Anna Moffo Dies

Derek McGovern's picture
Submitted by Derek McGovern on Sat, 2006-03-11 21:12.

Very sad news indeed: the great Anna Moffo has died. She suffered a
fatal stroke two days ago after having endured cancer for almost 10
years. Here's a link to her New York Times obituary:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/11/arts/music/11moffo.html

Anna was my favourite soprano. Her career may have been shortlived,
but when she was at her peak in the late 1950s and early 60s, there
wasn't a soprano alive with her combination of vocal beauty and
phrasing. And there still isn't. Someone once called her "the female
Mario Lanza," and in many respects she was. What a duo they would
have been!

If you've never heard Anna Moffo, then I can think of no better
recording to introduce this bewitching singer than her 1964 Songs of
the Auvergne. It's coupled with the Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 and
Rachmaninov's haunting Vocalise, and is Anna's equivalent of the
Mario! album.

RIP, La Moffo.

‹ Rhythm Versus Melody continued: Extensional versus. intensional On an Island: The Solitary Listener ›

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Photo of Anna and Linz

Julian Pistorius's picture
Submitted by Julian Pistorius on Sun, 2006-03-19 01:37.

[img_assist|fid=199|thumb=0|alt=Anna Moffo and Linz|caption=Anna Moffo and Linz]

This is from Linz's biography.


He means my *vinyl* collection! :-)

Lindsay Perigo's picture
Submitted by Lindsay Perigo on Sun, 2006-03-12 02:02.

Naturally I take my *CDs* everywhere! Smiling

Funny thing is, I renewed my acquaintance with Anna indirectly not that long ago. SOLOist John Simmons was a friend of hers in New York. I mentioned to him that I had some Anna recordings that were *very* hard to get. He mentioned that to Anna. Turned out even *she* didn't have them, & asked if we could do her copies! Courtesy Mr. Cresswell's CD burner, I was only too pleased to oblige!


Memory

Peter Cresswell's picture
Submitted by Peter Cresswell on Sun, 2006-03-12 01:57.

I just remembered that we played Anna's performance of the 'Vocalise' at my father's funeral a few years ago, after which I was showered with questions from people who just had to know what and who that was. A truly wonderful voice.


Sad indeed

Peter Cresswell's picture
Submitted by Peter Cresswell on Sun, 2006-03-12 01:53.

Very sad news indeed. I've been fortunate to have been introduced to La Moffo by Le Perigo -- and to be 'storing' the latter's record collection, which includes a fair number of Anna's records.

I shall pull them out later this avo, and remember her with a glass of something and her voice turned up to eleven.


RIP Indeed!

Robert's picture
Submitted by Robert on Sat, 2006-03-11 21:22.

Bugger. Cancer robs us of another wonderful person!

I've only heard Anna Moffo once. Linz was playing records on a PI show and I couldn't believe that the car stereo in my old Honda Accord could emit such a beautiful sound.

Thank you Derek for pointing me in the direction of Anna's best recordings. I shall find and buy that record immediately!

EDIT:

Apparently unavailable on Amazon. But go to the reviews section and look who you will find Smiling

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000003ERS/104-2844115-8923159?v=glance...


Sad Indeed

Lindsay Perigo's picture
Submitted by Lindsay Perigo on Sat, 2006-03-11 21:17.

Anna is my favourite soprano too. I had the great good fortune to interview her in New York in 1983. I'm out of town at the moment, but when I return I'll add the audio to this announcement.


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