Above: soprano Sylvia Khatchadourian
I saw Verdi's penultimate masterpiece, OTELLO, for the first time in a production by the Syracuse Symphony in 1966. Since I saved only the cast page of the programme for the evening, I cannot be sure if the Otello, Michael Bartlett, is the same Michael Bartlett who appeared opposite Grace Moore in her 1936 film "Love Me Forever"; if so, he would have been in his 60s when this OTELLO took place. I suppose it is possible, and - at any rate - he did a very good job with the demanding role.
Making a very positive impression was baritone Richard Torigi (above) in the role of Iago. A Brooklyn native, Torigi had an innate feeling for Italian opera; his voice had power and beauty. His career began in operetta on Broadway, and later toured with the San Carlo Opera Company. In 1951. he joined the New York City Opera where he appeared in such roles as Germont, Dr. Malatesta, Sharpless, and Marcello in BOHEME. He sang with NYCO thru 1969, and also appeared at the Cincinnati Zoo Opera, St. Louis Opera, and the Chicago Lyric Opera. Mr. Torigi went on to teach at Juilliard, the Eastman School, and AVA in Philadelphia.
The thrilling performance of the evening was that of Sylvia Khatchadourian as Desdemona; in my diary I described her as "tremendous!" and described her Act IV Willow Song and Ave Maria as the highlight of the evening.
Above: Sylvia Khatchadourian with baritone Julien Huehn; Ms. Khatchadourian was the first winner of a Kirsten Flagstad Memorial Fund grant. She was nominated by Mr. Huehn, who had been Flagstad's frequent colleague.
But, aside from her having sung Adele in a concert performance of Bellini's IL PIRATA (opposite Montserrat Caballe) in New York City in 1966, I cannot find any further information about this wonderful soprano. If anyone reading this has any information about Ms. Khatchadourian, please contact me using the "About" link in the upper right-hand corner of my blog, just below the treble clef sign.
~ Oberon