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From Opera
News "On
The Beat"
December
2007, vol 72, no. 6
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Meade
and Armen shine in
Giulio Gari Foundation's
annual party
by BRIAN
KELLOW
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THE
GIULIO GARI FOUNDATION
is one of several New
York-based organizations
that have cropped up in
recent years with the
mission of fostering the
careers of young opera
singers. The format is
similar to that of the LICIA
ALBANESE -“PUCCINI
FOUNDATION: established
artists are honored while
grants are handed out to
promising young talent. On
November 7, the Gari
Foundation, named for the
noted Met tenor, celebrated
its fourth anniversary with
a gala at the New York
Athletic Club. This year's
discoveries included
first-prize winner EDGAR
RAMIREZ, a highly polished
lyric tenor (his only
handicap seemed a slightly
too-slender tone on "Che
gelida manina"), baritone
SEBASTIAN CATANA, who
offered a visceral reading
of "Di provenza il mar,"
soprano JEANETTE VECCHIONE,
who effectively limned Hoffmann's
doll song, the gifted LEAH
WOOL, completely captivating
with Cendrillon's
"Enfin je suis ici," and the
evening's knockout - soprano
ANGELA
MEADE,
whose "Casta Diva" was
nothing less than a
revelation. (It's been a
while since I've heard
anyone negotiate the high
voice the way Meade does.)
Career achievement awards
went to MARCELLO GIORDANI,
REGINA RESNIK, VINCENT LA
SELVA and pop legend
KAY
ARMEN,
who earned a standing
ovation with her mesmerizing
performances of "Time After
Time" and "In the Wee Small
Hours of the Morning," among
others (She was superbly
accompanied by PHILIP
MEALEY.) GIORDANI,
accompanied by his lovely
wife, WILMA, was in a
jubilant mood, having two
nights earlier sung Edgardo
in the Met's new Lucia
and the following night
stepped in, on short notice,
to replace JOSEPH KAISER in
the company's Roméo et Juliette.
The hosts were foundation
chairman GLORIA GARI,
STEPHEN DEMAIO and ELAINE
MALBIN.
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