Happy Birthday to Dear Frank Guarrera

               Hi all,
                    In another of my posts dedicated to "singers who do not get
enough recognition" (accounting for maybe 95% of the singers out there!!!), I
wish to celebrate the 80th birthday of the dearest,sweetest,nicest,most lovable
guy in our midst, baritone Frank Guarrera. Here is a man who sang for so many
seasons "in the shadow" of the bigger names like Warren,Bastianini,Mac Neil,
and Merrill, but whose phenomenal artistry and stage presence,especially in the
baritone repertory, where CHARACTERIZATION is such an important element, is so
well-respected in his field.
                 Guarrera himself will tell you that his was not the phenomenal
intrinsically fabulous quality of some of these other baritones,but those of us
who heard him for so many years can attest to the fact that he did so much in
his career in the way of artistry and interpretation and genuine rock-solid
singing, tht he has emerged as one of the finest baritones of his era, first
auditioned and praised by a fellow named Toscanini. At a recent tribute to
Guarrera that many of us attended, he tells the story of his first meeting the
maestro,not having any idea, as a young  naive "kid," what it meant to audition
for this "icon."
                  Guarrera's mind is filled with countless tales of so many of
the great names, and I enjoy "pumping him" for some of the stories..remember,he
used to play cards with the likes of De Paolis,Cehanovsky, and Baccaloni, and
THEIR tales, as links to THEIR past, of the likes of Caruso and others of the
earlier era,remain as a part of his treasured life's experience.
                  On Frank's 80th, I wish him all my best. He is an incredibly
genuine and darling man, and I am fortunate to have heard him live in so many
of his important roles....still,the best Escamillo, Marcello and Figaro I ever
saw, and the more I listen to the older performances, the more I come to
realize just how marvelous he was.
                                              My  best  Charlie
      My best, Charlie.   
           
                  My Website dedicated to the vocal art is located at:

                                   http://www.handelmania.com