Friday, August 04, 2006

In Memoriam Louise and Elizabeth

Two grand ladies, who in their separate and unique ways made this world a bit brighter, have passed.



Louisie,The Pug from Anchorage, Alaska was 13 years & 7 months old when she passed on Wednesday. The cancer she had bravely faced had spread to her liver. She stopped playing over the weekend and stopped eating on Tuesday. She was telling everyone that it was time.

Her adoring Mary Jo posted on PugVillage: "Louisie was my soulmate and my heart dog. Not only will she missed forever by me, but she will be missed by many, many web-friends too. Her full sister, Thelma, will be looking for her." Condolences came from all over the world, testifying to Louise'’s power over people. Such as the characters in the movie, Louise was never far from her sister Thelma.

Louise will be at the Rainbow Bridge waiting for Thelma with Dino, Butchie and Muffin. What a grand time they will have.



Legendary soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf who won global acclaim for her performances of Mozart, Mahler and Strauss, died Thursday in Austria at the age of 90.

Schwarzkopf, who along with Maria Callas are considered the leading sopranos of our time, retired in 1975 and had captivated audiences and critics alike during her four decade career Her leading roles, ranging from Elvira in Mozart's "Don Giovanni" to the Marschallin in Richard Strauss' "Der Rosenkavalier," were immortalized on records and CDs. She created the role of Anne Truelove in Stravinsky's "The Rake's Progress" and was in Guido Cantelli's immortal "“Cosi Fan Tutte" in La Scala. Her Mahler 4th solo is beyond description as is her Strauss "Four Last Songs"”.

Without Elizabeth and Louise, the world is a bit darker today.

1 comment:

Don said...

Schwarzkof was one of the first opera singers I was introduced to by Herb Glass, a cranky old Geology professor who inhabited the classical section of the record store I worked at while in college. I was immediately taken by her creamy voice; definately not the shrill screech of many younger singers. "Betty Blackhead" he called her, anglicizing her name from German!