Month: October 2018

In memoriam: Montserrat Caballé



St. Kitts 16.7.2001




On 6 October 2018, the Spanish opera singer Montserrat Caballé died at the age of 85 years. After studying in Barcelona and Milan and she made her debut in 1956 in Basel and was sung until 1965 among others in Saarbruecken and Bremen. In 1965, she wowed the audience on behalf of Marilyn Horne at Carnegie Hall and debuted in the same year at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Montserrat Caballé was a frequent guest at festivals and also often appeared as a concert singer.

 

Mali 1.6.1998

The focus of her repertoire was on the operas of Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini but also Verdi and Puccini. Characteristics of her lyrical voice was the sensual beauty and an extraordinary piano. Montserrat Caballé was considered one of the greatest sopranos and with over 4000 Aufritten as the last great opera diva.
 

In memoriam: Charles Aznavour







On October 1, 2018, the Armenian-French chanson singer, songwriter, composer and actor Charles Aznavour died at the age of 94 years. Even as a nine-year-old he sang in his parents’ restaurant. 1946 Edith Piaf noticed him and took him on a tour. With his raspy voice Aznavour, who sang in several languages, has conquered a world audience. In his more than 70-year career, he has composed more than 1,300 songs, sold more than 180 million records and played in over 60 films. With him died one of the last great representatives of the classic chanson.
 

Stamp of the Month: October 2018



San Marino 12.2.1999

Charles Gounod

The French composer Charles François Gounod was born in Paris on June 17, 1818. He died on October 18, 1893 in Saint-Cloud. In October 2018, his death marks the 125th time.
 
First, Gounod studied privately with a Bohemian composer and from 1836 at the Paris Conservatory, among others with Fromental Halévy. In 1839 he was awarded the Prix de Rome and traveled to Italy to learn about the music of the old masters.

After his return, he was church music director, choir director and organist in Paris and composed initially some sacred works, but from 1848 he turned away to strengthen the opera composition. In 1859, his most famous opera “Faust” brought him the breakthrough as a respected composer. The opera, which is often performed in Germany under the title “Marguerite” is still regarded as his masterpiece. Although most of his twelve operas are no longer on the board today, Charles Gounod is considered one of the most respected representative of the typical French Opéra lyrique. Due to the Franco-German War 1870/71 Gounod lived in London from 1870 to 1874, where he founded the Gounod’s Choir, which later became the Royal Choral Society. In his age, the deeply religious Gounod again turned to church music and left numerous oratorios and choral works. His “Ave Maria” based on the “Well-Tempered Clavier” by Johann Sebastian Bach is known worldwide as one of the most popular pieces of classical music.
 

 
The video shows the Ballet of the Semperopera Dresden performing the “Faust Waltz” from the opera “Marguerite” by Charles Gounod.