The Taming of the Shrew (Giannini)

The Taming of the Shrew is an opera in three acts by composer Vittorio Giannini. The work uses an English language libretto by Dorothy Fee and the composer which is based on William Shakespeare's play of the same name. The opera premiered at the Cincinnati Music Hall on January 31, 1953 in a concert performance starring Dorothy Short as Katharina, Robert Kircher as Petruchio, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and conductor Thor Johnson.[1] Considered Giannini's most popular work, it was one of three finalists named for the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1953.[2][3]

Composition and later performances

Giannini began composing The Taming of the Shrew in 1938 while finishing work on his earlier opera, The Scarlet Letter. He worked sporadically on the opera over the next 12 years; often interrupted by a variety of other music projects and distractions related to World War II that took his attention away from the project. He completed The Taming of the Shrew in 1950.[4]

In 1954 the NBC Opera Theater filmed a shortened 90 minute version of the opera for television starring John Raitt as Petruchio and Susan Yager as Katharina under the baton of Peter Herman Adler. It was broadcast nationwide in the United States on March 13, 1954 and was notably the first opera to be telecast in color.[4][5] The production was an award from the New York Film Critics Circle for this technical achievement.[4]

In 1958 the New York City Opera became the first company to stage a full production of the opera with director Margaret Webster and Adler as conductor. Phyllis Curtin and Walter Cassel led the cast.[6] In 1971 the Lyric Opera of Kansas City staged and recorded the opera for New World Records under music director Russell Patterson.[7] In 1979 the Wolf Trap Opera staged the work with singers Julian Patrick (Petruchio) and Anna Moffo (Katharina).[1]

Roles

Role Voice type New York City Opera Cast,
13 April 1958[6]
(Conductor: Peter Herman Adler)
Katharina soprano Phyllis Curtin
Petruchio baritone Walter Cassel
Baptista bass Chester Watson
Bianca soprano Sonia Stolin
Lucentio tenor John Alexander
Hortensio baritone Walter Farrell
Gremio baritone Grant Williams
Gromio tenor Keith Kaldenberg
Vincentio baritone Arthur Newman
Tranio baritone Paul Ukena
Biondello baritone John Gillaspy
Curtis bass George Del Monte
A pedant tenor Jack De Lon
A tailor baritone John Wheeler

Recordings

  • Vittorio Giannini: The Taming of the Shrew; Lyric Opera of Kansas City Orchestra and Chorus, conductor Russell Patterson; Mary Jennings (Katharina), Adair McGowen (Petruchio), J. B. Davis (Baptista), Lowell Harris (Lucentio), Walter Hook (Hortensio), Catherine Christensen (Bianca); (New World Records, 1971)[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Griffel, Margaret Ross (2013) [1999]. Operas in English: A Dictionary (Revised ed.). Plymouth: Scarecrow Press. p. 481. ISBN 9780810882720.
  2. ^ Heinz Dietrich Fischer (2010). The Pulitzer Prize Winners for Music: Composer Biographies, Premiere Programs and Jury Reports. Peter Lang. p. 52. ISBN 9783631596081.
  3. ^ *Walter G. Simmons. "Giannini, Vittorio", Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed October 15, 2015), (subscription access) Archived 2008-05-16 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b c Walter Simmons (2006). Voices in the Wilderness: Six American Neo-Romantic Composers. Scarecrow Press. pp. 156–157. ISBN 9781461621195.
  5. ^ Olin Downes (March 21, 1954). "' The Taming of the Shrew' Proves to Be One of Most Effective American Works" (PDF). The New York Times.
  6. ^ a b Howard Taubman (April 14, 1958). "Opera: Giannini's 'Taming of the Shrew' at Center" (PDF). The New York Times. p. 22.
  7. ^ a b "CRI 272; Vittorio Giannini; The Taming of the Shrew" (PDF).