In 1956, an amazing event occurred. Four of the greatest rock stars of the century gathered for a singular evening of music making – a casual jam session at Sun Studios in Memphis. It happened almost by chance. This one gathering was memorialized by an article about it that appeared at the time in the Memphis Press-Scimitar under the title, “The Million Dollar Quartet.” A hit recording from the evening appeared sometime later with 17 tracks on it. Additional tracks were found and added in the 1990s. More recently a musical by the same name has been touring the U.S. with considerable success.
What has that got to do with Midsummer’s Music? Well, for some time, I have known of another evening in the rather more distant past. Historical documents from over two hundred years ago indicate that there was a similar gathering of a fabulous four. Instead of Johnny Cash, we had Franz Joseph Haydn on violin. Instead of Elvis, Mozart played viola – Johann Vanhal (cello) and Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf (violin) instead of Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. These were the top-notch composers of their day. They met in the plush Viennese residence of Stephen and Nancy Storace somewhere around 1784.
How did this evening come about? It turns out that both Stephen Storace, and his sister, Nancy, were good friends with Mozart. Stephen was a young composer of considerable talent who was mentoring with Mozart, and Nancy, an extremely talented singer, was getting ready to be the first Suzanna in Mozart’s soon to be premiered opera, The Marriage of Figaro. Knowing Mozart meant that they also were in the circle of Vienna’s best composers, which included Joseph Haydn, Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf, and Johann Vanhal. So, the Storaces invited them all to their home along with some other friends for an evening of string quartet reading. Presumably, each composer brought with him a recent work to share.
How do we know about this evening? Another noted singer was there by the name of Michael Kelly. He, too, was about to sing two roles in the Figaro premiere, and Kelly later wrote his reminiscences about his time in Vienna, including details of this evening.
How did Michael Kelly know Stephen and Nancy? Kelly and the Storaces were both from the British Isles, but that is not where they met. They actually met in Italy. Nancy and Stephen’s father, a singer working in London, was Italian by birth. Recognizing the talent of his children, he wanted them to have the best musical education at the time, which meant going to Italy. One day, walking around the piazza in Livorno, Nancy saw this young thing standing with a few friends and said to Stephen in English, perhaps a bit too loudly, “Look at that girl dressed in boys clothes!” Imagine their shock and embarrassment when this pretty young thing they took for an Italian girl said, “Miss; I am a very proper HE animal, and quite at your service!” Nancy, of course, never expected he would understand English! Somehow, despite this shaky introduction, they became dear friends and colleagues. Nancy and Michael were both recruited by Emperor Joseph II to join his new opera troupe in Vienna. Stephen came along to pursue his compositional career.
So, once again, what does that have to do with Midsummer’s Music? I have always thought how wonderful it would have been to be a fly on the wall that evening. As an alternative, we have decided to recreate the evening with the help of one of Door County’s best actors, Mark Moede. If you attend TAP productions or evenings at Peninsula Players, you probably have enjoyed Mark’s work. For our special evening, Mark will be portraying Stephen Storace. He will be your host. Regardless of the six different locations where we will present this production, Mark, aka Stephen Storace, will welcome you into his home and tell you about his famous quartet-playing friends and their music. He will explain to you that Nancy and Michael are in the kitchen preparing some delectable treats for after the music, which they hope you will stay and enjoy.
Included in the music will be Haydn’s “Frog” Quartet, which is part of Midsummer’s Music’s contribution to the Celebrate Water initiative. Also to be heard is one of the six string quartets Mozart dedicated to his good friend, “Papa” Haydn as a show of his deep affection.
Stephen Storace will share some real inside information on his friends, and Gemütlichkeit will abound. Call 920-854-7088 or visit www.midsummer’smusic.com for tickets or more information. The six performances start Saturday, June 23rd at the Sister Bay Moravian Church, and run through July 19th. Sites include two beautiful homes on the water, the Meyer Theatre in Green Bay, Woodwalk Gallery in Egg Harbor, and the Old Gibraltar Town Hall in Fish Creek. Lederhosen and Dirndls are optional. Appetite for fun, good music, and delectable treats – mandatory.