One of my all-time favorite singers, the American baritone Dominic Cossa, has passed away at the age of 89. He had a beautiful, lyrical voice, and a natural stage presence.
Dominic studied with Robert Weede and Armen Boyajian, and made his New York City Opera debut in 1961. He sang with that Company for several seasons, and in 1970 he debuted at the Metropolitan Opera as Silvio in PAGLIACCI. He would shuttle between the two theatres, singing roles that included Puccini's Sharpless and Marcello, Rossini's Figaro, Valentin in FAUST, Masetto in DON GIOVANNI, Germont in TRAVIATA, Zurga in PECHEURS DE PERLES, Albert in WERTHER, and Mercutio in ROMEO ET JUILIETTE.
In 1966, Dominic sang Achille in GIULIO CESARE at the New York City Opera in the production that brought international fame to Beverly Sills. He sang Enrico to Beverly's Lucia in a production of the Donizetti opera that included the rarely-staged Wolfscrag Scene, sung here by Dominic and tenor Michele Molese.
At Carnegie Hall, Dominic sang de Nevers in Meyerbeer's HUGUENOTS with Beverly as Marguerite de Valois. He sings Belcore on the Decca recording of ELISIR D'AMORE with Dame Joan Sutherland and Luciano Pavarotti.
Among the many performances of Dominic's at NYCO, this BOHEME was especially moving:
In 1972, Dominic sang Chorebe in Berlioz's LES TROYENS opposite the Cassandra of Clarice Carson in a concert performance at Carnegie Hall.
Clarice Carson & Dominic Cossa - PRISE DE TROIE ~ scene - NYC 1972
Here is Dominic as Sharpless in a scene from Act III of MADAMA BUTTERFLY, with Kay Creed and Enrico di Giuseppe:
BUTTERFLY ~ Act III scene - Enrico di Giuseppe - Kay Creed - Dominic Cossa - NYCO 1969
Of the countless Dominic Cossa performances I witnessed over the years, one stands out in particular. Dominic was singing Sid in Britten's ALBERT HERRING at the New York City' Gary Glaze had the title-role, and the beauteous Kay Creed was Sid's girl-friend Nancy.
At the end, there was a long ovation - the opera was new to many people (myself included) and the performance had been especially lovely. I was at the orchestra railing, yelling as each singer took a solo bow. Then they all came out together. Dominic scanned the fans lining the edge of the pit, and then he suddenly whisked Albert's signature straw boater off the head of tenor Gary Glaze. Pointing at me, Dominic sent the hat flying like a Frisbee. I was sure I would bungle it and that everyone would laugh at me, but miraculously I plucked it out of the air. What a nice souvenir of the performance, I thought! But, no...the singers signaled me to send the hat back to them. I sent it floating over the pit while everyone applauded.
And here is a scene from ARIADNE AUF NAXOS sung in English at the New York City Opera in 1974 by Dominic Cossa with Patricia Wise as Zerbinetta and the adorable Barbara Hocher as Echo. It was these three, and their colleagues, who helped make ARIADNE my favorite opera...which it remains to this day.
Dominic Cossa as Harlekin ~ Ariadne auf Naxos - with Patricia Wise & Barbara Hocher - NYCO 1974
Rest peacefully, dear Dominic...your voice is always with me.