FRONT PAGE I TABLE OF CONTENTS OF MAY ISSUE I COMMENTARIES AND ARTICLES I USA NEWS I WORLD NEWS I MIDDLE EAST NEWS I NEW YORK SCENE I LIFESTYLE I PEOPLE, SOCIETY AND EVENTS I ARTS I ENTERTAINMENT I CULTURE I BOOKS I MUSIC AND CDs I EVE WORLD I LETTERS TO THE EDITOR I PERSONAL HISTORY I APRIL ISSUE I MARCH ISSUE I FEBRUARY ISSUE I JANUARY ISSUE I CONTACT I EDITORIAL STAFF I SUBSCRIPTION I TO ADVERTISE I
Alison England:"I am Carol Burnett with an operatic voice! "
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I know all of this, because Alison the Opera mega star in France is my beautiful friend. Everybody is happy around Alison, but do not argue with Alison. Take it as it is. Who dares to argue with an Opera Diva in Paris? The Yanks? Forget it. They are still mourning the loss of Johnny Carson or listening to Dr. Ruth. Especially now that Ruth came up with a new book "The Art of Arousing your Partner". Give me a break! So, the Yanks are getting a lesson in educational sex. They have no time for Alison. But this is not totally true, for Alison has been invited back to the United States to perform in major opera and operetta productions in California, New York and London, if you can count London as an American city, since Tony Blair officially declared a full allegiance to President Boooosh, sorry, Bush and Candle Liza, sorry Candoleezza Rice. On stage, Alison looked like DOLLY LEVI. She sent me a set of photographs from her sold-out performances in Besiers. And she looked fabulous. Other photos, well, I stole them. Alison told me "These pictures from Besiers are fabulous because Besiers is known for its theatre and the OPERETTA CONCOURS they have every year! The audience sings along! They know the scores, so I arrived to Besiers and this is my second VEUVE in FRENCH and just before I went on stage, the conductor came to me and told me "This is the theatre with the concours, do you know all your French?" I told him, but of course, maestro, I know my French parfaitment. My great grandmother was the dress designer of Marie-Antoinette, and my great great aunt was a French teacher to Emperor Ferdinand and my other aunt translated the Bible from Greek to French, and....", The maestro stopped her and said: "Next, primadona you will tell me your are a French copy of Marie Magdelaine!", "How did you know?" replied Alison. Anyway, Maximillien, let me tell you, the show was a smash! I carried my score around me and in between scenes and I did 8 encores!
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![]() Photo: Diva Alison England. Last year, Alison was very busy. In March, in Paris she worked on Henze's THE BASSARRIDS at THEATRE DE CHATELETand went back on the road for a tour of LA VEUVE JOUYEUSE in the North of France. Then, more fund-raising recitals in Paris at L'Eglise Jourdain. March also marks the official beginning of MASTER CLASS WORKS INTERNATIONAl, this is an Alison's creation, offering singers, and voice teachers, tailored programs and practical courses in everything related to Opera, from ALEXANDER MADE PRACTICAL to "HELL" TAKEN OUT OF THE AUDITION" to PHYSICALIZATION IN SOLOS AND SCENES. Last January, Alison was a guest of honor at California Institute of the Arts, UCLA, CalPoly Pomona and Citrus College. In May, Alison made a trip to London to view students at LAMDA, London's premiere school for Music and Dramatic Arts. In London, Alison began to work on "Prince of Csardas" with L'Opéra et Opérette and short after, she returned to the DEBBIE REYNOLDS THEATRE in Orange County, California for the first production of OPERA, B'WAY and BEYOND". Continues on page 31
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