Monthly Archives: February 2016
Max Lorenz
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 23rd February 2016Max Lorenz (1901-75) was the great Wagner tenor of the first part of the 20th century. I’m leaving out Lauritz Melchior who inhabited a universe of his own. He made his debut in Dresden in 1927 and quickly became a great star in Europe. While the bulk of his career was in Germany and Austria,…
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Experts – Just a Few Thoughts
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 21st February 2016A foolish faith in authority is the greatest enemy of truth. Albert Einstein Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts. Richard Feynman The first principle is that you must not fool yourself – and you are the easiest person to fool. Richard Feynman Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge. Charles Darwin…
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Robert Merrill Rareties
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 15th February 2016Robert Merrill (1917-2004) was one of the 20th centuries greatest baritones. His career at the Metropolitan Opera overlapped those of all the other great American baritones. When he debuted at the Met in 1945 Lawrence Tibbett was still singing at the New York house while Leonard Warren was beginning his tenure as the world’s greatest…
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Alcohol and Pregnancy
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 3rd February 2016The CDC issued a recommendation today that “Women of childbearing age should avoid alcohol unless they’re using contraception, federal health officials said Tuesday, in a move to reduce the number of babies born with fetal alcohol syndrome.” From a USA Today story which reported the advice as a new study. The CDC did not report…
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Eri Tu
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 3rd February 2016No composer gave the baritone so many great gifts as did Giuseppe Verdi. Renato, the baritone, has an aria in Act 3 of Un Ballo in Maschera that is a masterpiece of conflicted feelings, pain, betrayal, and revenge. Renato’s wife, Amelia, is in love with his best friend Riccardo the governor of colonial Massachusetts or…
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