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boitbecker
ABC plans
boob tube
boogie
Omaha 's
'Butterfly'
disappoints
Review by Richard Grace
The Omaha Opera Co. Friday opened its
1972-73 season with a disappointing
performance of Puccini's 'Madame
Butterfly."
An almost full house anxiously awaited
the famous entrance of Butterfly only to
hear soprano Felicia Weathers have vocal
problems that continued through the
evening.
The role of Butterfly is immensely
difficult and requires a voice of large
dimension and ideally a petite figure that
could portray realistically a 15-year-old
Japanese girl. Weathers obviously has all the
necessary qualifications but her voice never
responded to her wishes in thisjperformance.
As Butterfly goes, so goes the opera.' " "
The most noticeable disparity of
Weathers' technique was her inability to
secure the notes above high A, so frequent in
this opera.
The acting side of Butterfly's portrayal
HocDruoe rvralro Out Ana ann-tt fAnarafa tka
eye from the ear. One cannot relax and
enjoy the rest of the performance by
overlooking the obvious vocal tensions of
this internationally famous singer.
Charles Hindsley, who sang the tenor role
of U.S. Naval Lt. Pinkerton gave a fine
performance. Hindsley has an intensely
focused sound that, at times, lacked depth
and warmth.
His first act was uneven with some pitch
problems and "nervous feet." However, the
third act trio and duet were the highlights of
the evening.
The singing and acting of John Fiorito
was enjoyable. Fiorito has a rich, lyric
baritone voice and appears totally secure on
the stage. The remaining supporting roles
were negotiated by competent acting singers.
Norman Paige, an inactive Goro, and Tom
Fox, an imposing Bonze, deserve mention.
The stage director, James de Blasis, used a
few non-traditional methods. The chorus
performed well. And the love duet between
Butterfly and Pinkerton and the unusual
involvement of Kate were unique, but not
easily understood.
.The orchestra, under the leadership of'
Leo Kopp, was jiotjvithout its technical-c
problems. But one coufd certamfy"'ftot find""
fault with the excellent balance between the
singers and orchestra.
In all, this production was below par for
the Omaha Opera Co. The next presentation
is Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet" on Febr.
23 and 24. J
Tuesday
8 p.m. Weiloyan O'Donnell
Auditorium-Lincoln Symphony
Orehaitra concert with planlit
Alicia da Larrocha.
Wednesday
1 0 a.m. -5 p.m. Shaldon original
print exhibition
3, 7, 9 p.m. Sheldon Special
Film, "Cuba Va"
6:30 p.m. Smith Hall
lounge-Cathy Barbarian teition
9 p.m. Pound Hall TV
Room-Barbarian leulon
Thursday
8 p.m. Nebraska Union
Ballroom Cathy Barbarian concert
Friday
1:30 p.m. Mutlc
Department Cathy Berberlan
tetilon
3:30 p.m. Union-Cathy
Berberlan test Ion
7, 10 p.m. Union Weekend
Film, "THX1138"
7:30 p.m. Hungry Id-Lab
play, "Tuvo"
8:30 p.m. Community
Playhouie "Cactut Flower"
Saturday
9, 10:30 a.m. Kimball
Hall-"The Mayflower" Theater
Arts for Youth ballet
6:30 p.m. Sheldon-Full length
vert I on of "War and Peace"
7, 10 p.m. Union Weekend
Film, "THX1138"
7:30 p.m. Hungry Id-Lab play,
"Tuvo"
8 p.m. Perthlng Tzigane, gypay
folk spectacle
8 p.m. Union Ballroom Muddy
Waters in concert, alio Cotton
8 p.m. Eait High McCrarye,
goapel group In concert
8:30 p.m. Community
Playhoue-"Cactui Flower"
Sunday
3 p . m . -M a rc h I n g band
concert-Union
7:30 p.m. Penhlng-Ten Years
After, Z.2. Top In concert
7:30 p.m. Hungry Id-Lab play,
"Tuvo"
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SUDENT-E4CUUY TELEPHONE DIRECTORY
on sale now
only $.50
university bookstore
union main desk
nebraska bookstore
living unif reps
Commercial television, by its nature, I suppose, neglects to
do a lot of good things. One of the neglected good things is
programs of music geared to the young, rock-oriented
audience. . .
However, the American Broadcasing Co. is apparently
about to make a rare attempt to change that ABC has taped
two programs, called In Concert, featuring concert
performances by real live rock artists.
The performers include Alice Cooper, Arlo Guthrie, Curtis
Mayfield, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. f
In the early days of the rock phenomenon, artists
appearances were pretty much limited to spots on The Ed
Sullivan Show or lip-sync for American Bandstand. Pretty
weak fare.
Monkee mania
A bit later the network powers-that-be fed Paul Revere and
the Raiders and the Monkees to us. They sure weren't rock
performances but they were better (sometimes) than Lucy.
Only in the last couple of years have the networks begun to
venture into showing taped concert performances. The Public
Broadcasting System (PBS) has been far out front on the
commercial networks in this respect
PBS has presented at least two such shows. Both originated
from Bill Graham's Fillmore Ballrooms when they still
operated as the showplaces of rock.
The shows were taped live, later edited to include some
slow motion and split-screen technique. But, most
importantly, they featured real, live rock stars in your living
room. Too much I
But also too little-the shows have been few and far
between. PBS also presented a couple hours of Leon Russel
and his gang in rehearsal and a Cat Stevens segment. They, too,
were a welcome sight and sound.
Beach Boy vibes
But commercial TV has limited itself to only four programs
of real note in the last couple of years, to my knowledge. Two
of them were called Good Vibrations, and featured the Beach
Boys.
Viewers also got a good look at the performances of Richie
Havens, Sha Na Na and Melanie on the shows.
Earlier this year a Three Dog Night concert was aired. And
some time ago one of the networks showed An Evening With
Roberta Flack.
Dick Cavett occasionally has featured rock groups on his
talk show. But the variety shows seem content to show only
the sugary middle of the road pop artists.
You just didn't see any Alice Coopers or Bo Diddleys or
Chuck Berrys on the tube.
But that, apparently, has changed. ABC has scheduled the
two In Concert shows for the Dick Cavett time slot on Nov. 24
and Dec. 8.
ABC Omaha affiliate KETV was unsure Sunday whether
the programs will be shown here. We'll find out by next week.
Concert notes
Quick (live) concert notes for the next two weeks, within
driving or hitching distance:
Nov. 13: Grateful Dead, Kansas City, Mo.; Paul Butterfield,
Boulder through the 15th; Nov. 14: Grateful Dead, Oklahoma
City; John Mayall, Delbert & Glen, Colorado Springs; Nov. 15:
Grateful Dead, Oklahoma City; B.B. King, Dekalb, Illinois;
John Mayall, Delbert & Glen, Ft. Collins; Nov. 16: Brewer &
Shipley, Boulder through the 19th; Nov. 17: Grateful Dead,
Wichita; Grand Funk, Tulsa; Nov. 18: Muddy Waters, Lincoln
at the Nebraska Union Ballroom; Chicago, Iowa City; Grand
Funk, Kansas City, Mo.; Ten Years After, Oklahoma City;
Nov. 19: John Hartford, Denver; Grand Funk, Chicago; Ten
Years After, Lincoln at Pershing; Chicago, Columbia Mo.
Lithos at Sheldon
A one-day exhibition of original lithograph, intaglio and
woodcut prints will be presented Wednesday 10 a.m. -5 p.m. at
Sheldon Gallery. The works to be exhibited will include prints
by Durer, Callot and Picasso among others.
Mezzo-soprano Cathy Berberlan will be on campus
Wednesday through Friday for a series of informal sessions and
a formal concert. Her appearance is sponsored by the
University Friends of the Arts.
Berberian's performances range from the traditional to the
use of songs by such contemporaries as Lennon-McCartney.
She is, from reviews of her performances in other times and
places, good at what she does.
She'll hold informal evening sessions Wednesday and Friday
with a free formal concert Thursday.
n a
City Union Program Council
Sunda, November Id, I972
2-30pm
KlebrasKa Union
5ipi Up: Oetwten rfovfl-Nlov.!5
Program Office-Room I2fl Union
East Union Executive Commtttee
Wednesday,NovemberS.I972
5:00pm
Nebraska Union (ay cimpyi)
5igHUp:fcctweehNov.7-Nov:i$
East Union
esun approved
page 6
monday novembef 13, 1972
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daily hebraskan
