The Norma gong was a garbage can cover sprayed copper with spray paint. When Olive banged it, it went “chunk… chunk...chunk”. We howled almost as loudly as the chorus it inspired to arrive on stage - with monk’s robes, eyeglasses (the Gall branch of Cohen’s Optical?), spears, and shields with the music taped on the back. 

The Norma gong was a garbage can cover sprayed copper with spray paint. When Olive banged it, it went “chunk… chunk...chunk”. We howled almost as loudly as the chorus it inspired to arrive on stage - with monk’s robes, eyeglasses (the Gall branch of Cohen’s Optical?), spears, and shields with the music taped on the back. Yes, the Valkyries also used that scores on the back of shields trick. And yes, Olive had a flashlight - and a cane - as Sieglinde, and had to leave the stage for a while, because her leopard skin schmatah was falling off. Big BIG safety pin fixed that. The siegmund had sung Nemorino the week before. The Gioconda Dance of the Hours was performed by one septuagenarian woman with a scarf. Should have been renamed, Dance of the Years. During the 2 Forzas I lived through, I had to take a break before Olive’s “Pace, pace” and go to the Howard Johnson’s nearby (this was at the Palm Gardens on W. 52 St) to have a coffee milkshake to regain my strength, exhausted from laughing, so I would have the energy to get through Act IV. The “Pace” took all her strength and mine. The Miserere lived up to its name, but Olive did the Kitty Carlisle high C, which made it more than worth it. Bella was the name of the chorus woman who, inexplicably in a Cavalleria peasant costume no matter the opera, made the speech about donations. She also looked out into the audience one night during her spiel and (pace Anna Russell) said - “Boys, why don’t you bring your girlfriends?!” That probably got the biggest laugh of the night - and that was BEFORE the opera started. Those were indeed the days. Miss it desperately. So lucky I was told to go there.

Comments

Only a BORE would not need DEPENDS I have previously posted on the hilarious La Puma opera co. but I recently went toward the Koch Bridge and there was a travel agency named "La Puma." No, Olive did not come out, but it reminded me of those hysterical days,sadly gone, of how we were finally thrown out of the junior high where La Puma performed. New members here...go to "Days and Nights of La Puma' and you will be...not sure... So here is a little repost of what I saw or knew from others: 1. 65 plus chorus lady in Aida with wristwatch ( 8:00 P.M. Memphis Standard Time??) 2. Prompter in Faust offstage screaming the words. 3. Sacristan entering in Tosca and,in time with the faster music, shaking his ass back and forth. 4.Our first time..Otello w.baritone Americo Iorio, getting up on JHS table for the drinking song, and falling off.(We then told all our friends...MY GOD..YOU GOTTA COME!!!!" 5. Walkure on Youtube act 2 prelude....and conductor stops and then goes on, and they tell me Olive Middleton had a flashlight in act one (Sieglinde, it is DARK and you were Hunding for Siegmund.) 6. Walkure again..Music on the ladies shields. 7. Norma- 75 yr.old Olive tried to ring the Norma gong..finally does it, to great applause. (We met her at a Milanov Gioconda and treated her like a star..she had career as Olive Townend in Malibran's era.) 8. On Youtube,see Don Carlo..lighting by Bocelli'tenor high B unnatural sounds like he was sitting on a nail;baritone angry when he gets shot and people applaud,and he admonished the audience,like Bonisolli. 9. We signed their guest book...I wrote things like "Enrico Caruso." A lady with a very Jewish inflection was at the desk and in the chorus.From the stage,saw someone enter and not give a donation, and yelled "Cheap Chisler!!!). 10. By the way,when I did a Coppelius, we had to hire their chorus.They never shut up, and I yelled, "Go back to La Puma where you belong." Reminds me of someone at Tebaldi Met Otello backstage accidentally tripping over something during quiet "Salce." 11. Hard to come in late and recognize the opera..took time...oh.."It's Werther." 12. Speaking of being late, one orchestra player walked in DURING Don Giovanni overture and then joined the group.(They needed Von Karajan!!!!) 13. Tosca..Olive,no teeth, about 75, chest up to high C...did hit great high C in "Io quella lama." SHOCK. 14. Pagliacci at Ansonia Hotel where Steber sang at the old gay baths...Nedda sang aria..Tonio enters..She did not know the music...He had to LEAVE!!!! 15. Ernani w.Mario Leone. ANYONE guy here is better..Then he sang "Entrate i miei fidi cavalieri" and one old stupid guy with a dumb cap on entered..He was the chorus. In Anna Russell's RING words, "I am NOT making this up!!!!!" 14. Finalmentye...My friend who had a laugh that made you hysterical and I...TRIED,with hankies ready, to get through a Don Giovanni. In the Zerlina/Masetto scene, Leporello is supposed to pinch a peasant girl. Well, the ancient lady with a huge bow on her hair, let out an ELEKTRA GESCHREI, causing Joanie and I to run hysterical out...and a man yelled, "GET OUT!!!. " We ran up Broadway (around 95th St.) and that was it!!!!! I never came back until they went to the Ansonia...but hen Mme.la Puma, mother of famous Met coach,Alberta Masiello, died or just retired. Oh..I forgot...a friend called up, "What are you doing tonight?" Answer: "Turandot with LOLITA SCHULTZ!!" Also, to conclude..the Gioconda Barnaba fell ill and mme.La Puma came out and said..We have to do "Tristan and Isolde." I was told some Met singers did sometimes attend...I can imagine..... well, you heard the TRUTH...I WANT THEM BACK!!!!!! To hell with the virus!!!!! Comments Write a comment…

Margarete Teschemacher ,3/3/1903

and the great Marcel Wittrisch

in a favorite of mine.

How can ONE NOTE cause you

to call a singer your all-time

favorite, and I saw her 88

times. Still go nuts!!!!

Well, if she can be a tenor,

I can sing Norma!!!!! Play

this for people but do not

tell them it is a lady.

She had those "Gerryflappers"

who loved her.This was in

my mother's era, and she

was a dancer in that time.

I was a brat and made fun

of ma's old photos,and she

threw them out!!!!!

Lucine told me that when

she ended the trio on the

C# (I was there),Monteux

had to hold the drumroll

because of so much applause

before Tucker ran in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR6BllmsTRc

Still has a lot of voice.

Delightful lady!!

Called Lucine yesterday.

Such fun at 95. She was

so reliable she became a

House singer," which can

be a detriment...Gorgeous

voice...even a lot left. Also,

her jokes cannot be told

here....(gggg)

One of my all-time favorite

recordings. At Rise Steven's

home at one of our club

gatherings,Rise spoke of the

Eva of Lehmann,when she

was a young student.Rise was

"in a trance." Amazing that

they ended up together in Met

Rosenkavalier!!!!!

Caruso   2/25/1873

Destinn 2/26/ 1877

Golden age!!!!!!!

Over the years,the top

got very flat,but in her

prime,she was amazing.

The tenor is not too bad

either!!!!!

For many years I have posted

over 1644 clips. In the

]beginning,I got many

commercials but I had

to stop the comment

section, but I want to

know what you think of

the site and what ideas

you have.I have now over

2 million "hits." PLEASE

get in touch if you desire

through E-mail  at:

Placido21@aol.com.He

know we have the same

birthday,although I am poor.

One of the greatest voices

I have ever heard.Really

magnificent.

Marni Nixon was the voice

of so many stars in fim.I

saw her LIVE in My Fair Lady.

Wonderful...not credited...

Zenatello2/22/1876

Destinn  2/26/1878

 Two greats

No one...NO ONE can rival

the GOD of singing.I know people

whose fathers or grandfathers

heard him live..and say we only get

1/3 of what he was

 2/25/1873   Bless him FOREVER!!!

It is heavy for her, but,very exciting.

This was when she spoke of

the "gente di merda." She

did make up w.Luciano.

(No prelude performed)

Some day they will do the whole Ring

and throw tomatoes at Hagen.

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9oYW5kZWxtYW5pYS5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw/episode/OWRkMmY3OTAxZGIxODc1OGNiZGRjYjhkMGNkYTEzYWU?hl=en&ved=2ahUKEwit7r7AvfbuAhVPk1kKHes-A1EQjrkEegQIAxAI&ep=6

You may get to this.  I sang

in a company with the worst

singer EVER...and needed

RAID since he took a bath

every one year. I hope you

get this.

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9oYW5kZWxtYW5pYS5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw/episode/OWRkMmY3OTAxZGIxODc1OGNiZGRjYjhkMGNkYTEzYWU?hl=en&ved=2ahUKEwit7r7AvfbuAhVPk1kKHes-A1EQjrkEegQIAxAI&ep=6

https://www.podchaser.com/creators/charles-handelman-107aIXC1ob

For new people..Reminding

you that 1644 podcasts,and

early ones with narration,

are available!!!!! Loveya!!!!

https://www.podchaser.com/creators/charles-handelman-107aIXC1ob

In English...but what a

delight.She stole the

opera and he was a very

great artist.

 I am doing more...right?

The Virus keeps me home.

I was at this Gioconda with

my favorite singer,Zinka,

and friend of over 50 yrs.

Regina Resnik. Bing hardly

gave Regina dramatic roles

and she had to fight her way.

Exciting Gulin with Baglioni

in Gioconda duet.Cigna and

Elmo also to be remembered.

We have no really dramatic

tenors..Remember,I saw

Corelli and Del Monaco

each 40 times. Good to have

one at least in recent past.

Incredible courage after

paralysis.I met her at

closing old Met.

Rita Gorr was a fabulous

mezzo.A friend saw the

Fricka in Paris and was

just raving. 2/18/26

with George London

https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/handelmanias-Podcast-p1133650/?topicId=122333772

easy to hear my podcasts here.

https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/handelmanias-Podcast-p1133650/?topicId=122333772

LOVE to you all on

this Valentine's Day!

I will be posting more

but please remember

you are so wonderful

all these years, and I

appreciate it so much.

  Love  Charlie

If he sounded like this

live,I would go nuts!!!!

  Jussi was a legendary singer, but live

I found the voice smallish.I do not

think I missed great years.

Did I ever post anything

from the (in)famous old

La Puma Opera. I needed

diapers...but we had fun!

Note the GREAT tenor and

his approach to the top.

We had such fun, until

they threw us out.

Her return to the Met.

I called her every birthday

and let me tell you,

she was the most beloved

person to all of us.

She slowly rose from the

chair,came forward, and

when she got to " E mio,"

the roof fell in.NO OTHER

soprano ever had the volume

coupled with the beauty.

I will treasure her forever.

Last B flat is the closest

to what we heard live.

It was AWESOME!!!!

The "second madre" of

my life..my darling friend

Renata Tebaldi. Hard to

find words to express

what she meant to us!!!!!

I know Magda's caretaker

and he said she sang around

the house at 100 Plus. She

was a miracle!!!!!!

What a shame we never

really knew what Lanza

was like live. He died at 36

and born 1/31/21. Before

tasteless films,early acetates

show much promise.

Marcello and I used to

speak of that great squillo.

We do not have this these

days. I once asked him how

he had such breath control

in "E lucevan." He said,

"It's a TRICK!!!!"

Recently we lost two great

singers whom I knew and

whom I miss so much.

They gave us so much

and I will never forget

what they meant to us.

I miss Marcello so much.

He was a dear guy and

 it is so sad he left us

so young.

  Feliz Cumpleanos

a un artista famoso

y tienes mucha voz

a mi edad (mas que

tu en mi cumpleanos

que es 1/21/ tambien)

Two great stars have birthdays

on Jan.21.One is a real baritone.

Bless him at 80 for a fabulous

career.The Met should be

ashamed!!! We will go to

the Met fountain and sing!

Marin is growing up, and I

have more recent tapes

that show much more

of his talent, but I told

him to wait for Puritani.

How wonderful to find a

kid who knows who Corelli

was. Time will tell.

I just discovered Marin Bulic

from Croatia (like Zinka)

and here is as a kid with

"Nessun Dorma" a tone UP.

He now is 15, and the voice

is maturing and I have "adopted"

him. His recent tapes show an

amazing talent, and I hope he

has a fine career,and is nicer

than Zinka.

  The cast is at the end

of this enjoyable video.

I always wanted to sing

Don Magnifico, but e

tarde!!!!!

After that awful rendition

of this song, I have to play

my dear Piotr!!! I miss him

so much....great artist and

such a wonderful person.

  I hope my friend Piotr

does not hear this. There

are people like me who

LOVE terrible singing.If

you are a "purist." then do

not listen....but we have

a lot of fun!!!!!

I saw 5 in 1956 and another

or so. It was something

remarkable. You could

hear her in Pesaro!!! She

became our most beloved

love and after she retired,

every Feb.1 birthday I

called and we chatted.

My life has been so happy

having had "tre madri"..

Zeani,Tebaldi, and my madre.

Apr.3,1975, at 65,Magda

made her Met debut. No

words can adequately tell

you what it meant to us.

I adore that line at the end

of the aria ("Rimuuuuneri

cosi!!!!." Applause is cut.We

went on forever!!!!!

I know her caretaker and he

said she sang around the house

till 100.I called her every birthday

to hear that beautiful VERISMO

voice. It was just a thrill for me,

and I saw her Fedora and two

Toscas, and the Met debut at

65. Great thrills in my life.

   Our Presidential Jan.20 Biden

Inauguration is really not as

special as Jan.21, the birthday

of two great artists. Placido

and I will go to the Met

fountain and he will swim

with 67 girls, but I will sing

REAL BARITONE ARIAS.. This

will CURE the Virus!!!!!!

Some fine artists and

interesting concepts.

I own every Ring, even if

it takes place in Pompeii.

NO ONE can tell what she

was live.It was something

never ever heard.Only Tebaldi

had the volume. We went

crazy every performance.

Another superb Romanian.

That land really brings them

out.....

Marvelous artist.Left

us too soon!!!!!!

  True greatness!

  Remarkable!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to the

great Marilyn Horne.

1/16/34.Nice to have fun

with Carol and Eileen.

Time to sample  works that

are not "in the mainstream"

Hard Year for all of us.

I wish you a better time

and thanks for your

support. You make my

life happy,knowing I

can share my love for

opera with you. Happy

New Year!!!!!!!

She calls herself Marie France.

She lipstinks to herself and

has 125 videos on Youtube.

I needed a tranquilizer!!

Do not shoot me!!!!!

I like very few singers

today as in my olden days

but Piotr is special to me

and a sweetheart!!!

Happy Birthday!!!!

   Do it again!!!!!!!

My dear Piotr gets

a BIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thrilled at Piotr's Birthday

12/28/66..One of the

great singers and a

dear friend.....Miss him!!

GOD!!!! La Rondine

with Diana!!!! I am

in 7th heaven., Fabio

lost Dessi so young.He

is superb.

I am shocked!!!!!!!

   On the Xmas, I know it

has been a very tough time

for us....but I wish you

all my love and hope we see

the end of our misfortune.

  Love  Santa Charlie

God Bless Milka Ternina,

born 12/19/63. I would

have loved to be in your

studio when you taught

Zinka..my favorite singer.

Did you ever spank her????

My "sister" Virginia Zeani

knows I post many of her

videos here and she wishes

all of you love and happiness

at Xmas. She is a love of my

life (since Tebaldi)

This is NOT my friend

MariSA Galvany. MaRia

was  a nutty wonderful

singer...and the speeds

are correct!!!!!!

Dear friends,

  Indeed this has been

an incredibly sad period

and I do hope you have

survived in the face of

tragedy. Let us pray the

vaccine will help and restore

peace and health wherever you

are.

   My sincerest love  Charlie

  I just found the son of my

darling Virginia Zeani on

facebook. Alessandro is a

doctor and now I feel

"part of the family." The

way she sings "CAAAAro"

says so much about her.

Lucky to have had  "three

madres" in my life...My own

ma,Virginia, and Renata.

Dear friends,

 I have posted here and  on

other forums for so long

I know I may repeat,and

you have archives also.

However,I do not recall

the zillions of things and do

not want to post hip-hop

so bear with me and enjoy

what I post(or skip it).My

buddy from 1977,Diana,did

a fabulous Violetta here with

BRONCHITIS!!! She is really

something.

Not Jimmie Cagney

but a great man!!!!!

A marvelous company

with innovative

ideas.BUY the Elektra.

I think you will love

it. My 2nd favorite

opera.

Nowadays,in every venue,

they all sing (usually down

a third) this aria. The very

great Sirach von Bodengraven

joins in. Povero Puccini.

  I came to love Piotr

as a great artist and

friend.One of the

special singers today.

We just lost her. A wonderful

emotional artist.She reads the

Traviata Letter as good as

Muzio!!!!!

Happy Birthday....When she

wrote me and sent photos

I reminded her of the funny

time she came to our party

after a big Gencer party and

only Gencer photos on the

walls and she said "What is

this..  SHRINE???"

Raina Kabaiwanska  12/15/34   but REAL accident in Tosca..poor Aragall

Why can't they shoot more tenors????

BUY IT!!!!!! Very interesting

company!!!!!! My second

fav.opera!!!!!

The (in) famous La Puma opera

co.of thr 60's. They finally threw

us out. I wet my diapers.Note

the tenor's great top! We were

never the same!!!!!

Il Bacio di Tosca

Beloved!!!!!

        Yankee Doodle Enrico!!!!!!!

The God of voice!!!!!!

   Love it!!!!!   I put on my

mask and did Wotan in a

supermarket.They threw

tomatoes...Peasants!!!!

  The late Ed Rosen and fake

basso ME in a duet we

always did. Not too bad.

My ego is worse than

Bonisolli.

My favorite singer of

today!!!!!!    I would give

him more cd's but the

luggage would sink the plane.

They cannot sing like this

anymore.Teachers must

be afraid..Sad!@!!!!!

His "Pazzo son" is wild!

When I mentioned birthdays

I meant that Placido, and

I are both Jan.21.I do

not own Spain, have no

women all over, but

my high G is BARITONAL.

But he is still amazing

at almost 79. He sings

Boris in 2078.

Until Facebook un-hacks m(due

to some BUM),I post more

here, and I should anyway.

I get commercials here so

I cannot get your comments.

That is a rule if you pay.

PLEASE send to me at least

some feedback at my e-mail

Placido21@aol.com. Jan.21

is our birthdays. I want to

know if you have enjoyed my'

site these years!!!  Loveya!!!

My darling Renata's debut

on 1/31/55 and her birthday

was 2/1. I never got over it

Got up 4:30.Froze all day.

She was my my"madre"and

will never forget her love.

    My two buddies..Miss

them so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of the few great

singers of today and

the nicest guy in the

world!!!!!!!!

  I saw this work many

times.It is so wonderful.

Glad Korngold left

Germany in time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TdGX2Wp-vM&t=587shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TdGX2Wp-vM&t=587shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TdGX2Wp-vM&t=587s

I saw it w.Tucker,Siepi in 1956.

NOTHING!!!!!! like this..

maybe Caruso,Ponselle...

Just heavenly texted Rossini and

he said, Who wrote that?????

      Well....nothing wrong

with subtlety.

   LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A baby at 65.Magda

in Met Debut. All applause

cut off. Not a man in the

place. I called her every birthday

till 100.Listen to the last

"RIMUUUUUUUNERI" cosi.

Tears all night...and she could sing

another 30 years.

To adore!!Never mind the

vibrato. a sweetheart!!!!

That hacker ruined my

birthday tribute of

12/2/23 to a sensational

lady (at least until she

got skinny)