Beverly Wolff

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Beverly Wolff rehearsing the role of Sesto for the NYCO's 1966 production of Handel's Giulio Cesare.

Beverly Wolff (November 6, 1928 – August 14, 2005) was an American

Kennedy Center
Handel Festivals.

Wolff made only a few appearances on the international stage during her career, choosing instead to work with important opera companies and orchestras in the United States. She was particularly active with the NYCO with whom she performed frequently from 1958 to 1971. Opera News stated, "Wolff was one of a golden generation of American singers who dominated the NYCO roster during the general directorship of Julius Rudel. Her combination of stylish, intelligent singing and "big brass sound," as she termed it, was a key element in some of the company's most celebrated productions."[1]

Early life and career

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Wolff studied the trumpet in her native city and began her career as a trumpeter with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) while still a teenager.[2] She actively performed with the ASO as both a soloist and a member of the first trumpet section while a student at the University of Georgia, where she earned a degree in English literature in the Spring of 1950.[3][4] It was while playing with the ASO that Wolff's singing voice was discovered by conductor Henry Sopkin. Wolff abandoned the trumpet section and sang the alto solos in the Verdi "Requiem" replacing an ailing mezzo-soprano at age 20. Sopkin encouraged her to pursue vocal training and she subsequently was selected to study at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia in the fall of 1950, where she was a pupil of Sidney Dietch and Vera Mclntyre.[4] While a student at AVA, she was discouraged from taking outside auditions, but won an audition to perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra. She sang "Che farò senza Euridice" at the Philadelphia Academy of Music and became a favorite of Eugene Ormandy and other conductors.

In 1952, at the age of 23, Wolff received a personal phone call from Leonard Bernstein, where she was invited to do the world premiere of a new opera of his at Tanglewood. After these performances, she made her professional opera debut portraying Dinah in a nationally televised broadcast of Leonard Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti for the NBC Opera Theatre (NBCOT).[5] She performed only one more time with the NBCOT during her career: the role of The executive director in the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti's Labyrinth in March 1963.[6] She performed two roles with Boris Goldovsky's New England Opera Theater in 1953: Idamante in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Idomeneo and Mistress Quickly in Giuseppe Verdi's Falstaff.[7] She then put her opera career on hold in order to start a family.[2] She did, however, perform occasionally in concerts during the mid-1950s, making appearances with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, among others.[8] Even after returning to opera in 1968, Wolff maintained a measured pace for her professional and personal life; in general, for every two weeks of work, she would spend three weeks at home. In a 1972 Opera News interview, Wolff stated, "You can't leave a list of performances to posterity. The only future is your children, and rearing them is not a part-time job."[1] Wolff became a teacher in her home in Lakeland, Florida, after which she was invited to teach at the Academy of Vocal Arts. She went on to teach at Florida Southern College, where she served as provost of the university for a term.

Working in New York City

In 1958 Wolff joined the roster of artists at the

Le nozze di Figaro,[11] Desideria in The Saint of Bleecker Street,[12] Siebel in Faust,[13] and the title roles in Carmen,[14] and Douglas Moore's Carry Nation.[15] She notably created the latter part in the opera's world premiere in Lawrence, Kansas in 1966.[16]

In March 1972 Wolff sang the title role in the United States premiere of Handel's

Bertha at Alice Tully Hall.[21]

Wolff was also active as a concert soloist and recitalist in New York City. In December 1961 she performed to an audience of more than 10,000 people at

La mort de Cléopâtre (1968),[29] and Anton Bruckner's Te Deum (1978) among others. In 1968 she was a soloist in Verdi's Requiem with conductor Siegfried Landau and the Brooklyn Philharmonic.[30] In 1975 she performed with The Little Orchestra Society as a soloist in Edward Elgar The Dream of Gerontius with conductor Thomas Scherman.[31] In December 1977 she made her New York City recital debut at Town Hall.[32]

Wolff retired from performance in the early 1980s. One of her last performances was as a soloist in

Avery Fisher Hall with conductor Rohan Joseph de Saram, the Oratorio Society of New York, and the American Philharmonic Orchestra.[33]

Other work

In addition to her work with the NYCO, Wolff performed roles as a guest artist with many other American opera companies. In 1962 she portrayed the role of the Dryad in

Richard Tucker as Don José.[39] In 1967 she made her debut with the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company as Suzuki in Madama Butterfly to the Cio-Cio San of Montserrat Caballé. She returned to Philadelphia in 1970 to sing Amneris in Aida with Ljiljana Molnar Talajić as the title heroine and Sherrill Milnes as Amonasro.[40] In 1971 she sang Adalgisa in Vincenzo Bellini's Norma at the Opera Company of Boston with Sills in the title role and Sarah Caldwell conducting.[41] In 1976 she appeared at the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Ulrica in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera with José Carreras as Riccardo.[42] In 1978 she sang the title role in the United States premiere of Handel's Poro at the Kennedy Center Handel Festival.[43] She returned to the festival in 1980 to perform the title role in the American premiere of Handel's Radamisto.[44]

Wolff was also active as a recitalist and concert soloist, appearing in numerous cities around the United States. In August 1961 she performed for President

Pittsburgh Symphony:Songs of a Wayfarer in 1966[48] and the Resurrection Symphony in 1967.[49] In 1975 she was a soloist in Verdi's Requiem in a performance given for Pope Paul VI at the Vatican.[2] In 1977 she sang the part of the Wood Dove in Arnold Schoenberg's Gurre-Lieder at the Ravinia Festival with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus under the direction of James Levine. In 1980 she was a soloist in Alexander Scriabin's Symphony No. 1 with the Philadelphia Orchestra and conductor Riccardo Muti.[50]

Wolff also sang abroad in Europe and in Mexico. In Italy she performed at the

Samson et Dalila, and the title role in Benjamin Britten's The Rape of Lucretia.[1]

Later life

Beverly Wolff retired from performing in the early 1980s. In 1981 she began teaching on music faculty at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. She occasionally invited promising singers to work with her in Lakeland, among them Mezzo-Sopranos Wanda Brister and Annamaria Popescu. Beverly had lived in Lakeland with her husband, businessman John Dwiggins, and their two sons since in 1967.[1][2] She continued to teach at FSC until her death. She died from heart-surgery complications in Lakeland on August 14, 2005, at the age of 76.[2] She was a National Patroness of Delta Omicron, an international professional music fraternity.[52]

Selected Recordings

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Obituaries: Beverly Wolff". Opera News. 75 (9). March 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e Emily Quinn (16 August 2005). "Beverly Wolff, New York City Opera Mezzo-Soprano, Dies". Playbill.
  3. ^ Joseph A. Mussulman. Dear people ... Robert Shaw: a biography, Indiana University Press, 1979, pg 196
  4. ^ a b "Georgia's Noted Beverly Wolff". Pan Pipes of Sigma Alpha Iota. 64: 10. 1971.
  5. ^ Ross Parmenter (November 17, 1952). "Bernstein Opera On Video Theatre; 'Trouble in Tahiti,' One-Act Work Presented by NBC, Deals With Suburbia". The New York Times.
  6. ^ Harold C. Schonberg (March 4, 1963). "Music: Menotti Opera; 'Labyrinth' on TV Is Not His Best The Cast". The New York Times.
  7. ^ "Verdi Work Presented By Goldovsky Company", The Christian Science Monitor, March 2, 1953
  8. ^ "Beverly Wolff To Be Guest Soloist Friday". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. April 25, 1956.
  9. ^ Howard Taubman (April 7, 1958). "Double Bill of Marital Strife; Bucci and Bernstein Works at Center". The New York Times. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
  10. ^ Harold C. Schonberg (March 14, 1971). "The Opera: Menotti's 'Important Man'; Plot Concerns a Black Who Can Rule World". The New York Times.
  11. ^ Raymond Ericson (October 12, 1963). "'Figaro' Presented By The City Opera". The New York Times.
  12. ^ Howard Klein (March 19, 1965). "City Opera Gives Menotti's Saint" (PDF). The New York Times.
  13. ^ Raymond Ericson (October 25, 1964). "City Opera Gives Its Second 'Faust'; Sherrill Milnes Impresses With Voice as Valentin". The New York Times.
  14. ^ Raymond Ericson (November 15, 1964). "Beverly Wolff Sings Title Role In Fourth City Opera 'Carmen'". The New York Times.
  15. ^ Harold C. Schonberg (March 29, 1968). "Opera: The Folk Heritage of a Young Carry Nation in Missouri; Local Premiere Given Moore-Jayme Work". The New York Times.
  16. ^ Theodore Strongin (April 30, 1966). "Opera By Moore Bows In Kansas; 'Carry Nation' Intertwines Love Story and Legend" (PDF). The New York Times.
  17. ^ Donal Henahan (29 March 1972). "Rinaldo Has Everything a Baroque Opera Needs". The New York Times. p. 37.(subscription required)
  18. ^ Donal Henahan (March 1, 1973). "Belshazzar and Belshazzar's Feast Given by Handel Society Under Simon". The New York Times.
  19. ^ Harold C. Schonberg (March 28, 1974). "'Alcina' Is Given in the New Way of Doing Handel" (PDF). The New York Times.
  20. ^ Donal Henahan (November 2, 1972). "Opera: A Happy Revival" (PDF). The New York Times.
  21. ^ Donal Henahan (November 28, 1973). "2 Nights With Latter-Day Rorem". The New York Times.
  22. ^ Ross Parmenter (December 24, 1963). "Music: Six Handel 'Messiahs'--a Feast; Holiday Performances Stir Enthusiasm". The New York Times.
  23. ^ Howard Klein (October 15, 1964). "Festival Groups in Third Concert; Beverly Wolff, Bressler and Gramm Are the Soloists". The New York Times.
  24. ^ "Beverly Wolff". New York Philharmonic Performance Archives. Archived from the original on 2014-07-24.
  25. ^ Harold C. Schonberg (December 10, 1965). "Music: Philharmonic in Mahler's 8th; 401 Performers Play and Sing Symphony". The New York Times.
  26. ^ Harold C. Schonberg (February 25, 1966). "Music: Mendelssohn's Elijah by the Philharmonic; Long Oratorio Is Given Fine Performance New Zealander Makes Debut in Title Role". The New York Times.
  27. ^ Raymond Ericson (November 16, 1966). "Sargent Directs Messiah Here; Conducts Oratorio for First Time on a Local Podium". The New York Times.
  28. ^ Harold C. Schonberg (November 17, 1967). "Music: Damnation of Faust in Concert; Philharmonic Skillfully Led by Steinberg Rarely Heard Work Is Flawed but Exciting". The New York Times.
  29. ^ Harold C. Schonberg (November 1, 1968). "Music: Philharmonic Offers Evening of Berlioz; Earlier Works Chosen by Visiting Conductor Beverly Wolff, Mezzo, Cleopatre Soloist". The New York Times.
  30. ^ Donal Henahan (April 22, 1968). "Brooklyn Orchestra Is Led by Landau In Verdi Requiem". The New York Times.
  31. ^ Donal Henahan (March 21, 1975). "Music: 27 Seasons End; Little Orchestra Society Drops Curtain on Final Night With an Oratorio". The New York Times.
  32. ^ "Beverly Wolff's Singing Marked by Intensity". The New York Times. December 11, 1977.
  33. ^ Donal Henahan (May 18, 1982). "Concert: Joseph Conducts American Philharmonic". The New York Times.
  34. ^ "Strauss' Ariadne Sung in Washington". The New York Times. March 31, 1962.
  35. ^ "8th Opera Season Opens in Capital; Samuel Barber's Vanessa Presented at Howard U." The New York Times. November 9, 1963.
  36. ^ "Opera By Bartok Staged On Coast; 'Bluebeard's Castle' in San Francisco Premiere". The New York Times. June 6, 1963.
  37. ^ "Beverly Wolff". San Francisco Opera Archives.
  38. ^ "Beverly Wolff". Santa Fe Opera Archives. Archived from the original on 2010-12-21. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
  39. ^ Allen Hughes (August 31, 1965). "Atlanta Builds to Match Rise In Demand for Drama and Music". The New York Times.
  40. ^ Free Library of Philadelphia: Box: Phila. Lyric Opera Company: 782.1 P5326p Bal Two [1968 – 1975]
  41. ^ Raymond Ericson (June 13, 1971). "Beverly Sills Dares The Lead in 'Norma'" (PDF). The New York Times.
  42. ^ "Cast Lists – 1970 through 1979". Lyric Opera of Chicago Performance Archives.
  43. ^ John Rockwell (January 9, 1978). "Handel's Opera 'Poro' Is Sung in Capital". The New York Times.
  44. ^ Peter G. Davis (February 20, 1980). "Music: Rare Radamisto". The New York Times.
  45. ^ Tom Wicker (August 23, 1961). "Youth Symphony Charms Kennedy; White House Concert Given for Crippled Children". The New York Times.
  46. ^ "Bach Works Unify Musical Weekend; Sacred Cantatas Are Heard at Berkshire Festival". The New York Times. July 12, 1965.
  47. ^ Allen Hughes (March 6, 1967). "Haydn Mass Sung At Carnegie Hall; Rutgers Choir and Boston Symphony Are Heard". The New York Times.
  48. ^ Howard Klein (November 3, 1966). "Steinberg Conducts His Ensemble Here". The New York Times.
  49. ^ Robert Sherman (March 15, 1968). "Steinberg Conducts Farewell Concert". The New York Times.
  50. ^ Donal Henahan (November 13, 1980). "Concert: Alicia de Larrocha With Philadelphia Orchestra; The Program". The New York Times.
  51. ^ Daniel Pardo (25 May 2006). "DONIZETTI: Roberto Devereux". Opera Today.
  52. ^ Delta Omicron Archived January 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine

Further reading

  • The Metropolitan Opera Encyclopedia, edited by David Hamilton, (Simon and Schuster, New York, 1987).
    ISBN 0-671-61732-X
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