In Memory of Evelyn Lear
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The Friday Morning Music Club Newsletter 1 126TH SEASON OCTOBER 2012 VOL. 46, NO. 8 In Memory of Evelyn Lear MMC Club Member and American fellowships to study in Germany. Lear Fsoprano Evelyn Lear, who became an won fame in Vienna by singing the title opera star in Europe singing some of the character in Alban Berg’s “Lulu” in the most difficult contemporary roles before early 1960s. She learned the role in just returning to the United States, has died. three weeks. She was 86. “She considered herself to be a sing- Lear died at a nursing home in Sandy ing actress,” Niles told The Associated Press. Spring, Md., according to her longtime “That’s what made her great.” friend and collaborator John Edward Niles He said the couple’s struggle breaking and her son Jan Stewart. Niles said she had through in American opera venues fueled been ailing for months after suffering a their displeasure that American sing- mild stroke. ers were being passed over for European Lear and her late husband Thomas singers. Stewart, the acclaimed bass-baritone, So they set out later in life to nurture retired in the Maryland suburbs near American singers performing the work of Washington after singing together for Richard Wagner, creating a program for decades around the world. They wanted to young voices with the Wagner Society of be closer to their grandchildren and began Washington. Niles said Lear was a natural It was a perfect combination for the working to foster new American voices in teacher. role of “Lulu,” which required certain opera. Stewart died in 2006. Evelyn Shulman was born Jan. 8, 1926, charisma, he said. Overlooked by U.S. opera houses in Brooklyn, N.Y., and studied piano in Lear had ambitions to find major op- in the 1950s, Lear and Stewart set out her teens. Her mother was an opera singer portunities in Europe. for Europe after winning Fulbright but had to give up that passion when she “This ‘Lulu’ that she sang in Vienna had children. Shulman married Walter put her on the map and made people Inside This Issue Lear, a physician, when she was young and understand that here was this phenomenal moved to the Washington area. After they performer who had all of the musicality 2 President’s Message divorced, she returned to New York in the and all of the control that was needed for 1950s. this super-humanly difficult role,” Pines 3 JIC Winners to Perform She studied at Hunter College, New said. 4 Concert Calendar York University and at Julliard, where she The role defined her as an artist and met Stewart. Lear found her musician, said Christina Scheppelmann, 5 FMMC High School Strings true passion was singing, but U.S. opera artistic director of the Washington Competition Announced houses at the time were more interested National Opera, in an interview from in attracting European artists. 6 In Memory of David-Howell Vienna. Now leaders in U.S. opera are lauding Later, Lear would transition to more Jones Lear’s versatility, beauty, musicality and standard repertoire. She suffered a vocal 6 2012 WIC for Strings Winners commanding stage presence. crisis in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Selected “She had it all: beautiful woman, very She had to stop singing and learn to sing fine actress, wonderful with languages,” all over again, moving to music she found 7 Outreach Program said Roger Pines, dramaturge of the Lyric more vocally healthy. 8 Policy and Procedure Changes Opera of Chicago. “The authenticity with which she sang German was astonishing.” continued on page 7 2 October 2012 YVONNE SABINE President’s Message elcome all to the Club’s 126th season. I hope that all of Wyou enjoyed a relaxing and happy summer in spite of the horrific heat and that you were able to get away for R&R. Now we look forward with enthusiasm to being involved with An official publication of the FMMC activities once again. Friday Morning Music Club, Inc. This summer, we visited the lake country of northern Italy. Organized in 1886 I had been to Italy several times before, but not to the beauti- ful Lake Como area. We settled into a nice hotel on the lake in Lecco where we stayed the entire ten days. It’s such a gorgeous YVONNE M. SABINE part of Italy, with the mountains meeting directly with the FMMC President water. We took day trips via boat, train, bus and foot. No rental car for us! We were very pleased and [email protected] surprised to be in Lecco at the same time as the 10th Annual European Children’s Choir Festival. SUSAN HAYES We were treated to beautiful singing by choirs from France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Newsletter Editor The Czech Republic, The Ukraine, and Hungary. Some were boys choirs and some girls; all sang [email protected] beautifully! We look back with pride on the exciting events celebrating our 125th season: The Festival of Hope choral concert last September; the reception and chamber concert at Dumbarton House on the exact day of our founding in Georgetown; the sold-out Avanti Orchestra concert in the Terrace Please submit new addresses Theatre of the Kennedy Center; the great chamber concert and reception in March at the Hillwood and adress changes to: Museum and Garden celebrating the 125th birthday for Hillwood’s founder Marjorie Merriwether ROBIN FRIEDMAN Post and the FMMC; and, last but not least, the magnificent opera gala at Schlesinger Hall in 2nd VP Membership Alexandria, featuring the Avanti Orchestra, the FMMC Chorale, and former winners of WIC as [email protected] featured singers. What a year! We hope that you will make a special effort to attend the opening chamber concert at Calvary Baptist Church on Friday, October 5th. A reception will follow the concert to give all a chance to chat with old and new friends. Put on your calendar Monday, October 29th for the annual The Friday Morning Avanti Orchestra concert at the Kennedy Center with the winner of the Washington International Music Club is a member Competition. of the Cultural Alliance of We continue to add new venues to our list. This season we will present our first series of evening Greater Washington, DC. concerts at the Greenspring Retirement Community in Springfield, VA and a Wednesday noon Please support our artistic chamber series at the Steinway Piano Gallery in North Bethesda. and educational programs through the United Way by Sincerely, designating #8624 or the Combined Federal Campaign by designating #38448. Yvonne Yvonne Sabine Sabine CFC FMMC THANK YOU! 38448 8624 Many thanks to Friday Morning Music Club musicians who generously gave their performances to be auctioned off at the Washington Performing Arts Society Gala April 21: • The Ionian Winds Quintet: Nancy Genovese, clarinet; Susan Findley, oboe; Susan Hayes, flute; Jackson Hufnagle, French horn; and Susan Wilson, bassoon • Cellist Jim Lieberman who offered both a Duo and a Trio. This is the 4th year Jim has participated Design by • Pianist Marynelle Losin: party music, light classics and jazz LINDA LOUGHRAN Printing and Distribution by • Hsien-Ann Meng and Wei-Der Huang: Octtava Piano Duo FANNON FINE PRINTING a Mt. Royal Company • Cellist Fanny Nemeth-Weiss 703-683-5600 The Friday Morning Music Club Newsletter 3 JIC Winners to Perform in Upcoming Concerts he FMMC Foundation and the SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4 AT 5:00 PM student of Mr. TJohansen International Competition JIC WINNERS’ RECITAL Li Sheng at the for Young String Players (ages 13-17) are On Sunday, November 4, 2012, Music Middle proud to announce two of the six con- at 5:00 pm, all three first-prize win- School Affiliated certs presenting winners of the 2012 JIC ners will perform in the 2012 JIC to Shanghai during the 2012-2013 concert season. Winners Recital at the Church of Conservatory of the Annunciation, 3810 Massachusetts Music. She has Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. Admission been awarded SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13 AT 8:00 PM is free. Performers include Gallia Kastner, scholarships MENDELSSOHN VIOLIN CONCERTO first prize violin,Ziyu Shen, first prize to the Music On Saturday, October 13, 2012 viola, and Brannon Cho, first prize Middle School at 8:00 pm, Maria Ioudenitch (sec- cello, and Frank Conlon, collabora- Affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory ond prize violin) will perform the tive pianist. The program includes works of Music from 2009 to 2011. In May Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with by Beethoven, Paganini, Tchaikovsky, 2012, Ms. Shen gave the premiere per- the Prince George’s Philharmonic, Brahms, Poulenc, and Sarasate. In addition, formance of “Fantasia” by renowned Charles Ellis, Music Director. The Brannon Cho will perform the World composer Mengdong Xu with the concert will take place at the Bowie Premiere of the work commissioned Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra at the Center for the Performing Arts, 15200 for the 2012 JIC, the “Three-Minute National Centre for the Performing Annapolis Rd, Bowie, MD 20715. For Chaconne” by Jonathan Leshnoff. Arts during the closing ceremony more information, go to www.pgphil- Gallia of the 2012 Beijing Modern Music harmonic.org Kastner, 15, Festival. She gave her recital debut at the Maria violin, holds Shanghai Symphony Orchestra venue in Ioudenitch, a Susan and September 2011, and performed a recital 16, was born in Richard Kiphart at the Fudan University of Shanghai in Balashov, Russia. Fellowship at the October 2011. She began the vi- Music Institute Mr. Brannon olin at age three of Chicago, Cho, 17, Cello, with Gregory where she studies began his cello Sandomirsky. In with Almita and studies at age March 2012, she Roland Vamos.