|
Does the oft quoted bromide that
"imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" include the
"art" of parody? And when does parody become an
intentional mockery or total travesty? Opera has always been a
prime target for mocking and burlesque. The popular
"stuffed shirt" view of opera has invariably made it a mark
for ridicule. How better to reduce so lofty a subject from its
pedestal than to treat it inconsequentially, with mock dignity and
even downright disdain? Often, even the "mock dignity"
is omitted but the burlesque remains. Was not the early
musical farce even a caricature of "opera seria" in opera
history? Samples of all of these are in The Durbeck Archive.
As well as accruing over 40,000
LPs of "serious" classical vocal music, The Durbeck Archive
has also made a serious attempt to accumulate as many examples as
possible of opera and classical vocal parodies. An earnest
study of parody is impossible without copious examples of the
original art form - that which is being parodied - and the
actual parodies themselves. This collection of opera and
classical vocal parodies is the only known attempt to combine both of
these musical, cultural endeavors. Although only a few are
shown on this site, The Durbeck Archive has many, many more such examples. |
|
 |
|
Musically
Mad |
|
Bernie Greene
& Stereo Mad-Men |
|
RCA Victor Records,
LSP 1929 |
|
12" LP, stereo |
The interesting
parodies on this LP are two take-offs on Gilbert and Sullivan and
Wagner by Henry Morgan aka "Heinrich von Morgan." |
|
|
The
Art of Belly Canto |
|
Gordon Myers, baritone |
|
Private Pressing |
|
12" LP, monaural |
Parodies of
Purcell, Hume, Mozart, Reinagle; original works e.g. The Belly Cantata,
Sweet and Sour Suite for Baritone and Bassoon. Recorded from
live performance in 1978. Sylvia Eversole, accompanist |
 |
|
 |
|
THE
GALLI-CURCI RAG |
|
Ari Petros, singer |
|
Jennifer Records,
GH 111 |
|
12" LP, stereo |
Works by Romberg,
Kern, Berlin, Arndt and others. Includes: They Needed a Songbird
in Heaven so God Took Caruso Away; Rosa Rigoletto;
I'm After Madame Tetrazzini's Job; I Want to Sing in Opera; Operatic
Rag etc. |
|
|
Opera
Stars in a
Silly
Mood |
|
Legendary Records,
LR 200, 12"
LP, mono |
"Silly"
performances from radio, television and live performances - the
"stuffing" is out of the shirt! Autographed by Blanche
Thebom, Marilyn Horne, Robert Merrill and Joan Sutherland (on back of jacket). |
 |
|
 |
|
Just
For Laughs |
|
Andy Griffith, monologist |
|
Capitol Records, T 962 |
|
12" LP, monaural |
Andy Griffith's
recounting of a "country boy's" going to see Carmen
is quite memorable as an opera parody. Romeo and Juliet and Swan
Lake don't fare much better by this
"hillbilly racon-tooor!" |
|
|
Spike
Jones is Murdering the Classics |
|
Spike Jones and
His City Slickers |
|
RCA Victor, LSC 3235(e) |
|
12" LP, stereo |
The great classic
spoofs of opera are Spike Jones' Carmen and Pal-Yat-Chee.
The other "kidded" classics are legendary. Also
includes Ina Souez's famous "Il Barkio." |
 |
|
 |
|
One
on the Aisle;
An Intimate View of Grand Opera as seen by - |
|
Ray Bourbon, entertainer |
|
UTC Records, UTC 6 |
|
12" LP, monaural |
Spoofs on Wagner, Bizet and
Verdi -
Carmen
never had it so good; an uncomplicated "plot" to Il Trovatore and
others. |
|
|
Gildy
Sells Opera Tickets |
|
1951 Radio Broadcast |
|
Golden Age Records,
GA 5024
12" LP, monaural |
Harold Peary, as
the intractable Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve, tries to sell opera
tickets to one and all. Interestingly shows a perception of
opera in radio's middle America. |
 |
|
 |
|
Der
Hamburger Freischütz |
|
frei nach Carl
Maria von Weber |
|
Philips Records,
6501 010; 12" LP, stereo |
A parody of
Weber's opera, Der Freischütz.
How is your "platt" Deutsch? |
|
|
The
Surprising Soprano |
|
Michael Aspinall, soprano |
|
London Records,
OS 26537 |
|
12" LP, stereo |
"affectionally
dedicated to the follies and foibles of great singers past and
present" - contains arias, art songs, ballads and special
arrangements, all uniquely sung - |
 |
|
 |
|
The
World of Joan Turner |
|
Joan Turner, comedienne |
|
Decca-England, SPA 135 |
|
12" LP, stereo |
A trained (one
wonders what she did with the money her parents gave her for singing
lessons!) soprano with funny parodies of opera melodies - somewhere
between Anna Russell and Spike Jones. |
|
|
The
Tenor with the Broken Voice |
|
Orson Welles as
"The
Shadow" - original radio broadcast |
|
Golden Age Records,
GA 5001 |
|
12" LP, monaural |
Why is there a
jinx on the aria Vesti la Giuba? Why is the opera Pagliacci
plagued with death for the tenors - "The Shadow Knows!" |
 |
|
 |
|
Shirley
Temple
Song
Book |
|
Shirley Temple |
|
20th Fox Records,
TCF 1032, 2 LPs |
|
12" LPs, monaural |
From the 1936 film Captain
January,
Shirley and friends (Guy Kibbee, Buddy Ebsen, George Irving, Slim
Summerville et al) sing the "Sextet from
Lucia" Honest! |
|
Autographed on the
back of the jacket by
Shirley Temple (Black)
in 1988 - the tale
of how this album came to be autographed is unique and a bit complex
- but it's there and it is authentic. |
 |
|
 |
Anna
Russell sings! again?
Anna Russell,
Concert Comedienne
John Coveart, pianist
Columbia Records,
ML 4733, 12"
LP, mono
Contains her
famous Ring of
the Nibelungs analysis
as well as "How to Write Your Own Gilbert and Sullivan
Opera." The Archive had more of her records than she did!!!! |
|
|
PETRONELLA;
Opera
Bluffa |
|
Sven-Eric Johanson,
piano and voices |
|
Proprius, PROP 7717 |
|
12" LP, stereo |
Swedish parody of
opera , utilizing many tunes and airs from opera and operetta, in the
style of Victor Borge |
 |
Return to
The Gallery
Return to Home Page
|
