Dear Editor: I am referencing your recent article about Ms. Othalie Graham. Since I am on your mailing list and a prominent member of the classical vocal scene in Toronto, I would like you to read my website re: Othalie and decide whether you would like to correct some of the omitted facts of her early singing career. This is important because a number of the professionals involved in Ms. Graham’s formidable years are still very active, as I am, and rather resent her selective memory. Without me she would never have become a singer, and without the money that I invested in her early years, she would not have gone on to the career that she is having. If her opinion and the quotes in the article do not reflect the truth of the matter, then it is your job to find out what the truth is, especially since I am on the Web and a lot of my present students have come to me because of Ms. Graham.
—Daniel Eby
www.nscvs.com
Dear Mr. Eby: The article “Othalie Graham: The Ice Princess Who Melted” (December 2011) focused primarily on Othalie Graham’s remarkable weight loss and how it has affected her career. She did not mention your name and she spoke very generally of her early musical experiences. In reviewing your website, it would seem that the issue comes down to a difference of opinion rather than fact, and thus a correction is not necessary.
–Ed.
Dear Editor: It has been almost a year since I have subscribed to Classical Singer (online) and am very satisfied with the access to all the archives of the magazine, as well as with the wide variety of articles on subjects ranging from schooling, to professional insertion, to fitness, to interviews, etc.
However, I am very disappointed at your recent “current issues” and am writing to you in the hope that you will consider making a change in the way you choose the articles you publish in one single issue. You see, when you pick a single theme for one whole issue of the magazine, it leaves no room for the reader who is not concerned by this theme to find something else to read. There is an incredible lack of variety in the articles for this month’s [January] issue; they are all about summer programs. The same occurred last month with the weight-themed issue—being absolutely healthy and slim, I did not recognize myself in any article and think it would have been nice to be able to read about something else.
I really think that you’re doing a great job otherwise . . . a theme is good a few times a year, on big occasions/holidays, etc., but not for all issues. I have not read a Classical Singer article in two months (except for the ones in the archives) . . .
[This] comes from a very devoted subscriber who . . . wishes to see more variety in the coming issues of her favorite publication.
—Camille Greffe
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Errata
In the photo on p. 36 of the January issue (far left, second from the top), Pablo Zinger is incorrectly listed as a faculty member of Música en Compostela. Zinger is actually on the faculty of La Rioja Institute.
In the December issue two photos were missing photo credits. The photo on p. 20 of Lisette Oropesa as Fiorilla was taken by Hans Jörg Michel. The photo on p. 29 of Oropesa as Susanna was by Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera.
