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Thank you for visiting our website. We would love it if you would Add to this Guest Book we are keeping! Well
Done! I
have spent several years as a music librarian, and have been lucky enough to
be paid for what is essentially a hobby. I have heard the recordings of many
of the world's greatest singers, and have enjoyed many of them. To me,
Ponselle stands supreme as a soprano, and I would have loved to have met and
especially to have heard this wonderful singer. Whilst I consider myself
fortunate to have heard Joan Sutherland, another who I admire greatly, there
may never be another Ponselle - if the new millennium brings a comparable
voice, those who hear it are in for a treat. Have
long enjoyed Ponselle's recordings - like many others I wish I had that time
machine to go back and hear what she really sounded like in the theatre -
since Internet started it has been a great pleasure to realise that so many
other people share my passion for the great singers of the past- I can't help
feel that singers today do not really reach the same level - we have become so
"precious" about opera that the real glory and passion of the art is
side stepped - singers seem to begin careers and sing opera for which they
have not the technique or voice. I recently bought Ponselle's famous Traviata
from the Metropolitan - the sound quality is poor from the old broadcast but I
would rather listen to Ponselle than any of the Violettas on more modern
recordings. Thank you for the site and for the work you do to keep the memory
and work of this glorious artist alive - I too am very sad to have missed visiting
Villa Pace - I visit the Washington/Baltimore Area every year and if
only I had done a little more research earlier maybe I could have
visited.....too late now I suppose....... The
year was 1935 and I was a teenager with the good fortune to have a standing
room ticket for a performance of La Gioconda at the Met.starring Rosa Ponselle. That
was the night I became addicted to the Ponselle magic. In
subsequent years I managed to hear all the great voices but no one ever came
close to matching the splendor and indescribable beauty of Rosa Ponselle's
voice. Add to her matchless voice her his- trionic ability and a magnetic
stage presence and you have a combination to be equaled only in fantasy. My
only regret is that having heard Ponselle I managed to find something lacking
in all the others. I
run an Italian American Online Bakery (cookies) http://www.italian-american.com/bakery
could you email your members or mention it in your newsletters Your help would
be appreciated. Joe Even
though she rarely performed in Europe, she is far from forgotten here ! Her
discs are a revelation and there must have survived some MET-broadcasts with
her from the 30s ?! Compliments also to Andrew Farkas for his excellent and
highly informative biography. How I wish I could have heard her "Gioconda"
dal vivo - Evviva Ponselle ! Miss
Duke, I will never forget the first time, about four decades ago at about age
14, that I heard a recording of Rosa Ponselle. The sensation I felt then has
never left me. In all the time since then I have gained a lot more knowledge
of singers and singing, collected a fantastic number of recordings, including
those of other singers, and have read everything I could find about Rosa. No
other singer leaves me as satisfied as she, none. I've followed your
association and your work from this distance and am glad and so very grateful
that you are carrying on the legacy of Rosa Ponselle. Her art, through her
recordings has meant much to me, and I am always anxious to play her
recordings for anyone who isn't familiar with her. I have managed to acquire
all of her 78s, as well as everything else I could get my hands on. I'm sorry
that I did not get to visit Villa Pace while it was a museum and before it
changed hands. Bless you, dear lady, for your loyalty to Rosa Ponselle. Ms.Duke
your website is very interesting. I enjoyed visiting immensely! I can not wait
until next years competition. Distinti Saluti, Nicole Vadala This
is a great web site I hope in the future to see more like it. thanks
for adding a guest book to the website. Rosa Ponselle will like as long as
people care about the human voice. I have CD's of her complete Carmen and
Traviata, but can't find her 1934 Met Don Giovanni. Help, anyone? Joe Fischer A
really excellent WEB site. I highly recommend Mr. Aloi's two books on Miss
Ponselle. They are not only highly readable, but very beautiful visually as
well! Many thanks. I
have been a devoted admirer of Ponselle ever since my father first introduced
me to her wonderful records when I was about 10 years old. Now, some 40 years
on, I am still as much in awe of her voice as ever. It was I think her
recording of the closing Forza scene with my favorite tenor and bass, Giovanni
Martinelli and Ezio Pinza, that made me determined to become what I am today,
that is a transfer engineer and producer of historical records. My Pearl CD of
the Diva has been one of my proudest achievements, gaining some fine reviews
and a soon to be released Martinelli double CD includes more of their fabulous
partnership. If only I could go back in time........ With very best wishes to
your organisation and keep up the good work. P.S. How much is the postage on
the postcard and folder sets. I would like to buy them and need to know how
much to add to the dollar check. I
began taking voice lessons last year and fell in love with the art. I am
pleased to hear of anyone helping to further the arts This
site is marvelous. It should be celebrated as both a tribute to a wonderful
woman and as an educational resource for music lovers. Thank you for keeping
the memory of one of the Greatest alive! the
pictures at the top are graceful and elegant for this beautiful tribute. Glad
I found it. I'm writing and essay for a scholarship for college on Rosa
Ponselle and since we had to choose a famous Italian American Woman, I chose
her. Thank you. Our
daughter competed in the "All Marylanders" competition 1998, and won
a silver rose award at 10 years old. It was a wonderful experience and she has
been interested in finding out about opera and Rosa Ponselle since. I would
like to thank everyone involved with the competition especially Miss Duke for
making everything special for all the young singers and opening up a new world
for my daughter. As
a long-time fan and admirer of Rosa Ponselle, I finally had the opportunity to
visit her family home on Springdale Avenue in Meriden, CT on Easter Sunday
while visiting relatives in nearby Cheshire. I was extremely disappointed to
find this historically significant dwelling in gross disrepair with different
families apparently living in each of its three floors. From what I have read
describing the property at the time the Ponzillos lived there, I am sure the
place is still relatively unchanged or modified. The structural alterations
attributed to Rosa's father are still present. However, considering the
importance of this woman to American cultural and artistic history, I find
this disregard shocking. Indeed, I rather expected the town of Meriden
(perhaps in cooperation with individuals from the Foundation) would have
attempted to preserve and show off this house as a permanent reflection of the
most important individual to come from this city in the last 100 years. I
doubt that the boyhood and family homes of Caruso, Puccini, Verdi, or even
Pavarotti would be permitted to deteriorate to the extent of the Ponzillo
family home in CT. This dwelling, in fact, gave rise to two Met operatic
wonders; not just one! If anyone has had a similar experience or any ideas or
suggestions, please contact me by E-mail. Thanks. What
a beautiful website! It--and the important work of the Ponselle Foundation--is
a fitting tribute to one of our country's greatest artists. I too am
passionate in my devotion to Ponselle. I listen to her recordings almost
daily, and, her genius never fails to amaze and move me. Thank you for
bringing her to an even larger-electronic-audience. VERY
KOOL ! I AM EXCITED TO BE COMPETING IN THIS COMPETITION HAD FUN LAST YEAR AND I
HOPE I DO AGAIN THIS YEAR As
Gold Medalist in the first annual "All Marylanders" competition, and
as finalist in the 94 International Competition, I am proud to say how helpful
the Ponselle Foundation has been. They introduced me to a set of standards I will use for the rest of my career. Many warm thanks to Elayne Duke for her
unfailing dedication to the best interests of young singers in our country. When
I was four years old, Calvin G. Child, who signed the artists to record for
RCA Victor, gave me my first record player and old 78 recordings (some of them
just one-sided). So I grew up listening to Enrico Caruso, Ezio Pinza, and my
favorite soprano by whom all others are always measured--Rosa Ponselle. How
could I not have grown up to love opera? What
a wonderful foundation. Maybe I will enter the competition in the future.
Thank you. What
a wonderful foundation. Maybe I will enter the competition in the future.
Thank you. The
greatest American soprano should have her own website. I know of no other
voice like Madame Ponselle's and always refer the novice opera buff to stop
and listen to one our greatest national treasures...the voice of Rosa Ponselle
will get anyone on the right track. What
a wonderful web site. What a wonderful idea to celebrate the greatest of the
sopranos. I have been listening to opera for fifty years and no soprano
inspires me as much as Rosa Ponselle. Her voice was indeed pure gold, and her
singing was pure genius. What
a joy to see such a beautiful www page dedicated to this superb person!!!! We
have dedicated a page to Rosa Ponselle, on our web site: http://www.crisny.org/not-for-profit/soi/ponselle.html
We take great pleasure in knowing that this great talent was originally
nurtured in an ambience that was shared by those of us who grew up in an
Italian immigrant family. I
have enjoyed your website. I think it is wonderful that you have the
competitions for the young vocalists in Maryland, of which our daughter has
been a competitor. It is a wonderful experience for them and your judges
evaluations are very informative. I especially noted the extra care and time
that Mr. Warfield and Ms. Thebom took with explaining where the competitors
needed improvement and went as far as to vocalize the portions of the pieces
to show what they were actually explaining. It has been such a wonderful
education for our daughter. Please continue with your contribution to
furthering the arts. My mother's aunt was a concert coloratura in Germany and
we just loved to hear her sing when she came to live here, music has always
been #l in our family. Love
the Web site and reading about memorabilia available. My favourite personal
reminiscence stems from 1976, when Ponselle was still active at Baltimore
Opera. She responded to my youthful letter of admiration with a gorgeous
signed portrait of her Norma. A treasure that has very special place in my
house. I highly recommend everyone buy the new " Art of Singing"
video that's all the rage. Her screen-test Carmen is a delight, as are a few
moments from an interview. I believe this is all that exists of her on video.
If anyone has news otherwise... name your price! Has anyone ever heard
anything more of the legendary, mythical acetates that were once rumoured to
exist of her Covent Garden "Norma"? Along with the rumoured Callas-Bjoerling
"Trovatore" from Chicago, this would be the discovery of the
century. Best wishes to all Ponselle devotees. Enjoyed
visiting the site, will pass it on to my friends. Excellent
Organization. would like to link it to my Italian American Web Site. A
Rosa Ponselle CD caught my attention last week at the library. I must confess
that it was not the name of the singer but Maria Callases comment on the front
sleeve about this singer being the best of the best (or something like that)
that made me select this one. It was with great surprise that I listened to her
singing. I was even more surprised to notice the big influence that she had on
Maria Callases singing technique and repertoire. This
is a test Welcome
to the Rosa Ponselle Foundation's new guest book! Please contribute your entry
to our running dialogue. Congrats! Back
to the Rosa Ponselle Foundation Webpage
Updated: 8/7/97 Home
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