Episode 283. Betty Allen
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Betty Allen has been featured on countless omnibus Countermelody episodes, but it’s time for her to get her own episode! Born in Ohio on 17 March, 1927, she died at the age of 82 on 22 June 2009. Not only did Betty Allen possess a voice of significant power and amplitude, she was a superb musician who channeled her soul into her singing, using her superb technique to convey depth of meaning in all the music she sang. She also had a wide repertoire, excelling in opera, concert, and recital. Though her recorded legacy is relatively small, it is superb and significant. Today’s episode samples a cross-section of her recordings, both live and studio, and includes collaborations with Leonard Bernstein, Nicolai Gedda, Eugene Ormandy, Carmen Balthrop, Horst Stein, Leontyne Price, Virgil Thomson, John DeMain, Hildegard Hillebrecht, Richard Bonynge, and Adele Addison. She was a powerful force for good in the musical world, as an educator and advocate as well, succeeding Dorothy Maynor in leading the Harlem School of the Arts, where she served as both executive director and president. Many currently active singers have been touched by the stringent generosity of this fine artist, and it is my honor to pay tribute to her today.
RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE
Traditional Spiritual: In that Great Gettin’ Up Morning. Betty Allen, Robert Mandell, His Orchestra and Chorus [1966]
George Frideric Handel, Charles Jennens: Their land brought forth frogs (Israel in Egypt). Betty Allen, Paul Boepple, Symphony of the Air [1959]
Karl Weigl, Adolf Holst: Spielmannslied, Op. 23/3. Betty Allen, David Garvey [ca. 1971]
Gioachino Rossini: Fac ut portem Christi mortem (Stabat Mater). Betty Allen, Karl Forster, Berliner Symphoniker [1960]
Vincenzo Bellini, Carlo Pepoli: Cavalier!… Se t’è d’uopo di consiglio (I Puritani). Betty Allen, Nicolai Gedda, Richard Bonynge, American Opera Society [live New York 16.IV.1963]
Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Adami [after Didier Gold]: O vecchi innamorati, buona sera… Se tu sapessi gli oggetti strani (Il tabarro). Betty Allen, Leontyne Price, Nino Sanzogno, San Francisco Opera Orchestra [live 26.XI.71]
Giuseppe Verdi, Antonio Ghislanzoni [after Auguste Bey; unknown German translator]: Wohl war euch das Los der Waffen feindlich [Fu la sorte dell’armi] (Aida). Betty Allen, Hildegard Hillebrecht, Horst Stein, Berliner Symphoniker, Chor der Städtischen Oper Berlin [1960]
Virgil Thomson, Gertrude Stein: We had intended if it were a pleasant day to go to the country (Four Saints in Three Acts). Betty Allen, Benjamin Matthews, Gwendolyn Bradley, Ella Eure-Eaton, Joseph de Vaughn, William Penn, Joel Thome, Orchestra of Our Time, Chorus [1982]
Scott Joplin, arranged and orchestrated by Gunther Schuller: The rain or the burning sun, you see… We brought you up to believe (Treemonisha). Betty Allen, Carmen Balthrop, John DeMain, Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus [1975]
Virgil Thomson, St. Augustine: Jerusalem, My Happy Home (Praises and Prayers, No. 5). Betty Allen, Virgil Thomson [world première performance, New York 24.X.63]
Serge Prokofiev, Vladimir Lugovsky: Песня девушки [The Field of Death] (Alexander Nevsky, Op. 78/6). Betty Allen, Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra [1975]
Traditional Spiritual: Deep River. Betty Allen, Robert Mandell, His Orchestra and Chorus [1966]
Karl Weigl, Karl Wagenfeld: Sommers Tod (Drei Gesänge für Altstimme und Streichquartett, No. 1). Betty Allen, The Iowa String Quartet [Allen Ohmes, John Ferrell, William Preucil, Charles Wendt] [ca. 1968]
Johann Sebastian Bach, Picander [né Christian Friedrich Henrici], English version by John Troutbeck: Behold, my Savior now is taken [So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen] (Saint Matthew Passion, BWV 244/33). Adele Addison, Betty Allen, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Collegiate Chorale [1963]
Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach, Picander [né Christian Friedrich Henrici]; English version by John Troutbeck]: Have pity, Lord, on me [Erbarme dich, mein Gott] (St. Matthew Passion, BWV 245/47). Betty Allen, John Corigliano, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic [1962]
