss of FQ. There's where I would disagree with you. This is sad indeed, but tragic also!! (Pipebite)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02530932873600626024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-52214044612994379022012-06-20T09:36:36.919-04:002012-06-20T09:36:36.919-04:00Thank you very much for your comment! I certainly...Thank you very much for your comment! I certainly appreciate it. Yes, she was a wonderful singer, with a glorious voice. Her story is quite a sad one, really. Thanks again.Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-5996577030984149282012-06-19T15:24:02.328-04:002012-06-19T15:24:02.328-04:00I had one recording by Florence Quartararo in the ...I had one recording by Florence Quartararo in the 1940's. It was "La Mamma Moret" from Andrea Chenier, and the voice was glorious. I often wondered why her career was so short, and just learned that her then husband, Italo Tajo discouraged it. I heard him several times as Don Basilio in Chicago with the old Chicago Civic Opera company. Prudence A. BacklinPrudence Backlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-90824483899587034152012-01-14T03:36:12.040-05:002012-01-14T03:36:12.040-05:00MOLTO BELLO!!! Thank you my dear friend for sharin...MOLTO BELLO!!! Thank you my dear friend for sharing this Valuable Biographical information and also for the opportunity to read this Wonderful article of my Favorite singer. and I do love so that you may share more interesting fact From the Great Opera Singers. Thank you also for the Great Privileged to listen your Great Collection you have done. Thank you and More Blessing ! Have a Grateful weekends. *GOD BLESS*Gerhard Santosnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-49610889512101805312011-12-17T22:43:41.747-05:002011-12-17T22:43:41.747-05:00Thank you very much for writing. I appreciate both...Thank you very much for writing. I appreciate both your comment and the information you have given us. I will urge readers to take note of the CD. Thanks. Your comment duplicated itself for some reason.Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-1779531208712935712011-12-17T19:05:02.444-05:002011-12-17T19:05:02.444-05:00To Edmund St. Austall
I published the history of ...To Edmund St. Austall<br><br /><br />I published the history of Florence Quartararo and half of the private recordings she loaned to me as the second CD in our release of the 1948 Pagliacci with Vinay. We are now publishing our own CDs (see: www.<br />immortalperformances.org) and hope to issue more of her broadcast recordings on our Great Voices from the Past series. For those who have not seen our Quartararo release , we still have some copies, plus a CBC program about her on CD which won the World Gold Medal for Best Historic/Classical radio program at the International Festival of Television & Radio held in New York in June,2000. This page about her is very interesting and touching. Congratulations to Mr.St. Austell for this site and thanks to the many contributors.Richard Caniell,sound engineer, IPRMS I published the history of Florence Quartararo and half of the private recordings she loaned to me as the second CD in our release of the 1948 Pagliacci with Vinay. We are now publishing our own CDs (see: www.<br />immortalperformances.org) and hope to issue more of her broadcast recordings on our Great Voices from the Past series. For those who have not seen our Quartararo release , we still have some copies, plus a CBC program about her on CD which won the World Gold Medal for Best Historic/Classical radio program at the International Festival of Television & Radio held in New York in June,2000. This page about her is very interesting and touching. Congratulations to Mr.St. Austell for this site and thanks to the many contributors.<br><br /><br />Richard Caniell,sound engineer, IPRMS .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-38283748158016754482011-11-06T19:54:18.439-05:002011-11-06T19:54:18.439-05:00Exactly - opera singers are firstly part of the hu...Exactly - opera singers are firstly part of the human race, like the rest of us. Like athletes who appear to have great potential, a steely determination is required to fulfill that potential, and I would suggest a degree of selfishness and ego to achieve success (however it is measured).Verdiwagneritenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-52372900321075821282011-11-06T08:04:41.691-05:002011-11-06T08:04:41.691-05:00Tough call on Quartararo. I'm not sure what t...Tough call on Quartararo. I'm not sure what to say. These recordings reveal extraordinary potential. Would it have been realized? Do I hear the beginnings of a wobble....a stress related phenomenon? I can't say, but you raise the BIG question? What if?Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-59741015910251304762011-11-06T01:57:16.643-05:002011-11-06T01:57:16.643-05:00A beautiful voice! How many other great voices are...A beautiful voice! How many other great voices are there out there? I suspect many. A couple of times in the Handel aria I was reminded of Kathleen Ferrier. <br /><br />The Verdi aria is wonderful, a great talent who we can enjoy from afar. I don't know of many marriages where both have major singing careers except maybe Mirella Freni and Nicolai Ghiaurov. In their case they were both well established in their careers when they married.<br />Caballe's husband was a tenor who stopped singing when hers started to take off and Marta Domingo also gave up singing after they left Israel. <br />Of course there's more to it than just having the voice. <br /><br />Your blog, Edmund, underlines the sheer hard work, determination and luck needed at the right time for a career to flourish. <br /><br />Would things have worked out differently if Quartararo had met her future husband several years later (or not at all) when she was more established? Lots of ifs and maybes.Verdiwagneritenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-86575923139948306702011-08-14T09:38:02.724-04:002011-08-14T09:38:02.724-04:00Most interesting! Thank you for that piece of inf...Most interesting! Thank you for that piece of information!Edmund StAustellhttp://gmail.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-39699770541948059002011-08-14T00:28:09.762-04:002011-08-14T00:28:09.762-04:00I knew Florence in the late 70's and early 80&...I knew Florence in the late 70's and early 80's. She spoke of unprofessional comments from the repugnant Kurt Herbert Adler as helping convince her to give up her career. But she seemed happy with her life and daughter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-7749803432367605312011-01-10T13:35:24.499-05:002011-01-10T13:35:24.499-05:00Thank you, I appreciate your comment, and yes, &qu...Thank you, I appreciate your comment, and yes, "exceptional" and "gifted" are indeed the right words!Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-74698533553007030932011-01-10T11:27:50.658-05:002011-01-10T11:27:50.658-05:00thank you for this lovely tribute to this exceptio...thank you for this lovely tribute to this exceptional, gifted ladyj van bergehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356000334149995923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-8195843089509488042010-12-06T20:48:45.845-05:002010-12-06T20:48:45.845-05:00Thank you, Lesley. I just hope it was in fact har...Thank you, Lesley. I just hope it was in fact harmonious, because that would make the sacrifice more meaningful. I have to admit that I have mixed feelings, because it runs so counter to the spirit of the day for gifted women to have to deny themselves a career for family. I know the arguments pro and con, and I certainly would not be so brazen as to gainsay the past, but that was such a gift; such a glorious voice.Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-11255660951805483942010-12-06T19:33:59.102-05:002010-12-06T19:33:59.102-05:00Thank you for bringing another great voice to the ...Thank you for bringing another great voice to the attention and appreciation of a wider public, Edmund. I had not heard her prior to the postings on YouTube and immediately tried to find out all I could, which is not much at all, so thanks to you and Tim for the information. This is similar, as you said, to Cerquetti's situation as well as that of Rosanna Carteri in Italy. There are probably more to be found who gave up a great deal in order to have a harmonious private life.<br /><br />Lesley/SospelloAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-26187496898063385522010-11-30T08:18:41.801-05:002010-11-30T08:18:41.801-05:00Thank you very much for your comment. Yes, you ar...Thank you very much for your comment. Yes, you are certainly right in saying that the life of an opera singer can be tough. No arguments there. I'm not sure, to be honest, how it all worked out. She doted on her daughter, that much is certain. The biography is a little tenuous on the matter of her marriage to Italo Tajo. I have heard that it did not last until the end, which moves a sad story in the direction of a tragic one, but I simply don't know enough about it to say. Once someone falls as far out of the limelight as she did, the personal life becomes the property of a few friends and relatives. So, I just can't say. The certain thing is that this was a great voice, and its loss to the world of opera is serious.Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-87173601365131879632010-11-29T20:35:17.740-05:002010-11-29T20:35:17.740-05:00gorgeous voice. i appreciate the comparison to pon...gorgeous voice. i appreciate the comparison to ponselle. i hope quartararo had a happy and peaceful life as a wife and mother -- god knows the life of an opera singer is not always easy.coraxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03645573592247798140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-7315453139434387372010-11-29T19:08:12.524-05:002010-11-29T19:08:12.524-05:00Yes, you are right. There is no page on her that ...Yes, you are right. There is no page on her that I know of. Tim's introduction here is about the best short bio there is on Youtube.Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-63633482107941914712010-11-29T18:40:23.162-05:002010-11-29T18:40:23.162-05:00Thanks again for the article, I didn't know ab...Thanks again for the article, I didn't know about her. She also was very good-looking. I imagine that with her voice and appearance she would have become a true star very quickly . But anyway, you are absolutely right - we must be glad that we have the recordings.<br />I cannot find her page on Wikipedia, most likely it doesn’t exist. <br /><br />n.a.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-61460955122136812792010-11-29T16:16:12.893-05:002010-11-29T16:16:12.893-05:00Thank you so much, my friend. I always appreciate...Thank you so much, my friend. I always appreciate and respect your comments, which are invariably insightful and penetrate right to the core of the matter. You are right about her relative youth and the dramatically refined singing. A rare combination! I think everyone who hears these records has pretty much the same reaction--that this is a surprising talent, virtually unknown now, and very much deserving of being brought back to light. I wish there were more recordings, but I'm grateful for what we have. It's such a sad story, and such a loss to the world of music! Thanks again for your comment.Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-75371885233788144892010-11-29T15:35:26.186-05:002010-11-29T15:35:26.186-05:00What a singer! Thanks a lot for the article and th...What a singer! Thanks a lot for the article and thanks to Tim for the information on her life. It seems that any new names from that era can’t be found, and these recordings are a great surprise. Her talent was huge and the voice was phenomenal ,and what is especially rare is that her singing is very refined dramatically. In spite of her young age then, she sang like an experienced artists. The voice is beautiful and charming, I agree; ‘Care selve’ is a masterpiece. “Un bel di” and ‘Tacea la notte’ are brilliant too, with huge contrast between subtle moments and the most dramatic ones. Definitely, she was one of the greatest singers.<br /><br />n.a.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-50076791895818274672010-11-28T16:42:20.599-05:002010-11-28T16:42:20.599-05:00Thank you so very much, Tim, for those lovely and ...Thank you so very much, Tim, for those lovely and elegant comments, which I really appreciate. And thank you especially for the lengthy and telling bio you provided for today's piece. It far exceeds what I could have done, and I am grateful. And yes, Richard Caniell deserves great praise for going to all the trouble he went to in order to insure that these recorded samples of her brilliant singing were not lost. Fate can be both mysterious and cruel sometimes, can't it? At least we can celebrate what we have. Thanks again.Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-10330877364073262802010-11-28T15:42:58.725-05:002010-11-28T15:42:58.725-05:00Thank you so much for contributing this lovely tri...Thank you so much for contributing this lovely tribute to a singer whose natural talent and endowment did not attain the kind of fulfilment they so richly deserve. It's made all the more poignant and sad that her marriage with Italo Tajo apparently didn't last (a NY Times obituary revealed that it was another person who was with him when he passed away) and her stunted career did leave a painful place in her, which Richard Caniell sensed palpably when he befriended her. Her sole consolation was her daughter, whom she regarded as the biggest thrill and fulfilment of her life. She did think about going back to the stage after her child had grown up, but by then the momentum was lost (the same dilemma applied to Anita Cerquetti). While all those "what could have been"s would inevitably come up now and then when we discuss her, we should be grateful for the preservation of her precious recorded legacy via the tireless work of Caniell. And warmest thanks to you again for this marvelous momento that crystallizes the sheer joy many of us have been having in discovering her.<br /><br />Best wishes,<br />TimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com