Earth and Space News: Joseph Urban set designs Met Opera

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Monday, August 13, 2018

Joseph Urban Designed Sets for 10 Metropolitan Opera Premieres

Summary: Austrian American architect, designer and illustrator Joseph Urban designed sets for 10 Metropolitan Opera premieres during his 16-year career.

Joseph Urban's debut set design for the Metropolitan Opera's new production of Gounod's Faust; Kenneth Macgowan, "The Lesson of Urban," Shadowland (November 1919), page 18: Library of Congress has determined that this item is not in copyright, via Internet Archive

Austrian American architect, costume and scenic designer and illustrator Joseph Urban designed sets for 10 Metropolitan Opera premieres during his almost 16-year career at the opera house, from November 1917 until his death in July 1933.

Joseph Urban (May 26, 1872-July 10, 1933) debuted Nov. 17, 1917, as designer in the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Faust by French Romantic Era composer Charles-François Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893). Revivals of Urban’s designs for Faust continued through the Metropolitan Opera’s 1950-1951 season.

Urban’s almost 16-year career at the Metropolitan Opera yielded designs for 55 productions. Ten of the productions opened as Metropolitan Opera premieres.

Oberon by German Romantic composer Carl Maria von Weber (Nov. 18/19, 1786-June 5, 1826) opened as a Metropolitan Opera premiere Dec. 28, 1918. Polish film and theatre director Ryszard Ordynski (Oct. 5, 1878-Aug. 13, 1953), anglicized as Richard Ordynski, directed the new production, with Joseph as designer. The Metropolitan Opera has not revived the romantic opera since the 13th performance Jan. 6, 1921.

Don Carlo by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901) premiered Dec. 23, 1920. Viennese American stage manager Samuel Thewman (Feb. 27, 1872-March 22, 1940) directed the production. Joseph’s daughter Gretel’s debut as costume designer for Don Carlo initiated a father-daughter designing collaboration that encompassed 17 Metropolitan Opera productions.

Pelléas et Mélisande by French Impressionist composer Achille-Claude Debussy (Aug. 22, 1862-March 25, 1918) premiered March 21, 1925. Wilhelm von Wymetal’s production team included both Urbans. Russian-born French artist and designer Romain de Tirtoff (Nov. 23, 1892-April 21, 1990), known as Erté, joined the production as title role costume designer for Spanish lyric soprano Lucrezia Bori (Dec. 24, 1887-May 14, 1960).

Pelléas et Mélisande received four performances in the 1924-1925 season. The Urbans’ designs appeared in a total of 47 performances, with the last appearance in the 1948-1949 season.

Greek American stage director Konstantinos “Dino” Yannopoulos (Dec. 15, 1919-April 6, 2003) directed a revised production, which opened Nov. 27, 1953. American abstract-surrealist painter and scenic designer Horace Armistead (1918-1975) was the production’s designer. Metropolitan Opera Archives Database notes: “In revising the sets for Debussy’s opera, Armistead utilized elements from the previous production designed by Joseph Urban.”

Pelléas et Mélisande numbers among 29 productions scheduled for the 2018-2019 Metropolitan Opera season. The 2018-2019 season’s staging revives English opera and theatre director Jonathan Miller’s new production, which debuted March 23, 1955.

La Vestale by Italian opera composer and conductor Gaspare Spontini (Nov. 14, 1774-Jan. 24, 1851) premiered Nov. 12, 1925. The Urbans collaborated on Wilhelm von Wymetal’s production team. The Metropolitan Opera has not performed Spontini’s “tragédie lyrique” with a happy ending since the ninth performance Jan. 4, 1927.

Le Roi d’Ys by French composer Édouard Lalo (Jan. 27, 1823-April 22, 1892) premiered Jan. 5, 1922. The Urbans collaborated under Samuel Thewman’s direction. The Metropolitan Opera has not performed Lalo’s opera about northwestern France’s mythical capital since the premiere season's run of six performances.

Don Quichotte by French Romantic Era composer Jules Massenet (May 12, 1842-Aug. 13, 1912) premiered April 3, 1926. Samuel Thewman directed the production, with the Urbans as designers. Don Quichotte has not been performed since the ninth performance Dec. 12, 1926.

Verdi’s Luisa Miller premiered Dec. 21, 1929. Austrian music historian and stage director Ernst Lert (1883-1955) directed the production, with Joseph as designer. The Metropolitan Opera last performed Verdi’s tragic, love triangle opera during the 2017-2018 season, with a revival of the 2001-2002 season’s new production by Australian opera director Elijah Moshinsky.

Boccaccio by Austrian Romantic Era composer Franz von Suppé (April 18, 1819-May 21, 1895) premiered Jan. 2, 1931. Wilhelm von Wymetal directed the production. Lillian Gärtner Palmedo was costume designer. The premiere season’s 10 performances mark the comic opera’s only appearance in Met Opera’s repertoire.

Von Suppé’s Donna Juanita premiered Jan. 2, 1932. Hanns Niedecken-Gebhard (Sept. 4, 1889-March 7, 1954) directed the production. Lillian Gärtner Palmedo was costume designer. The Metropolitan Opera has not revived Donna Juanita since the comic opera’s premiere run of eight performances.

Elektra by German late Romantic and early modern composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sept. 8, 1949) premiered Dec. 3, 1932. Russian opera and theatre director Alexander Sanine (April 15, 1869-May 8, 1956) directed the production. Lillian Gartner Palmedo was costume designer. The Metropolitan Opera last performed Strauss’ revenge-themed opera during the 2017-2018 season, with a revival of the 2015-2016 season’s new production by French opera and theatre director Patrice Chéreau (Nov. 2, 1944-Oct. 7, 2013).

The takeaway for Joseph Urban’s set designs for 10 Metropolitan Opera premieres is that he collaborated with his costume designer daughter Gretel on six of the opera house’s premieres.

1916 or 1917 glass negative portrait photograph of Joseph Urban by German-American photographer Arnold Genthe (Jan. 8, 1869-Aug. 9, 1942); Genthe photograph collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington DC: No known restrictions on publication, via Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Online Catalog (PPOC) Photo, Print, Drawing

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Anthony and Chris (The Freakin’, ‘Tiquen Guys). “Vanished New York City Art Deco -- The Persian Room.” Driving for Deco. Oct. 23, 2017.
Available @ http://www.drivingfordeco.com/tag/lillian-gaertner-palmedo/

“Debut: Gretel Urban.” MetOpera Database > MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 76450 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Don Carlo {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/23/1920.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=76450

“Debuts: Thomas Chalmers, Pierre Monteux, Joseph Urban.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 67050 New production Faust {294} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/17/1917.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=67050

Italian Genealogical Group and German Genealogy Group. "Samuel Thewman in the New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Death Index, 1862-1948." Ancestry.com > New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Death Index, 1862-1948 [database online]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
Available via Ancestry @ https://search.ancestrylibrary.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=9131&h=4020416

Macgowan, Kenneth. “The Lesson of Urban.” Shadowland (November 1919): 15-18. Brooklyn NY: The M.P. Publishing Company.
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/stream/shadowland01mppu#page/n172/mode/1up

Marriner, Derdriu. “2018-2019 Metropolitan Opera Season Stages 29 Operas.” Earth and Space News. Monday, June 19, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/06/2018-2019-metropolitan-opera-season.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Elektra Is March 17, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, March 12, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/03/elektra-is-march-17-2018-met-opera.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Gretel Urban Designed Costumes for U.S. Turandot Premiere at Met Opera." Earth and Space News. Monday, July 30, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/07/gretel-urban-designed-costumes-for-us.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Joseph Urban Designed Sets for Two World Premieres at Met Opera." Earth and Space News. Monday, July 16, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/07/joseph-urban-designed-sets-for-two.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Joseph Urban Designed Sets for 14 U.S. Premieres at Met Opera." Earth and Space News. Monday, July 23, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/07/joseph-urban-designed-sets-for-14-us.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Luisa Miller Is April 14, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, April 9, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/04/luisa-miller-is-april-14-2018-met-opera.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Mar-a-Lago Architect Joseph Urban Also Designed Sets at Met Opera." Earth and Space News. Monday, July 9, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/07/mar-lago-architect-joseph-urban-also.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Maria Jeritza Sang Title Role in U.S. Turandot Premiere at Met Opera." Earth and Space News. Monday, Aug. 6, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/08/maria-jeritza-sang-title-role-in-us.html

The Metropolitan Opera. "100 Years Ago: The Debut of Joseph Urban, Designer of the Most Productions in Met History." The Metropolitan Opera > Archives > Notes From the Archives > This Month in Met History. Nov. 1, 2017.
Available @ https://www.metopera.org/discover/archives/notes-from-the-archives/November/

“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Boccaccio.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 106900 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Boccaccio {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/2/1931.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=106900

“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Don Carlo.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 76450 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Don Carlo {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/23/1920.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=76450

“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Don Quichotte.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 93070 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Don Quichotte {1} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 04/3/1926.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=93070

“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Donna Juanita.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 109790 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Donna Juanita {1} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 01/2/1932.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID+109790

“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Elektra.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 112150 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Elektra {1} Matinee Broadcast ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 12/3/1932.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=112150

“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: La Vestale.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 91120 Metropolitan Opera Premiere La Vestale {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/12/1925.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=91120

“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Le Roi d’Ys.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 79680 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Le Roi d'Ys {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/5/1922.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=79680

“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Luisa Miller.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 103720 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Luisa Miller {1} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 12/21/1929.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=103720

“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Oberon.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 70540 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Oberon {1} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 12/28/1918.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=70540

“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Pelléas et Mélisande.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 89850 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Pelléas et Mélisande {1} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 03/21/1925. Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=89850

Musäus, Johann Karl August. Die Buecher der Chronika der drei Schwestern. Illustrirt von H. Lefler und J. Urban. Berlin: Verlag von J.A. Stargardt, 1900.
Available via HathiTrust @ https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/102155858

Saylor, Oliver M. “Urban, of the Opera, the ‘Follies,’ and the Films. Shadowland (November 1921): 39, 72, 74. Brooklyn NY: Brewster Publications Inc.
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/stream/Shadowland0503Images/Shadowland_05_03#page/n38/mode/1up

U.S. National Archives. "Samuel Thewman." Ancestry.com > New York, U.S., State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1794-1943 [database online]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
Available via Ancestry @ https://search.ancestrylibrary.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2280&h=3980662

Waszut-Barrett, Wendy, PhD (waszut_barrett@me.com). “Historical Excerpt -- ‘Women in Scenic Art,’ Lillian Gaestner.” Drypigment.net > Archives > February 2017. Feb. 6, 2017.
Available @ http://drypigment.net/2017/02/06/historical-excerpt-women-in-scenic-art-part-2/

Monday, July 23, 2018

Joseph Urban Designed Sets for 14 U.S. Premieres at Met Opera

Summary: Austrian American architect, designer and illustrator Joseph Urban designed sets for 14 U.S. premieres during his almost 16-year career at Met Opera.

Austrian American Art Deco architect, costume and set designer and illustrator Joseph Urban designed sets for 14 U.S. premieres during his almost 16-year career at the Metropolitan Opera, from his debut in November 1917 until his death in July 1933.

The Metropolitan Opera Archives Database associates Urban with 55 production designs. The Vienna, Austria-born costume and set designer debuted at the Metropolitan Opera Nov. 17, 1917, in the Met’s new production of Faust by French Romantic Era composer Charles-François Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893). The Metropolitan Opera’s revival of Urban’s Faustian designs continued through the 1950-1951 season.

Fourteen of the 55 Urban-designed productions opened as U.S. premieres at the Metropolitan Opera. Joseph collaborated on three of the U.S. premiere productions with his costume designer daughter Gretel (Jan. 7, 1898-Dec. 6, 1997).

Saint Elizabeth by Hungarian Romantic Era composer Franz Liszt (Oct. 22, 1811-July 31, 1886) premiered Jan. 3, 1918. Richard Ordynski directed. Met Opera has not performed Liszt’s oratorio since the premiere season.

Eugene Onegin by Russian Romantic Era composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky (May 7, 1840-Nov. 6, 1893) premiered March 24, 1920. Richard Ordynski directed. Livingston Platt and Ethel Fox designed costumes.

After the 1920-1921 season, Met Opera did not perform Eugene Onegin for 36 years. Met Opera’s most recent staging, during the 2016-2017 season, revived the opera house’s third reboot, which debuted Sept. 23, 2013.

Così Fan Tutte by Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791) premiered March 24, 1922. Samuel Thewman (Feb. 27, 1872-March 22, 1940) directed, with Gretel’s costumes.

La Vida Breve by Spanish composer Manuel de Falla (Nov. 23, 1876-Nov. 14, 1946) premiered March 6, 1926. Wilhelm von Wymetal directed, with Gretel’s costumes. Met Opera has not staged La Vida Breve since the premiere season.

Violanta by Austrian American composer and conductor Erich Korngold (May 29, 1897-Nov. 29, 1957) premiered Nov. 5, 1927. Wilhelm von Wymetal directed. Met Opera has not performed Violanta since the premiere season.

La Rondine by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924) premiered March 10, 1928. Wilhelm von Wymetal directed. Met Opera last revived Urban’s designs during the 1935-1936 season. A new production debuted Dec. 31, 2008. Met Opera last staged the reboot Jan. 26, 2013.

Die Ägyptische Helena by German late Romantic and early modern composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sept. 8, 1949) premiered Nov. 6, 1928. Wilhelm von Wymetal directed, with Lillian Gartner Palmedo’s costumes. After the premiere season, Met Opera did not perform Die Ägyptische Helena for 78 years. A new production debuted March 15, 2007. Die Ägyptische Helena has not been staged since the reboot’s seven performances.

La Cena delle Beffe by Italian composer Umberto Giordano (Aug. 28, 1867-Nov. 12, 1948) premiered Jan. 2, 1926. Samuel Thewman directed. Although Joseph is credited as designer, the Metropolitan Opera Archives Database notes one costume sketch signed by American designer Robert Edmond Jones (Dec. 12, 1887-Nov. 26, 1954). Giordano’s opera has not been staged since the 1926-1927 season.

Puccini’s Turandot premiered Nov. 16, 1926. Wilhelm von Wymetal directed. Gretel Urban and Italian artist Umberto Brunelleschi (June 21, 1879-Feb. 16, 1949) designed costumes. The premiere production’s last revival occurred in the 1929-1930 season.

The first reboot occurred three decades later, with English designer and photographer Cecil Beaton’s (Jan. 14, 1904-Jan. 18, 1980) designs. Met Opera’s most recent staging, in the 2017-2018 season, revived the second reboot. Italian film, opera and television director Franco Zeffirelli’s production and set designs debuted March 12, 1987.

La Campana Sommersa by Italian composer Ottorino Respighi (July 9, 1879-April 18, 1936) premiered Nov. 24, 1928, with the composer present. Wilhelm von Wymetal directed. Met Opera has not performed La Campana Sommersa since Dec. 20, 1929.

Jonny Spielt Auf by Austrian American composer Ernst Krenek (Aug. 23, 1900-Dec. 22, 1991) premiered Jan. 19, 1929. Wilhelm von Wymetal directed, with Lillian Gartner Palmedo’s costumes. Met Opera has not performed Krenek’s jazz-influenced opera since the premiere season.

Fra Gherardo by Italian composer and librettist Ildebrando Pizzetti (Sept. 20, 1880-Feb. 13, 1968) premiered March 21, 1929. Italian opera director Armando Agnini (July 11, 1884-March 27, 1960) directed. Met Opera has not performed Fra Gherardo since the premiere season.

Schwanda the Bagpiper by Czech American composer Jaromír Weinberger (Jan. 8, 1896-Aug. 8, 1967) premiered Nov. 7, 1931. German stage director Hanns Niedecken-Gebhard (Sept. 4, 1889-March 7, 1954) directed, with Lillian Gartner Palmedo’s costumes. Met Opera has not performed Weinberger’s best known opera since the premiere season.

Il Signor Bruschino by Italian composer Gioachino Rossini (Feb. 29, 1792-Nov. 13, 1868) premiered Dec. 9, 1932. Armando Agnini directed. Joseph shared set design credits with Joseph Novak. Met Opera has not performed Il Signor Bruschino since the premiere season.

Il Signor Bruschino marked Joseph Urban’s last U.S. premiere and also his last output as a Met Opera designer. He died of a heart attack July 10, 1933, while recuperating from major surgery in May. His burial site is Westchester County’s Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

The takeaways for Joseph Urban’s designs for 14 U.S. premieres at the Metropolitan Opera are that he collaborated with his costume designer daughter Gretel on three premieres and that two U.S. premiered operas (Mozart’s Così Fan Tutte, Puccini’s Turandot) endure in Met Opera’s active repertoire, with recent stagings in the 2017-2018 season.

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Austrian American Art Deco architect, costume and set designer and illustrator Joseph Urban collaborated on three U.S. premiere productions with his costume designer daughter Gretel; U.S. premiere of Puccini's Turandot on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1926, featured set designs by Joseph and costume designs by his daughter; Gretel's illustrations reveal colorful variety of her costume designs for Turandot: The Metropolitan Opera, via Facebook Nov. 16, 2017 @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/10159727474555533/; via Facebook Nov. 16, 2017, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10159727474555533/; via Facebook Nov. 16, 2017, @ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159727474555533&set=a.134969600532

illustration of costume design of Turandot's deposed King of Tartary, Timur, by Gretel Urban for U.S. premiere of Puccini's Turandot in the Metropolitan Opera's 1916-1917 season: The Metropolitan Opera, via Facebook Nov. 16, 2017, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/10159727474495533/; via Facebook Nov. 16, 2017, @ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159727474495533&set=a.134969600532; via Facebook Nov. 16, 2017, @ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159727474495533&set=pcb.10159727478105533

For further information:

“Debuts: Thomas Chalmers, Pierre Monteux, Joseph Urban.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 67050 New Production Faust {294} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/17/1917.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=67050

Marriner, Derdriu. “Eugene Onegin Is the April 22, 2017, Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, April 17, 2017.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/04/eugene-onegin-is-april-22-2017.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Turandot Is March 24, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Monday, March 19, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/03/turandot-is-march-24-2018-met-opera.html

The Metropolitan Opera. "Turandot premiered at the Met on this day in 1926. Check out costume sketches by Gretel Urban from the premiere production. Tonight, Nov 16, is the last performance of Turandot this fall. Puccini's final opera returns this spring on March 21. bit.ly/2sIQjfz." Facebook. Nov. 16, 2017.
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/10159727474485533/
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10159727474485533/
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159727474485533&set=a.134969600532

“United States Premiere: Così Fan Tutte.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 80750 United States Premiere Così Fan Tutte {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/24/1922.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=80750

“United States Premiere: Die Ägyptische Helena.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 100100 United States Premiere Die Ägyptische Helena {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/6/1928.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=100100

“United States Premiere: Fra Gherardo.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 101980 United States Premiere Fra Gherardo {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/21/1929.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=101980

“United States Premiere: Il Signor Bruschino.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 112240 United States Premiere Il Signor Bruschino {1} Elektra {2} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/9/1932.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=112240

“United States Premiere: Jonny Spielt Auf.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 101110 United States Premiere Jonny Spielt Auf {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/19/1929.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=101110

“United States Premiere: La Campana Sommersa.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 100330 United States Premiere In the presence of the composer La Campana Sommersa {1} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/24/1928.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=100330

“United States Premiere: La Rondine.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 98790 United States Premiere La Rondine {1} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 03/10/1928.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=98790

“United States Premiere: La Vida Breve.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 92670 United States Premieres La Vida Breve {1} Le Rossignol {1} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 03/6/1926.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=92670

“United States Premiere: Schwanda, the Bagpiper.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 109060 United States Premiere Schwanda, the Bagpiper {1} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/7/1931.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=109060

“United States Premiere: Turandot.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 94190 United States Premiere Turandot {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/16/1926.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=94190

“United States Premiere: Violanta.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 97060 United States Premiere (Violanta) New Production (Hänsel und Gretel) Violanta {1} Hänsel und Gretel {93} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/5/1927.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=97060

“United States Stage Premiere: Eugene Onegin.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 74580 United States Stage Premiere Eugene Onegin {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/24/1920.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=74580

“United States Stage Premiere: La Cena delle Beffe.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 91810 United States Premiere La Cena delle Beffe {1} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 01/2/1926.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=91810

“United States Stage Premiere: Saint Elisabeth.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 67620 United States Stage Premiere Saint Elisabeth {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/3/1918.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=67620

Monday, July 9, 2018

Mar-a-Lago Architect Joseph Urban Also Designed Sets at Met Opera

Summary: Mar-a-Lago architect Joseph Urban also designed sets at the Metropolitan Opera for almost 16 years, from November 1917 until his death in July 1933.

Mar-a-Lago architect and Met Opera set designer Joseph Urban conceived Mar-a-Lago's interior design and exterior ornamentation; entrance hall, looking toward main entrance, at Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach County, southeastern Florida; April 1967; NPS (National Park Service) Historic American Buildings Survey HABS FL-95: No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government, via Library of Congress Photo, Print, Drawing

Mar-a-Lago architect Joseph Urban also designed sets at the Metropolitan Opera for almost 16 years, from his debut in November 1917 until his death in July 1933.

Vienna, Austria-born architect, illustrator and set designer Joseph Urban (May 26, 1872-July 10, 1933) made his Metropolitan Opera debut Nov. 17, 1917, as designer for the opera house’s new production of Faust by French Romantic Era composer Charles-François Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893). The Metropolitan Opera continued to revive Urban’s Faustian designs through the opera house’s 1950-1951 season.

The Metropolitan Opera Archives Database credits Urban with 55 production designs during his almost 16-year career as a Met Opera set designer. Ten of the productions comprised Metropolitan Opera premieres:
Boccaccio by Franz von Suppé (April 18, 1819-May 21, 1895);
Don Carlo by Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901;
Don Quichotte by Jules Massenet (May 12, 1842-Aug. 13, 1912);
Donna Juanita by von Suppé;
Elektra by Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sept. 8, 1949);
La Vestale by Gaspare Spontini (Nov. 14, 1774-Jan. 24, 1851);
Le Roi d’Ys by Édouard Lalo (Jan. 27, 1823-April 22, 1892);
Luisa Miller by Verdi;
Oberon by Carl Maria von Weber (Nov. 18/19, 1786-June 5, 1826);
Pelléas et Mélisande by Achille-Claude Debussy (Aug. 22, 1862-March 25, 1918).

Fourteen of Urban’s production settings were designed for the Metropolitan Opera’s staging of U.S. premieres:
Così Fan Tutte by Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791);
Die Ägyptische Helena by Strauss;
Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Tchaikovsky (May 7, 1840-Nov. 6, 1893);
Fra Gherardo by Ildebrando Pizzetti (Sept. 20, 1880-Feb. 13, 1968);
Il Signor Bruschino by Gioachino Rossini (Feb. 29, 1792-Nov. 13, 1868);
Jonny Spielt Auf by Ernst Krenek (Aug. 23, 1900-Dec. 22, 1991);
La Campana Sommersa by Ottorino Respighi (July 9, 1879-April 18, 1936);
La Cena delle Beffe by Umberto Giordano (Aug. 28, 1867-Nov. 12, 1948);
La Rondine by Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924);
La Vida Breve by Manuel de Falla (Nov. 23, 1876-Nov. 14, 1946);
Saint Elizabeth by Franz Liszt (Oct. 22, 1811-July 31, 1886);
Schwanda the Bagpiper by Jaromír Weinberger (Jan. 8, 1896-Aug. 8, 1967);
Turandot by Puccini;
Violanta by Erich Korngold (May 29, 1897-Nov. 29, 1957).

Two of Urban’s sets were designed for the Metropolitan Opera’s staging of world premieres of two operas by American composer Joseph Deems Taylor (Dec. 22, 1885-July 3, 1966). The King’s Henchman, with an English libretto by American poet Edna St. Vincent Millay (Feb. 22, 1892-Oct. 19, 1950), premiered Feb. 17, 1927. Peter Ibbetson, inspired by Franco-British author George du Maurier’s (March 6, 1834-Oct. 8, 1896) same-named novel (1891), premiered Feb. 7, 1931.

Urban designed sets for 29 new stagings of operas already in the Metropolitan Opera’s repertoire:
Carmen by Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875);
Der Barbier von Bagdad by Peter Cornelius (Dec. 24, 1824-Oct. 26, 1874);
Der Freischütz by Weber;
Don Giovanni by Mozart;
Ernani by Verdi;
Falstaff by Verdi;
Faust by Gounod;
Fedora by Giordano;
Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven (bapt. Dec. 17, 1770-March 26, 1827);
Hänsel und Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck (Sept. 1, 1854-Sept. 27, 1921);
Il Barbiere di Siviglia by Rossini;
La Juive by Fromental Halévy (May 27, 1799-March 17, 1862);
La Sonnambula by Vincenzo Bellini (Nov. 3, 1801-Sept. 23, 1835);
La Traviata by Verdi;
L’Africaine by Giacomo Meyerbeer (Sept. 5, 1791-May 2, 1864);
L’Amico Fritz by Pietro Mascagni (Dec. 7, 1863-Aug. 2, 1945);
Le Prophète by Meyerbeer;
Les Contes d’Hoffmann by Jacques Offenbach (June 20, 1819-Oct. 5, 1880);
Lohengrin by Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813-Feb. 13, 1883);
Louise by Gustave Charpentier (June 25, 1860-Feb. 18, 1956);
Madama Butterfly by Puccini;
Manon by Massenet;
Martha by Friedrich von Flotow (April 27, 1812-Jan. 24, 1883);
Norma by Bellini;
Parsifal by Wagner;
Roméo et Juliette by Gounod;
Tannhäuser by Wagner;
Thaïs by Massenet;
Tristan und Isolde by Wagner.

The last set designed by Joseph Urban was for the U.S. premiere of Rossini’s Il Signor Bruschino Dec. 9, 1932. According to the Metropolitan Opera Archives Database, the opera house’s 1961-1962 season staging of Strauss’ Elektra marked the last revival of a set designed by Joseph Urban.

Three years after Joseph’s 1917 debut, his daughter Margarete (Jan. 7, 1898-Dec. 6, 1997), known as Gretel or Gretl, debuted. Gretel’s debut as a costume designer occurred for the Metropolitan Opera’s premiere of Verdi’s Don Carlos Dec. 23, 1920. Gretel collaborated with her father on 17 productions.

Joseph Urban immigrated to the United States to complete designs for spring 1912 operas commissioned by Massachusetts’ Boston Opera Company. He maintained his stage career while also accepting architectural commissions. Extant examples of his architectural work include the base of New York City’s Hearst Tower and Hamburg, northern New Jersey’s now decrepit Gingerbread House, both completed around 1928.

Urban also conceived the Art Deco-styled interior design and exterior ornament of Mar-a-Lago. Located at 1100 South Ocean Boulevard, Palm Beach, southeastern Florida, the lavish mansion was constructed for cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post (March 15, 1887-Sept. 12, 1973) between 1923 and 1927.

The takeaways for Mar-a-Lago architect Joseph Urban’s Metropolitan Opera set designs are that the Austrian-American artist designed 55 sets in his almost 16-year Met career and collaborated with his daughter Gretel on 17 productions.

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Joseph Urban collaborated with his brother-in-law, Austrian graphic artist, painter and stage designer Heinrich Lefler (Nov. 7, 1863-March 14, 1919), as business partners on such artworks as graphic design, illustration, interior design, scenic design and temporary architectural installations (Sarah Marie Hornie,"Heinrich Lefler (Austrian, 1863–1919) Scenic designs for 'Parsifal' c. 1913," eMuseum MFAH Museum of Fine Arts Houston); scene of bridges over water by co-illustrators Joseph Urban and Heinrich Lefler, in J.K.A. Musäus, Die Buecher der Chronika der drei Schwestern (1900), Zweites Buch (Second Book), Bertha, page 38: Public Domain in the United States, via HathiTrust @ https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=gri.ark:/13960/t9480fh68&seq=46&view=1up; Public Domain in the United States, via HathiTrust @ https://hdl.handle.net/2027/gri.ark:/13960/t9480fh68?urlappend=%3Bseq=46; "The copyright and related rights status of this item has been reviewed by The New York Public Library, but we were unable to make a conclusive determination as to the copyright status of the item. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use," via New York Public Library Digital Collections @ https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/6e5c9d6e-207d-70f3-e040-e00a1806563f

For further information:

Aronson, Arnold. "Architect of Dreams: The Theatrical Vision of Joseph Urban." Columbia University > Columbia University Libraries > E-Resources > Databases > Archives > Joseph Urban Stage Design Models & Documents Stabilization & Access Project.
Available @ http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/archives/rbml/urban/architectOfDreams/text.html

Horne, Sarah Marie. "Heinrich Lefler (Austrian, 1863–1919) Scenic designs for 'Parsifal' c. 1913." eMuseum The Museum of Fine Arts Houston > The MFAH Collections > All Work . Scenic designs for "Parsifal."
Available via eMuseum MFAH Museum of Fine Arts Houston @ https://emuseum.mfah.org/catalogues/aia-online-catalogue/objects/160375/scenic-designs-for-parsifal

Marriner, Derdriu. "Parsifal Is Feb. 17, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast." Earth and Space News. Monday, Feb. 12, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/02/parsifal-is-feb-17-2018-met-opera.html

Mayhew, Augustus. “Building Mar-a-Lago: Majorie Merriweather Post’s Palm Beach Showplace.” The Shiny Sheet®: Palm Beach Daily News > News > Local News. Feb. 5, 2017.
Available @ https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/local/building-mar-lago-marjorie-merriweather-post-palm-beach-showplace/BNcXr356xhT3AdEVKyIR3J/

“New Production: Faust.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 67050 New production Faust {294} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/17/1917.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=67050

NYPL Staff. "Digital Highlights: The Set and Costume Designs of the Music Division." New York Public Library > Blog. May 26, 2020.
Available via New York Public Library Blog @ https://www.nypl.org/blog/2020/05/26/digitized-set-and-costume-designs-music-division

Proctor, Samuel; Nancy K. Beinke; and F. Blair Reeves. “Mar-a-Lago.” Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS). HABS no. FLA-195. Washington DC: Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1967-1972.
Available @ http://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/fl/fl0100/fl0181/data/fl0181data.pdf

Sophia. “This Abandoned Gingerbread Castle in New Jersey Is Like Something From a Horror Movie.” Only in Your State > New Jersey. Feb. 5, 2017.
Available @ http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/new-jersey/gingerbread-castle-nj-usa/

Tufaro, Nicholas. “The Gingerbread Castle.” Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS). HALS No. NJ-4. Washington DC: National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Dec. 18, 2009.
Available via Library of Congress @ https://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/nj/nj1800/nj1833/data/nj1833data.pdf

Waszut-Barrett, Wendy, PhD (waszut_barrett@me.com). “Historical Excerpt -- ‘Women in Scenic Art,’ Gretl Urban.” Drypigment.net > Archives > February 2017. Feb. 8, 2017.
Available @ http://drypigment.net/2017/02/08/historical-excerpt-women-in-scenic-art-gretl-urban/