THE OPERA STUDIO

THE OPERA STUDIO ( ZURICH ) CARTOONS

SHE SINGS TOO?

This cartoon was based on an incident that occurred during a usual studio session. The former director of the opera studio, Marc Belfort, (Who is also no longer with us ) was having us all walk on stage to sing arias one afternoon. When Diane Pilcher's turn came up she walked across the stage. She stood nervously waiting for Belfort to give the "go ahead" to sing. He sat the staring at her for a few minutes then said ... "Could you go back out and walk in again?" Diane did. When she came back Belfort still sat there staring at her. "Why did you make me do that again? What is wrong?" She asked nervously. "Oh nothing!" Belfort quipped. "I just like looking at you and wanted to watch you walk again!"

When I came up with this cartoon and hung it on the studio bulletin board it was a big hit. However, one day it mysteriously disappeared. When I asked my studio colleagues if anyone knew where it had gone to, a very upset soprano began to scold me vividly. She told me I had no right to produce such a scandalous cartoon and that she took it away before Diane would see it because she knew would be horrified by it. She gave me back the cartoon and I showed it to Diane who, having a great sense of humor, loved it. We both hung it back up. Diane went on to become a very sought after mezzo soprano. We have since worked often together in different houses around Europe and remain in contact. The irate soprano gave up singing to "teach." Hmmmm .....Guess she knew everything better.