An international opera star once played ZORBA?
An international opera star once played ZORBA?
#1An international opera star once played ZORBA?
Posted: 2/10/19 at 1:27pm
Giorgio Tozzi, who sang countless roles at both La Scala and the Metropolitan Opera, played ZORBA at Milwaukee's Melody Top Theater from August 5 to 17, 1975. Mostly known by musical theater aficionados for singing the role of Emile de Becque in the 1958 movie version of SOUTH PACIFIC, he also played the same part opposite both Mary Martin (Los Angeles Civic Light Opera) and Florence Henderson (Music Theater of Lincoln Center). His other stage credits include MAN OF LA MANCHA, FANNY, MILK AND HONEY, THE MOST HAPPY FELLA and CALL ME MADAM. Please visit my website to view production and "backstage" photos from ZORBA, along with newspaper reviews and a full cast list. At the bottom of the page there is an audio clip from this production of ZORBA: Jana Robbins as the Leader of the Chorus singing "Life Is." If my site records 1,000 visits in the first 24 hours, I will post another audio clip: "That's a Beginning/Why Can't I Speak?" sung by Ed Evanko and Didi Hitt. And if a record number of 2,000 visits is made, I will release a final audio clip of Giorgio Tozzi and Zoya Leporska singing "Bouboulina," the second-act song written for John Raitt and Barbara Baxley to perform in the first national tour of ZORBA back in 1970.
ZORBA at Milwaukee's Melody Top Theatre
#2An international opera star once played ZORBA?
Posted: 2/11/19 at 7:56pm
I just published the second audio clip!
#3An international opera star once played ZORBA?
Posted: 2/12/19 at 12:15am
Thank you. ZORBA is perhaps my favorite Kander and Ebb score, but I only got to see the "unfortunate" revival with Anthony Quinn on Broadway.
#4An international opera star once played ZORBA?
Posted: 2/12/19 at 9:04am
I, too, saw the post-Broadway tour of ZORBA. While I agree that Anthony Quinn's talents were not suited for the musical stage, I did love the heartbreaking performance of Lila Kedrova as Madame Hortense and the powerful vocals of Donna Theodore as the Leader. Those two performances were worth the ticket price!
Updated On: 2/12/19 at 09:04 AM
#5An international opera star once played ZORBA?
Posted: 2/12/19 at 10:07am
Couple of things:
1) I saw the Tozzi Zorba at Melody Top on Saturday, August 9, 1975; at the 6 PM show.
2) When I saw the Quinn version in early '83, The Leader was played by Debbie Shapiro.
#6An international opera star once played ZORBA?
Posted: 2/12/19 at 11:32am
A very interesting archive!
#7An international opera star once played ZORBA?
Posted: 2/13/19 at 7:44pm
The third -- and final -- video clip has been posted on my site. "Bouboulina" was first performed by John Raitt and Barbara Baxley in the 1969-1970 national tour of ZORBA. Enjoy -- and thanks for visiting "Memories of Melody Top."
