Arnold Gamson
Encyclopedia
Arnold U. Gamson is an American conductor
who is particularly known for his work within the field of opera
. He notably co-founded and served as the Music Director and principal conductor of the American Opera Society
from 1950-1960. His work with the AOS was highly influential in sparking and perpetuating the post World War II bel canto
revival, particularly through a number of highly lauded productions of rarely heard works by Gioachino Rossini. He is the husband of renowned dancer and choreographer Annabelle Gamson
, and their daughter, Rosanna Gamson, is also a celebrated dancer.
, Gamson studied at the Juilliard School
and while there founded the American Opera Society (AOS) with his cousin and fellow student Allen Sven Oxenburg in 1950. The company was initially envisioned as an organization to perform Renaissance music and baroque operas in the space for which those works for written, in the homes of the rich. The company's first production was Claudio Monteverdi
's L'incoronazione di Poppea
for an audience of 50 in the drawing room of a mansion on 5th Avenue in New York City. These smaller concerts quickly became so popular that the AOS had to move to increasingly larger venues, ultimately using Carnegie Hall
as the company's home. Gamson conducted most of the company's performances during the 1950s; concerts which mostly featured rarely heard operas from a variety of musical eras. Many of these operas had never been heard in the United States before.
While working for the AOS, Gamson worked as a guest conductor with numerous opera companies and orchestras. He notably conducted Eileen Farrell
in her opera debut as the title role in Luigi Cherubini
's Médée
. The work was performed in concert with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra
and recorded for Columbia Records
. He later conducted Farrell for her first opera role in a fully staged production, Santuzza in Pietro Mascagni
's Cavalleria rusticana
, in Tampa, Florida
in 1956. During the late 1950s and early 1960s Gamson was also a repeat guest conductor with both the New York Philharmonic
and the New York City Opera
(NYCO). He made his conducting debut at the NYCO with the first professional production of Mark Bucci
's Tale for a Deaf Ear
on April 6, 1958.
On November 21, 1958, Gamson married dancer Annabelle Gamson. The couple, still married, went on to have two children: Rosanna and David. In 1961 Gamson left the AOS and moved with his wife to Europe, working actively as an opera conductor throughout Europe for a number of years. During this time he notably conducted a 1961 television broadcast of Mozart's Der Schauspieldirektor
with Eleanor Steber
as Madame Warblewell, Jacquelynne Moody as Madame Heartmelt, and John Kuhn
in the title role. The Gamsons moved back to the United States in the mid 1960s, settling in Westchester County, New York
. Gamson worked as a conductor with the AOS a few more times, notably conducting Handel
's Giulio Cesare
with Montserrat Caballé
as Cleopatra in 1967.
In the early 1970s Gamson's position as a prominent opera conductor began to fade. Although he remained active as a conductor he worked mostly with second tier opera companies and orchestras up through the 1990s. In addition to working with opera companies, Gamson has also worked as a conductor with numerous ballet
companies internationally, often in conjunction with his wife's career. He currently lives in retirement in New York state.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
who is particularly known for his work within the field of opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
. He notably co-founded and served as the Music Director and principal conductor of the American Opera Society
American Opera Society
The American Opera Society was a New York City based musical organization that presented concert and semi-staged performances of operas between 1951 and 1970...
from 1950-1960. His work with the AOS was highly influential in sparking and perpetuating the post World War II bel canto
Bel canto
Bel canto , along with a number of similar constructions , is an Italian opera term...
revival, particularly through a number of highly lauded productions of rarely heard works by Gioachino Rossini. He is the husband of renowned dancer and choreographer Annabelle Gamson
Annabelle Gamson
Annabelle Gamson is a renowned American dancer and choreographer. Although she has had a number of successes within the field of ballet, Gamson is particularly known for her work within the area of modern dance. As a dancer she drew particular acclaim for her interpretations of the works of...
, and their daughter, Rosanna Gamson, is also a celebrated dancer.
Biography
Raised in Port Chester, New YorkPort Chester, New York
Port Chester is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The village is part of the town of Rye. As of the 2010 census, Port Chester had a population of 28,967...
, Gamson studied at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
and while there founded the American Opera Society (AOS) with his cousin and fellow student Allen Sven Oxenburg in 1950. The company was initially envisioned as an organization to perform Renaissance music and baroque operas in the space for which those works for written, in the homes of the rich. The company's first production was Claudio Monteverdi
Claudio Monteverdi
Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi – 29 November 1643) was an Italian composer, gambist, and singer.Monteverdi's work, often regarded as revolutionary, marked the transition from the Renaissance style of music to that of the Baroque period. He developed two individual styles of composition – the...
's L'incoronazione di Poppea
L'incoronazione di Poppea
L'incoronazione di Poppea is an Italian baroque opera comprising a prologue and three acts, first performed in Venice during the 1642–43 carnival season. The music, attributed to Claudio Monteverdi, is a setting of a libretto by Giovanni Francesco Busenello...
for an audience of 50 in the drawing room of a mansion on 5th Avenue in New York City. These smaller concerts quickly became so popular that the AOS had to move to increasingly larger venues, ultimately using Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
as the company's home. Gamson conducted most of the company's performances during the 1950s; concerts which mostly featured rarely heard operas from a variety of musical eras. Many of these operas had never been heard in the United States before.
While working for the AOS, Gamson worked as a guest conductor with numerous opera companies and orchestras. He notably conducted Eileen Farrell
Eileen Farrell
Eileen Farrell was an American soprano who had a nearly 60 year long career performing both classical and popular music in concerts, theatres, on radio and television, and on disc. While she was active as an opera singer, her concert engagements far outnumbered her theatrical appearances...
in her opera debut as the title role in Luigi Cherubini
Luigi Cherubini
Luigi Cherubini was an Italian composer who spent most of his working life in France. His most significant compositions are operas and sacred music. Beethoven regarded Cherubini as the greatest of his contemporaries....
's Médée
Médée (Cherubini)
Médée is a French language opéra-comique by Luigi Cherubini.The libretto by François-Benoît Hoffmann was based on Euripides' tragedy of Medea and Pierre Corneille's play Médée....
. The work was performed in concert with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Columbia Symphony Orchestra
The Columbia Symphony Orchestra was an orchestra formed by Columbia Records. It provided a vehicle for some of Columbia's better known recording artists to record using only company resources.-Bruno Walter:...
and recorded for Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. He later conducted Farrell for her first opera role in a fully staged production, Santuzza in Pietro Mascagni
Pietro Mascagni
Pietro Antonio Stefano Mascagni was an Italian composer most noted for his operas. His 1890 masterpiece Cavalleria rusticana caused one of the greatest sensations in opera history and single-handedly ushered in the Verismo movement in Italian dramatic music...
's Cavalleria rusticana
Cavalleria rusticana
Cavalleria rusticana is an opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni to an Italian libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci, adapted from a play written by Giovanni Verga based on his short story. Considered one of the classic verismo operas, it premiered on May 17, 1890 at the Teatro...
, in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
in 1956. During the late 1950s and early 1960s Gamson was also a repeat guest conductor with both the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
and the New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
(NYCO). He made his conducting debut at the NYCO with the first professional production of Mark Bucci
Mark Bucci
Mark Bucci was an American composer, lyricist, and dramatist. Influenced by Giacomo Puccini, his work is composed in a contemporary yet lyrical style which frequently employs marked rhythms and memorable harmonies and melodies.-Career:Bucci studied music composition with Tibor Serly in New York...
's Tale for a Deaf Ear
Tale for a Deaf Ear
Tale for a Deaf Ear is an opera in one act with music and lyrics by Mark Bucci, sung in three languages and based on a story by Elizabeth Enright that appeared in the April 1951 edition of Harper's Magazine. The work was commissioned by Samuel Wechsler for performance at the 1957 Tanglewood Music...
on April 6, 1958.
On November 21, 1958, Gamson married dancer Annabelle Gamson. The couple, still married, went on to have two children: Rosanna and David. In 1961 Gamson left the AOS and moved with his wife to Europe, working actively as an opera conductor throughout Europe for a number of years. During this time he notably conducted a 1961 television broadcast of Mozart's Der Schauspieldirektor
Der Schauspieldirektor
Der Schauspieldirektor , K. 486, is a comic Singspiel written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Gottlieb Stephanie, an Austrian Schauspieldirektor....
with Eleanor Steber
Eleanor Steber
Eleanor Steber was an American operatic soprano. Steber is noted as one of the first major opera stars to have achieved the highest success with training and a career based in the United States.-Biography:...
as Madame Warblewell, Jacquelynne Moody as Madame Heartmelt, and John Kuhn
John Kuhn
John Allen Kuhn is an American football fullback, currently playing for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2005. John attended Dover Area High School in Dover, Pennsylvania...
in the title role. The Gamsons moved back to the United States in the mid 1960s, settling in Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
. Gamson worked as a conductor with the AOS a few more times, notably conducting Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
's Giulio Cesare
Giulio Cesare
Giulio Cesare in Egitto , commonly known simply as Giulio Cesare, is an Italian opera in three acts written for the Royal Academy of Music by George Frideric Handel in 1724...
with Montserrat Caballé
Montserrat Caballé
Montserrat Caballé is a Spanish operatic soprano. Although she sang a wide variety of roles, she is best known as an exponent of the bel canto repertoire, notably the works of Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi....
as Cleopatra in 1967.
In the early 1970s Gamson's position as a prominent opera conductor began to fade. Although he remained active as a conductor he worked mostly with second tier opera companies and orchestras up through the 1990s. In addition to working with opera companies, Gamson has also worked as a conductor with numerous ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
companies internationally, often in conjunction with his wife's career. He currently lives in retirement in New York state.