Inelda Tajo was born Inelda Meroni in Cantù, , north of Milan, on August 12, 1929. She was a successful actress in Italy, working primarily on the stage from the late 1940s, but she also did voice-overs for fi lms and performed on television. She met Italo Tajo in 1963 when they both performed in a production of Off enbach’s College-Conservatory Orpheus in the Underworld at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. In 1966, shortly after of Music they were married, they moved to Cincinnati, where Italo joined the voice faculty presents and took over the opera department at the College-Conservatory of Music. During his 19-year tenure at CCM, they became a fi xture of the university and Cincinnati arts community. Italo’s performing career took them to major centers in the US and Europe, but primarily the in New York, where Italo continued to perform until 1991. After his death in 1993, Inelda remained active in the local and regional music and arts scene, and was regularly present at performances at CCM, Cincinnati Opera, May Festival, and other venues. She donated an opera scholarship to CCM in Italo’s name and took a great interest in the scholarship recipients and 2008–09 many other CCM voice students over the years. Inelda Tajo was a beloved friend of many people who will continue to treasure her wonderful spirit in their memories.

Inelda Tajo: A Memorial Celebration

Saturday, January 10, 2009 Robert J. Werner Recital Hall Inelda Tajo 4:00 p.m. (1929-2008) PROGRAM

Adagio for strings Samuel Barber “Signore, ascolta” from Turandot Giacomo Puccini (1910-1981) (1858-1924) Gerry Itzkoff , Mauricio Aguiar, violins; Blythe Walker, soprano; Sylvia Plyler, piano Heidi Yenney, viola; Ted Nelson, violoncello Remembrances Welcome and Remembrances Jonathan Eaton David Adams Remembrances Ave Maria Johann Sebastian Bach Patricia Linhart (1685-1750) Charles Gounod Remembrances (1818-1893) Mary Henderson Stucky Hana Park, soprano; Donna Loewy, piano Granada Agustín Lara Remembrances (1897-1970) Paul Shortt Jonathan Lasch, baritone; Sylvia Plyler, piano

“Memory” from Cats Andrew Lloyd Webber Remembrances (b. 1948) Th omas Bankston Carolann Mary Slouff man, soprano; Sylvia Plyler, piano Crisantemi Giacomo Puccini Remembrances Gerry Itzkoff , Mauricio Aguiar, violins; Sylvia Plyler Heidi Yenney, viola; Ted Nelson, violoncello

“La calunnia” from Il barbiere di Siviglia (1792-1868) Adam Fry, ; Donna Loewy, piano

Remembrances Laura Johnson Please continue sharing your memories of Inelda at a reception immediately following this program in the lobby of Robert J. Werner Recital Hall. Remembrances Th omas Hammons

Ave verum corpus (1756-1791) Ensemble conducted by Trudie Seybold

Remembrances Patricia Beggs