GGRWHC FINDS THE WOMEN'S ANGLE
In the wake of Opera Grand Rapids' La Boheme this weekend, on Tuesday the Torch Club offers a look at 100 years of grand and not-so-grand opera history in our city--much of it featuring women.Virtually every notable traveling company played Grand Rapids. World-famous vocalists sang the impressive works of celebrated composers here-sometimes in the wake of train accidents, lost sets and music.
Touring Early Grand Rapids Opera: From the Ridiculous to the Sublime
by Gilbert R. Davis, Professor Emeritus, Grand Valley State University
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012, 5:30PM -- social time (bar available) before the 6:00pm dinner ($28) and presentation. The University Club, 111 Lyon NW, 10th floor of Fifth/Third building (free parking). Reserve as soon as possible at http://www.torchclubgr.org/rsvp.htm or call 616-340-8782.
From the middle of the nineteenthcentury local "opera houses" open ed their doors to Italian and American companies criss-crossing the nation to bring opera to the provinces. Grand Rapids audiences were thrilled by Emma Abbot's celebrated English Grand Opera and Anna Pavlova's  Boston National, but fly-by-night operators and scam artists also brought in their share of turkeys--and we thought Mark Twain was making up the outrageous performances of his Duke and Dauphin in Huckleberry Finn! Nineteenth-century newspaper promotion of the touring companies often has a frontier flavor and the reviewers of out-of-town talent would let loose on them.
On May 8th you can hear Gil Davis's lively and entertaining account in person or you can visit http://historygrandrapids.org/explore.php?cat=14&essay=15 for pictures, photo essay, and podcast!
*** MARK YOUR CALENDARS for parading on July 4th! Stay tuned for details, but check out a few pictures of paraders in 2011: http://www.ggrwhc.org/currentnews.php#a_110 |
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| Not a current member of GGRWHC? Membership is easy and helps offset the expenses associated with research and programming presented each year. Your membership helps to set the record straight on the women who've made history here in our community. |
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And, continues to help women make history, every day! |
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Board meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 5:30 pm at the Vanderveen Center for the Book at the Grand Rapids Public Library. If you have suggestions for programs, oral histories or other items, please email us at info@ggrwhc.org or plan to attend a meeting. |
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