San Diego Opera Maestro remembered

Years and years ago, a famous opera singer was singing a famous aria from a famous opera during an orchestral dress rehearsal. When the aria ended the music continued but that appeared to be an issue for this singer.

This singer wanted to rehearse an applause break at the end of the aria. Maestro Edoadro Müller assured the singer that in performance he would indeed pause but it wasn't necessary for rehearsal.

The singer began demanding to have a meeting with management to force the issue of rehearsing what amounted to a personal moment of glory. At this point, Maestro Müller asked, “Why are you, who are a such a great artist, such a slave to the applause?”

The singer surrendered with a mumble and the rehearsal continued. However, this story is not over.

I was all ears on opening night. The aria was completed and Müller, as promised, held the orchestra for the applause. Yet the applause was lukewarm at best.

Müller held the orchestra until all was quiet before continuing. The message was clear. Trust.

I couldn't help feeling that Müller knew the response was going to be passive and was planning on saving the singer from that slight or perhaps he thought to allow the singer to sleep in the bed the singer had made. I myself thought that the aria was the weakest section of the entire role for that particular singer.

Edoardo Müller was a stalwart member of the San Diego Opera community. He conducted with the company for 31 seasons and was something like the de facto principal conductor even though that position didn't officially exist.

On Friday morning, June 24th, he died aged 78 in Milano, Italy. His last production with San Diego Opera was Turandot in 2011. He canceled his 2012 SDO engagements for health reasons.