The Sault Opera Legacy

Printer-friendly version

A Tribute to

ARNO AMBEL

By the Sault Opera Society

Friday, September 13, 1996
Ramada Inn
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Cocktails and Hors d'Oeurves	Music provided by Classic Bows: Mrs. Carol O'Neill, violin; Ms. Carmen Eisenbichler, violin; Mrs. Bernadette Merritt, cello
Call to Dinner	Mr. Bruce Bedell, Town Crier
Introductory Remarks	Mr. Terry McPhee, Master of Ceremonies
Grace	The Very Reverend Allan R. Reed
Greetings and Presentations	Mr. Herbert Johnson, Mr. Donald Roy, Mr. Rudy Becker, Mr. Steve Ballantine
City of Sault Ste. Marie	Mr. Udo Rauk and Mr. Charlie Swift
Arts Council of Sault Ste. Marie and District	Mrs. Mary Capstick
Songs of Our Past	accompanied by Mrs. Lorraine Smith
I Can't Give You a Good Explanation (Marriage of Figaro)	Ms. Norene Morrow
Vilia (The Merry Widow)	Mrs. Jo-Ann Eagan
The Nightingale/A Maiden Fair to See (HMS Pinafore)	Mr. Timothy Murphy
Life (Zorba)	Mrs. Teresa Caughill
Major General's Song (The Pirates of Penzance)	Mr. Tom Hendrie
Sault Opera Presentations	Ms. Norene Morrow, Mr. Richard and Mrs. Diane Conklin
"An Arno Opportunity" - Cake Cutting and Conversation

CALL TO DINNER

By: Bruce Bedell, the Town Crier

***OYEZ***OYEZ***OYEZ*** OPERA LOVERS*****
AS THE INTERNATIONAL TOWN CRIER OF THE TWO SAULTS OF NORTH AMERICA ***
IT IS MY DUTY TO WELCOME YOU TO A FEAST IN CELEBRATION OF MORE THAN TWO AND ONE HALF DECADES OF OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS*****
BUT REMEMBER ***** WATCH THE GOD DAMN STICK

BEFORE PAVORATTI*** WHEN DONIZETTI WAS A GOAL TENDER FOR THE BAYVIEW ATHLETICS***
A STEELWORKER, ARNO AMBEL, STARTED AN OPERA COMPANY IN THIS REMOTE CORNER OF NORTH AMERICA BETTER KNOWN AS THE NEW SIBERIA. ***TO THE LOCAL COMMENT***OPERA*** ISN'T THAT WHEN THE FAT LADY SINGS TO TELL US IT'S ALL OVER?
OVERCOMING THESE CHALLENGES*** THE SAULT OPERA SOCIETY EMERGED AS A HAVEN FOR THOSE WHO THOUGHT NOT DISCO BUT *** MOZART RULES

THE FIRST TIME WAS AS EMPEROR FRANZ JOSEPH OF AUSTRIA*** A ROLE FOR WHICH HE WAS A NATURAL *****
AS WELL AS BEING AN ACTOR, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, CONDUCTOR, CHOREOGRAPHER, SET DESIGNER AND WHAT EVER ELSE WAS REQUIRED FOR 26 YEARS OF PRODUCTIONS*** HE WAS A DISCOVERER OF NEW TALENT***
MILORDS, MESDAMES, ESQUIRES AND LADIES*** I SPEAR FOR YOU AND OUR COMMUNITY IN SAYING*** MAESTRO ARNO AMBEL ***** TO YOU FROM THE SAULT MERCI BEAUCOUP * * * * *

CRIED ALOUD THIS 13TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 1996 BY BRUCE BEDELL TOWN CRIER.

SAULT OPERA'S MAJOR GENERAL

(An adaptation of Major General Stanley's song from "The Pirates of Penzance")

Performed by Tom Hendrie

MAJOR GENERAL	From Eastern Europe Arno came, with culture oozing from each pore, to North Ontario's icy climes to teach us shows like "Pinafore". We learned to sing in harmony, bass, tenor, alto, soprano. We northern hicks, we learned so quick; We'd tackle "oratorio". But if we're sometimes out of tune, he'd get upset, so then beware. We'd always knew that very soon he'd be losing some more hair! While List'ning to this maestro man conducting, coaching, oh so slick. And shouting "Goddam people, HEY! You must learn to watch the stick!"
CHORUS	And shouting to all people "HEY! Now you must learn to watch the stick!" And shouting to all people "HEY! Now you must learn to watch the stick!" And shouting to all people "HEY! Now you must learn to watch the, watch the stick!"
MAJOR GENERAL	From opera to Broadway shows he's steered them in from head to toes. He knows the music off by heart. His reputation grows and grows. With so much knowledge musical, artistic, and theatrical, Now he has earned the title of Sault Opera's Major General!
CHORUS	With so much knowledge musical, artistic, and theatrical, Now he has earned the title of Sault Opera's Major General!

A special thank you to Jane Williamson of Bazaar Novelty for the decor.