Episode 40. Sisters in Sappho

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The first of my two Queer Pride episodes is devoted to a group of pioneering lesbians in the 1970s and beyond, in both classical and pop music. Two iconic mezzo-sopranos whose careers began in the 1960s and extended through the 1990s are the Greek-American Tatiana Troyanos and Brigitte Fassbaender, daughter of the German baritone Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender. I explore the similarities and differences in the repertoire and career paths of these two unique artists, and share examples of them singing repertoire from Handel to Weill, Scarlatti to Penderecki, with particular focus on Fassbaender’s Lieder performances and Troyanos’s work in bel canto. Then I turn to key figures in the Women’s Music Movement of the 1970s, including Meg Christian, Cris Williamson, Margie Adam, Holly Near, and Deidre McCalla, while also paying tribute to those who, in turn, paved the way for them, including Janis Ian, Dusty Springfield, and Ronnie Gilbert. We also acknowledge the work of queer African American singers, including Deidre McCalla, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Toshi Reagon. We all owe an enormous debt of gratitude to these extraordinary artists, who paved the way for us, their musical and artistic descendants, at the same time setting standards that will stand the test of time. Vocal guest stars include Janet Baker, Ileana Cotrubas, Cecilia Gasdia, Nicolai Gedda, Margaret Price, Gundula Janowitz, Arleen Augér, and Reri Grist.

RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE

Francesco Cavalli: O decoro del mio coro (La Calisto). Janet Baker, Ileana Cotrubas; Raymond Leppard, London Philharmonic Orchestra

Holly Near: Imagine My Surprise [from Journeys, 1983]

Reri Grist photographed by Carl Van Vechten

Alessandro Scarlatti: Del tuo ciglio vezzoso (Endimione e Cintia). Tatiana Troyanos, Reri Grist; Carl Mathieu Lange, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg

Krzysztof Penderecki: Ich will einen Weg finden (Die Teufel von Loudun). Tatiana Troyanos, Andrzej Hiolski; Marek Janowski, Orchester der Hamburgischen Staatsoper

Richard Heuberger: Geh’n wir ins Chambre séparée (Der Opernball). Brigitte Fassbaender, Nicolai Gedda; Willy Mattes, Symphonie-Orchester Graunke

Alban Berg: Lulu, mein Engel (Lulu). Brigitte Fassbaender, Friedrich Cerha, Orchester der Bayerischen Staatsoper [live, München 06 July 1985];

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Ah, guarda, sorella (Così fan tutte). Brigitte Fassbaender, Margaret Price; Wolfgang Sawallisch, Bayerisches Staatsorchester [live München 28 February 1978]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Parto, parto (La Clemenza di Tito). Tatyana Troyanos; James Levine, Wiener Philharmoniker [live, Salzburg 1976]

Richard Strauss: Mir ist die Ehre (Der Rosenkavalier). Brigitte Fassbaender, Ileana Cotrubas; Georges Prêtre, Orchestra del RAI di Napoli [live, Napoli 16 October 1971]

Richard Strauss: Hab mir’s gelobt (Der Rosenkavalier). Tatiana Troyanos, Gundula Janowitz, Arleen Augér, Kurt Eichhorn, Münchner Rundfunkorchester [live concert performance, München 1968 or 1969]

Giuseppe Verdi: Judgment Scene [excerpt](Aida). Brigitte Fassbaender, Robert Lloyd; Riccardo Muti, Orchester und Chor des Bayerischen Staatsoper [live, München 22 March 1979]

Giuseppe Verdi: O don fatale (Don Carlo). Tatiana Troyanos; James Levine [live New York, 21 February 1980]

George Frideric Handel: Scherza infida (Ariodante). Tatiana Troyanos; Raymond Leppard, Orchestra of St. Lukes [live, New York 27 January 1985]

Vincenzo Bellini: Ah, crudel, d’onor ragioni (I Capuleti e i Montecchi). Tatiana Troyanos, Cecilia Gasdia, Donato Renzetti [live, Chicago 15 November 1985]