Magyar News, 1998. szeptember-1999. augusztus (9. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1998-09-01 / 1. szám
Meeting students and an accompanist at the Fészek Club Antonio Procaccini and Gábor Carelli about opera performance and by sharing them he was a great help to his fellow Hungarians. During ensuing visits to Hungary, the Maestro sang all the major repertoire, for which he was warmly accepted, and gave a series of well-known interviews on music history that were transmitted by Hungarian Radio. A recent return trip was chronicled in the Spring 1997 issue of Operaélet (Opera Life), a Hungarian opera publication. Mr. Carelli's current activities are focused on teaching and his influence is felt strongly by his many devoted students. These same students are often invited to perform at meetings of the creative artist’s Fészek Club (literally, "Nest Club"). The Maestro has been President of this organization for many years. The meeting place is provided by the Hungarian Reformed Church located on East 69th Street in Manhattan. Mr. Carelli was most kind in giving me two hours of his time for our interview, part of which was used to view his "museum". Mr. Carelli lives on West 73rd Street in Manhattan, near Central Park West and Lincoln Center. He possesses hundreds of precious old photos and signed dedications from the greats with whom he worked, Toscanini, Gigli and Licia Albanese being just a few this reporter observed. Shelves of music scores, LPs and CDs include his repertoire and much more. His walls are covered with honors and certificates of merit and appreciation from, among others, the Toscanini Association, the Manhattan School of Music (where he taught for many years) and countries from around the world that he visited. During his long career, Carelli also sang classics of American song when requested. His favorite composer is this genre is Jerome Kem and the Maestro still has much of this repertoire in his musical memory. I accompanied him at the piano for an impromptu rendition of Kern's masterpiece "The Song is You", and this became an emotional and musical way of ending our evening together, an event not forgotten any time soon. Not only did he give the honor of interviewing him and absorbing a small part of his great history and musicianship, one might say we performed "live" together! The readers of Magyar News wish him many more years of good health in the hope that he continues to inspire us with his example. lluiiQciriciA/ support the Itamum Porodé The ladies at the United Church of Christ are all geared up to serve cold drinks. In recent years the great Parade of the Bamum Festival changed part of the route. Now they start out at the comer of North Avenue and Clinton Avenue. The Hungarian Church, the United Church of Christ, is at that location. The ladies of the church have been serving the marchers in the past years. This year they hosted two groups from Philadelphia, their marching bands with a full breakfast. Then they set up shop in front of the hall to help ease the heat with cold drinks. All this effort was appreciated when the marching band stopped in front of the hall, turned towards it and played a special number that was taken to the heart. The ladies with Chief Elder Joseph Poruban assured the organizers that they will be there next year, too. They will have their doors open and serve food Hungarian style with the cool drinks. (Photo: Frank Polke, Jr.) Page 7
