Opera Memory: Alice Macrecklein
by Syd
My first trip to Central City Opera was when it opened when I was about 12 years old. Although my first opera with my mother was a “light opera” I became a devoted fan of any Central City performance. When I married Dr. Wally Maercklein he loved classical operatic music, but had never attended an opera. I suggested that we try Central City together and purchased tickets to La Traviata and we were both “hooked on” Central City Opera for many years.
Opera Memory: We convinced our good friends to attend Central City and they also were huge fans of Central City performances. We enjoyed attending Central City performances repeatedly-at least four times for each opera! We became well acquainted with the orchestra and for one performance they had each signed the program. When we began down the aisle to our front row seats on one particular evening, all of the orchestra stood up and applauded us. By the way, I still enjoy my front row seats that have been my season tickets for these many, many Central City performances.
Opera Memory: We became acquainted with the manager, Bob Brown. Realizing that Bob needed assistance in picking up cast members from the airport, my husband and I volunteered to help Bob (In those days there was no Guild to help with these volunteer task). On one particular occasion, Bob Brown asked us to pick up a young male cast member at the airport. We arrived before the cast member’s plane had landed. However, a young hostile extremely well dressed woman was in the airport on this blistering hot Denver day. This woman was the lead in the opera and she was extremely angry and irate because no one was there to pick her up. She was venting her anger to us until Bob Brown arrived and he then was the recipient of her rage. Meanwhile, the young man who we were assigned to greet and pick up had arrived to the airport. Bob Brown then convinced my husband and I to also take her to Central City as Bob said, “If I have to escort this women to Central City we may not have a lead for our opera as I may kill her.” So my husband who was the police sergeant for Arapahoe County- and on call that day said, “sure we will give her a ride.” As soon as we all got in the car he got an emergency call to the Littleton County Jail. So, the diva, now frantic, the young male cast member, my husband and I darted to the jail with red lights flashing and sirens blaring. By the time we arrived at the Littleton jail the diva had decided this adventure was a little more acceptable. I even convinced her to change out of her hot formal clothes right there in the Littleton County Jail. She was quite grateful! Once we finally got en route to Central City, we had a wonderful fun-filled trip. In fact, when the diva entertained later the highlight of her party was her tales of the adventure to the Littleton jail complete with lights and sirens.
Opera Memory: We became good friends with Spiro Millas. He enjoyed coming to our residence and enjoying our swimming pool. He often brought other members of the Central City cast with him. In fact, some of our neighbors overhead one of the cast members practicing an aria in our backyard and it was so beautiful that it convinced our neighbors to attend Central City.
Opera Memory: We had the opportunity to attend Aida in La Scala. That year Central City was also performing Aida. Although I admit we were a bit hesitant to see Aida on a small stage after experiencing La Scala- we were so completely enthralled with the Central City performance that we attended every night!!
Opera Memory: Since our seats were on the front row, we had a buds eye view of many details. For instance, we saw the heroine following the male lead across the stage (not part of the correct staging) because the heroines wig was caught in his cufflinks!
Opera Memory: I have had the opportunity to attend operas throughout the world at some of the most famous opera houses. But, Central City has been and is the love of my life.
Opera Memory: Although many things have changed, I now take the opera bus to Central City rather than escorting the cast, I’m still loyal to my front row seats at Central City and always look forward to great performances there.
