Previous posts for April 16th may be found here: Henry Mancini; Charlie Chaplin (2019), Dennis Russell Davies (2020), Herbie Mann; Edie Adams (2021), and Milton Cross (2022)
Milton Cross (16 April 1897 – 3 January 1975) was an American radio announcer best known as the voice of the Metropolitan Opera, hosting its Saturday afternoon radio broadcasts for 43 years.
Two Nostalgic Variations on the Theme of Milton Cross
“Good afternoon, opera lovers from coast to coast,” the mellifluous voice would intone every Saturday, imparting its enthusiasm to generations of listeners, bringing closer to them the visual aspects of an unseen musical drama whose spell they were about to share with him. – Wolfgang Saxon, “Milton Cross, Voice of the Met, Is Dead”, (New York Times, 4 January 1975)
(1) Operatic Obsession
If you’ve ever been trouble by guilt in
The fact that you’re up to the hilt in
An opera’s plot,
(Who will die, who will not),
You can blame an announcer named Milton.
(2) Saturday Opera Bee
With all of the drama that’s built in,
An opera’s plot is a quilt in
Which each of the acts
Is a tangle of facts
With a patchwork untangled by Milton.
♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪
Frederico Mompou (16 April 1893 – 30 June 1987) was a Spanish and Catalan composer and pianist, remembered for his solo piano music and songs.
Shhhhh….
When we sing “Happy Birthday to You!”
There won’t be a noisy to do;
It’ll be understated,
Down-to-earth, uninflated
As befits Federico Mompou.
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