Boca chapter of National Society of Arts and Letters hosts tea for opera divas
May 27, 2010 · 2 Comments
Story, photos by Barbara McCormick
From left are Marilyn Nelson, Vivian Levine, Ariane Comstock, Virginia Zeani and Alyce Erickson.
BOCA RATON – Members of the National Society of Arts and Letters (NSAL) Boca Raton South Florida Chapter recently hosted a high tea and lecture featuring Opera Diva Virginia Zeani at the residence of Jay & Marilyn Nelson at Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club.
The musical afternoon began with a performance by Cellist Jonah Kim, accompanied by Jose Menor on piano. Both acclaimed performers are student musicians at the Lynn University Conservatory of Music. Vocalist Miss Madison McIntosh, a student of Miss Zeani, added a high note to the lyrical presentation.
Virginia Zeani entertained the audience with her stories highlighting 40-plus years of her life in the International World of Opera. She has performed with the most famous singers of her time, including Franco Corelli, Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo. In her career, she sang a total of 69 major roles in most of the European capitals, as well as Russia, North and South America.
Following their public careers, she and her husband, Nicola Rossi Lemeni, were professors of voice at the Indiana University School of Music, Bloomington. Both Virginia and her husband were nominated “Distinguished Professor of the Year.”
At this time, Virginia resides in West Palm Beach and still devotes much of her life to teaching Opera. She declares, “I love my life as a teacher.”
By luana
Virginia Zeani is truly a “World Treasure” and it is good to see her granted this well deserved acclaim. Long may she continue her precious work. She sang with all the famous operatic tenors including Franco Corelli and Jon Vickers and when very young she even sang with one of the greatest of all Italian tenors, Beniamino Gigli.
Such a pleasure to see the very modest, truly iconic Virginia Zeani feted here; It would be difficult to find anyone more deserving than she! La Zeani is a Class Act in every sense of the words; two legendary careers to her credit professionally, and one of the loveliest, most interesting, thoughtful and generous creatures, personally! A salute to your great taste!