A little fluff to snuff out those Monday blues…
Opera singers have not historically been known for their sense of humor or fondness for the toddler set.
Nevertheless, a few contemporary singers have flouted the conventional image of divas and divos, recognizing, perhaps, that a guest appearance on Sesame Street is the highest honor that can be accorded a performer, cementing their celebrity in the bedrock of popular culture.
So here, for your delectation, is Opera Sesame:
American mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves sings a variation on the Habañera from Bizet’s Carmen.
Trivia: You may recognize the glamorous Ms. Graves as one of the performers who joined President Obama in singing “Happy Birthday” to Ted Kennedy recently.
Legendary mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne sings "C is for Cookie" decked out in full full Aida regalia.
Trivia: Ms. Horne supplied the singing voice for Dorothy Dandridge in the 1954 film Carmen Jones.
Prolific bass Samuel Ramey sings a "letter-perfect" rendition of the "Toreador Song" from Bizet's Carmen.
Trivia: Despite being perhaps the most famous bass of the past quarter-century, Ramey is just a small-town boy at heart. Born and raised in Colby, KS (pop. 5,450), which reportedly errected a sign bearing the legend "Birthplace of Samuel Ramey," Ramey had never even seen an opera until he was in one.
Über-soprano Renée Fleming counts off to the tune of "Caro nome" from Verdi's Rigoletto.
Trivia: Last year, Fleming became the inspiration and public face of a new perfume named (what else?) "La Voce."
Placido Flamingo was a recurring character on Sesame Street. Here he meets his namesake, Plácido Domingo (aka The Second Tenor) for a strange little duet.
Trivia: In the1970s, tenor Carlo Casutta replaced Domingo in a San Francisco performance of Verdi's Otello. Years later, Domingo returned the favor in spectacular style, flying in to San Francisco at the last minute to replace an ailing Casutta in the same role. Patrons waited patiently, receiving regular updates on the super-tenor's progress across the country ("He's over Denver") and were rewarded when the curtain rose--three hours late--on one of the world's greatest singers in his signature role.
Popera tenor Andrea Bocelli pays a visit to Elmo, turning his signature tune "Con te partirò" into a lullaby, and demonstrating how remunerative it can be to develop a maching-gun vibrato.
Trivia: Despite his blindness (due to congenital glaucoma) Bocelli has appeared in seven staged operas.
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
Bryan Harrison
scoubidou
John Boni
Kent Pitman
Saturn Smith
Gary Justis
Salon.com
Comments
Dorinda--Thanks for the kind words!
Barbara--I love Sesame, too. It's the one kids' show I really enjoy watching with my rugrats.
annette--Thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcrfvP11Hbo
I'll go with you
To countries I newer
Saw and shared with you
Now, yes, I shall experience them
I'll go with you
On ships across seas
Which, I know,
No, no, exist no longer
With you I shall experience them