ArtAct: April 2012

Early Modernist Posters and Their Typographic Design

Fortune Covers

Leo Lionni, Art Director, Jerome Snyder, Illustrator,
December 1954

Eleanor Treacy, Art Director, Ernest Hamlin Baker, Illustrator,
December 1932

Eleanor Treacy, Art Director,Ernest Hamlin Baker, Illustrator
December 1931

Will Burtin, Art Director, Alvin Lustig, Illustrator,
December 1946

Peter Piening, Art Director, Loren MacIver, Illustrator,

Walter Allner, Art DirectorRomare Bearden, Illustrator,
January 1968

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Eleanor Treacy, Art Director,Erik Nitsche, Illustrator
December 193

Francis Brennan, Art Director, Arthur Gerlach, Photographer,

December 1939

Francis Brennan, Art Director, Fernand Léger, Illustrator
December 1941

Aida in Vancouver

Verdi's Aida was one of the most-anticipated opera events in Vancouver. I don't think anybody expected a Zeffirelli kind of production. But the kind of marvelously rich and expansive voice of mezzo-soprano Daveda Karanas as Amneris with her heavenly duet; Fu la sorte dell' armi a' tuoi funesta with the exquisite soprano voice of Mlada Khuddly, in the title role of Aida, was a remarkable feast.

As well, the unearthly powerful bass voice of Morris Robinson as Ramfis, the high priest, was commanding and magnificent.

Unfortunately, tenor Arnold Rawls as Radames, was a disappointment, particularly with his interpretation of Se quel guerrier io fossi!...Celeste Aida Although he did better somewhat in his duet; La fatal pietra sovra me si chiuse at the end with Aida. The staging of the triumphal procession was, as could have been expected, a poor-man's version of this famous operatic scene. The choreography was stunningly boring and unimaginative wasting the talents of some of the very fine ballet dancers.

I wonder why we cannot get a first class performance in Vancouver. The house was full and so lack of demand cannot be a good excuse.