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The
Wagner Society |
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Wagner's Birthday Celebration
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WSD EVENTS
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The Wagner Society of Dallas is Celebrating
the Birthday of Richard Wagner
Saturday, May 24, 2003, at 4:30 pm.
presenting
MARJORIE OWENS, Soprano
MATTHEW PIATT, Piano
Matthew Piatt, Marjorie Owens, Glenn Bealls, Matthew Moore
In a Concert of Opera Arias
Il est doux, il est bon" from HERODIADE
- "
MASSENET 1842-1912
MOZART 1756-1791
TCHAIKOVSKY 1840-1893
PUCCINI 1858-1924
with Matthew Moore, Baritone
MOZART 1756-1791
with Glenn Bealls, Tenor
VERDI 1813-1901
PUCCINI 1858-1924
WAGNER 1813-1883
Wagner's Birthday Party
at the Home of William and Hazel HendrixClick on Images for Enlarged View
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Richard Wagner's Birthday was May 22, 1813. This year, in commemoration of such an important and auspicious event, the Wagner Society of Dallas celebrated on Saturday, May 24, 2003, with the traditional birthday cake and recital, this year featuring soprano Marjorie Owens in a program of opera arias, accompanied by pianist Matthew Piatt.
Soprano Marjorie Owens, a member of Houston Opera's Opera Studio, made a strong impression on members of the Wagner Society of Dallas in her Recital on May 24. Her ambitious program of important and difficult opera arias was performed with apparent ease and an outpouring of sound that was thrilling to hear. Miss Owens began with the aria "Il est doux, il est bon" from Massenet's opera Heriodiade, which set the tone for the afternoon. From the very beginning, her rich and colorful voice blazed forth in a cascade of sound which rang in the ears of her listeners.
In two of her numbers, Miss Owens was joined by friends who are students of John Van Cura, a voice teacher at Baylor University in Waco, TX. Mr. Van Cura is also Marjorie Owens' teacher. Baritone Matthew Moore sang in the duet from Manon Lescaut, and tenor Glenn Bealls in the duet from Cosi Fan Tutte. Both of these young men were also quite impressive.
Pianist Matthew Piatt, accompanist for Houston Grand Opera, joined Miss Owens in her recital. He provided a secure foundation for all of his singers, supporting them in their performances with a strong understanding of operatic style. An accompanist can make or break a singer, and Matthew Piatt was obviously an asset to the afternoon's proceedings.
Marjorie Owens was one of the finest young, and sometimes not so young singers that WSD has presented in recent years. It seems that with proper care and training, along with her jump start from Houston Grand Opera Studio, she is well placed for a significant career in the difficult world of opera singing.
Marjorie Owens' recital was part of Wagner Society of Dallas's annual Wagner's Birthday Celebration, this year celebrating the 190th birthday of Richard Wagner.
Thanks
to Bill and Hazel Hendrix from WSD for opening up their home for this year's
birthday party. There
was a large turnout for this event, filling the spacious Hendrix
living room and overflowing into the dining room for additional
seating. WSD founder Virginia Abdo arranged for the special
Wagner's Birthday
Cake, a chocolate Devil's Food cake with white icing decorated
with a picture of Richard Wagner.
Ed Flaspoehler, Webmaster
Wagner Society of Dallas
Welcome to The Wagner Society of Dallas. You know, as Texans, we're bound to strive for being the biggest and best of all the Wagner groups in the world over. My hope, in addition, is that we ensure your attendance and participation by offering an interesting, stimulating, and enjoyable array of meetings, recitals, and travel. Let us know if you have suggestions for future activities, and do make an effort to join in during the coming months with your membership, attendance, and above all joy of being with fellow Wagner aficionados. Roger Carroll The Wagner Society of Dallas - Virginia R.
Abdo and Dr. James T. Wheeler, The Wagner Society of Dallas is devoted to furthering the enjoyment and appreciation of the music of Richard Wagner. The Dallas group is one of many Wagner Societies all over the world. It is a non-profit organization open to anyone who enjoys the works of Richard Wagner and who would like to participate in the Society’s activities. The Wagner Society of Dallas has monthly meetings and programs which feature recitals, lectures, video screenings, receptions for opera singers and personalities, and trips to Wagner performances in other cities. We welcome music lovers who are already familiar with Wagner’s works as well as those who may want to become more knowledgeable about Wagner’s music. Member Benefits include attendance at programs, our newsletter, discount on books and CD’s, advance notice of events and selected ticket services, receipt of the Membership Directory, ticket allotments to Bayreuth, and an active link with fellow Wagnerians throughout the world. |
