The late International Operatic Soprano Ella Lee recently passed away. Referred to as “Miss Ella” by her Voice students, she was also my first teacher of all-things-related- to-opera.
A role model for many, Ella Lee was an up-close-and-personal opera-career role model, who’s work and legacy (like singing the role of Verdi’s Aida 500-times, to name a few), will continue to inspire hope and creativity for years to come. During the time in which I studied with her “Miss Ella” was very much like a spiritual mother to me.
A friend relayed to me the sad news of her passing, less than one week ago. While pondering exactly how tribute might be paid to this person of significance, an Article came across my radar, reminding me of the things that were most beloved about Ella.
She was a kind person; she was generous; she was funny; she was even loving. She never berated or belittled her students. Even on those days when perhaps the student’s ‘technique’ was not ‘up to par,’ Ella would somehow find a way to humorously chime-in words to the effect of: “Well, baby, it’s okay. Everyone is really not meant to be a career singer: some people are just meant to do this for fun!”
Perhaps the student left the Lesson aware that his or her journey might not land him or her in New York City, at the ‘Artists Entrance’ of The Metropolitan Opera House. Still, the student felt good about whatever progress he or she was making. And, he or she actually experienced an enjoyable time during his or her lesson, as opposed to feeling like a nervous breakdown was pending, because so much ‘pressure’ and so many ‘demands’ were being placed on him or her by the teacher. The students departed from their lessons feeling supported and embraced, regardless of whether or not their abilities were at levels deeming them ‘worthy’ of entering all, of one of the numerous classical competitions in existence.
Therefore, for this student — in those moments? Can you imagine how he or she felt about his or her singing, and his or her lessons with Miss Ella? Can you imagine how those moments might have meant all the world to the student?!
For me, Ella, best relayed enjoyable aspects of being an Opera Star that were not necessarily related to how a singer could ‘perfect’ his or her vocal technique. It was ever-so-exciting when she talked about the juicy details of her exploits, and those of others.
Ella enjoyed her life as an opera singer: this was apparent in the way she talked about opera, singing, her career and the people with whom she worked.
Further, she was not arrogant regarding her accomplish-ments; nor did she exert ideas of ‘superiority’ over others. She was a happy person: a fun person. She encouraged her students to make the best of their own unique voices, and she inspired each one of us to derive the most pleasure possible from the music we sung. “Otherwise, what’s the point?’’ was her question.
Ella was an “experience” and when a person was “experiencing Miss Ella” that person became privy to privileged, first-handed accounts of a 30-year-career-Diva who performed Principal roles on opera stages all across Europe and the USA during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Her verbal reenactments of her exploits allowed for brief, direct glimpses into a fascinating world, such that the stories were often the highlight of the student’s Voice Lessons. This was certainly the case for me. It was the thing that many of her students most looked forward to while training: her warmth, her wit, her charm, and her stories!
Two and a half years ago, when I last saw Miss Ella she provide me with a Letter of Recommendation. Since that time we had only chatted over the phone.
I have not yet completely determined how I desire to pay tribute to this woman, who influenced the direction of my life in a profound and positive way. Miss Ella will be sorely missed, and yet, the impact she made was significant.
In the meantime, as stated earlier, I came across a writing, which sparked fond thoughts about Ella. Below is a snippet from this Los Angeles Times Article, which to me, seems to embody a tone of intrigue. Therefore, it felt too delicious to not share.
The writer of the Article is the late beloved Los Angeles Times Music Writer, Daniel Cariaga.
Ironically, until the time of his death in 2006, this same beloved music critic, Cariaga was married to my SECOND Opera Voice Teacher — International Wagnarian Mezzo Soprano Marvellee Cariaga.
Both Ella and Marvellee were strong forces-with-whom-to-be-reckoned during their careers. However, almost in complete opposition to Marvellee’s approach, Ella, who was a classic-Diva in every regard — she could never understand how any woman … could have ONLY HAD ONE husband during her lifetime! And, her accounts involving the husband referenced in this Article-blub, (below), they were particularly humorous.
Spoken with affection, Ella’s references to ‘the most recent ex-husband’ made one fact crystal clear to the listener: It was the man’s undeniable good looks, coupled by his strong performance abilities on, as well as off stage —these were the qualities that most inspired their union!
And while “it was fun while it lasted,” according to Ella, the unfortunate lack of keen business sense that co-existed in conjunction with the hot ‘n heavy chemistry between the two opera singers? This proved to be a recipe for an overall disastrous marital partnership. The marriage was thereby doomed from the start!
Per the excerpt from Cariaga’s Los Angeles Times Article:
“. . . American soprano Ella Lee and her husband, tenor Arturo Romani, have returned from engagements at the Royal Cultural Center in Amman, Jordan, and at the American University in Beirut, Lebanon, where they sang bel-canto duets, music by Verdi and Mascagni and a duet composed for them by Abdul Hamid.” [1] CARIAGA, Daniel, LA Times Music Writer, “Music and Dance News: Morris and Hogwood Collaborate on Gluck’s ‘Orfeo.’ http://articles.latimes.com/1995-02-12/entertainment/ca-30934_1_mark-morris (February 12, 1995).
Here’s Miss Ella in an performance with Opera Pasadena.
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