Post by Yuliya on Jan 27, 2006 11:25:15 GMT -5
I thought I've already read something about it, but couldn't find the thread, so maybe not.
Zimbalists in doctor-patient Mozart story - with music
CHUCK GRAHAM
Tucson Citizen
Stephanie Zimbalist is coming back to Tucson, and she's bringing her father, Efrem. Stephanie appeared here last season in the Chamber Music Plus Southwest presentation of "Confidentially, Chaikovski."
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. will be here to play the famous 18th-century physician Dr. Anton Mesmer in the CMPSouthwest production of "Mesmeric Mozart." Stephanie will be onstage with him in the role of Maria Theresa von Paradis, a piano prodigy and acquaintance of Mozart.
These days Efrem is enjoying a life of nonperforming retirement in Santa Barbara, Calif. He is best remembered for his long-running television roles in "77 Sunset Strip" (1958-1964) and "The F.B.I." (1965-1974). In 2003 he published his memoirs, "My Dinner of Herbs."
Stephanie's career breakthrough was in another TV series, "Remington Steele" (1982-1987). She continues to work in television, insists her first love is theater and frequently performs in her hometown's Pasadena Playhouse.
Historians assure us Dr. Mesmer was an early champion of prodigy composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In fact, it was Mesmer who personally funded the world premiere production of Mozart's first opera "Bastien und Bastienne," written when the lad was only 12.
Mesmer is most famous for his groundbreaking scientific studies in hypnotism. To be "mesmerized" is our catch-phrase tribute to his work. The good doctor became convinced there was a force in nature, similar to electronic magnetism, which he identified as "animal magnetism,"
Through Mesmer's applied use of this force, he had some remarkable success curing patients suffering from various forms of hysteria. One of these patients was the brilliant young pianist Maria Theresa von Paradis. Early in childhood Maria was struck down with blindness, but this did not prevent her from becoming an accomplished musician.
With her fame and her family's wealth, Maria met Mozart and they even played some four-hand piano pieces together. In 1776, while patriots in the American colonies were having their tiff with the British government, 18-year-old Maria was in Vienna becoming a patient of Dr. Mesmer.
This connection with Mozart proved impossible to resist for CMPSouthwest co-founder, cellist and playwright Harry Clark. "Mesmeric Mozart" begins in the month of January 1777, when the doctor diagnosed Maria's affliction as "blindness dictated by the unconscious."
It was the ambitious Mesmer's hope that curing Maria would give credibility to his controversial theories on animal magnetism. There was also the doctor and patient's mutual admiration of Mozart. Adding musical momentum was the fascination both Mesmer and Mozart shared for an instrument of the period - the glass harmonica. This instrument, which was invented by Benjamin Franklin, is based on the principle of making sounds by rubbing the rims of variously-pitched wine glasses.
For the CMPSouthwest performance, glass harmonica guest artist Lynne Drye of Prescott Valley will join the performers onstage. Also taking part is soprano Jennifer Nagy. As always, CMPSouthwest co-founder Sanda Schuldmann is the pianist.
www.tucsoncitizen.com/entertainment/calendar/012606ca_zimbalists_show
Zimbalists in doctor-patient Mozart story - with music
CHUCK GRAHAM
Tucson Citizen
Stephanie Zimbalist is coming back to Tucson, and she's bringing her father, Efrem. Stephanie appeared here last season in the Chamber Music Plus Southwest presentation of "Confidentially, Chaikovski."
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. will be here to play the famous 18th-century physician Dr. Anton Mesmer in the CMPSouthwest production of "Mesmeric Mozart." Stephanie will be onstage with him in the role of Maria Theresa von Paradis, a piano prodigy and acquaintance of Mozart.
These days Efrem is enjoying a life of nonperforming retirement in Santa Barbara, Calif. He is best remembered for his long-running television roles in "77 Sunset Strip" (1958-1964) and "The F.B.I." (1965-1974). In 2003 he published his memoirs, "My Dinner of Herbs."
Stephanie's career breakthrough was in another TV series, "Remington Steele" (1982-1987). She continues to work in television, insists her first love is theater and frequently performs in her hometown's Pasadena Playhouse.
Historians assure us Dr. Mesmer was an early champion of prodigy composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In fact, it was Mesmer who personally funded the world premiere production of Mozart's first opera "Bastien und Bastienne," written when the lad was only 12.
Mesmer is most famous for his groundbreaking scientific studies in hypnotism. To be "mesmerized" is our catch-phrase tribute to his work. The good doctor became convinced there was a force in nature, similar to electronic magnetism, which he identified as "animal magnetism,"
Through Mesmer's applied use of this force, he had some remarkable success curing patients suffering from various forms of hysteria. One of these patients was the brilliant young pianist Maria Theresa von Paradis. Early in childhood Maria was struck down with blindness, but this did not prevent her from becoming an accomplished musician.
With her fame and her family's wealth, Maria met Mozart and they even played some four-hand piano pieces together. In 1776, while patriots in the American colonies were having their tiff with the British government, 18-year-old Maria was in Vienna becoming a patient of Dr. Mesmer.
This connection with Mozart proved impossible to resist for CMPSouthwest co-founder, cellist and playwright Harry Clark. "Mesmeric Mozart" begins in the month of January 1777, when the doctor diagnosed Maria's affliction as "blindness dictated by the unconscious."
It was the ambitious Mesmer's hope that curing Maria would give credibility to his controversial theories on animal magnetism. There was also the doctor and patient's mutual admiration of Mozart. Adding musical momentum was the fascination both Mesmer and Mozart shared for an instrument of the period - the glass harmonica. This instrument, which was invented by Benjamin Franklin, is based on the principle of making sounds by rubbing the rims of variously-pitched wine glasses.
For the CMPSouthwest performance, glass harmonica guest artist Lynne Drye of Prescott Valley will join the performers onstage. Also taking part is soprano Jennifer Nagy. As always, CMPSouthwest co-founder Sanda Schuldmann is the pianist.
www.tucsoncitizen.com/entertainment/calendar/012606ca_zimbalists_show
