Opera To Be Produced For Prince Rainier

Press, Volume C, Issue 29648, 19 October 1961, Page 2

Opera To Be Produced For Prince Rainier

In honour of Prince Rainier of Monaco, Marcello Cortis will produce a modern opera at Monte Carlo on the Prince’s birthday, November 19. Mr Cortis is in New Zealand to produce and sing in the New Zealand Opera Company’s “Tosca,” currently playing in Christchurch. The opera, entitled “The Viscount Cut In Two,” was written by a 20-year-old Frenchman, Bruni Gillet, and was entered in a competition which it won. It is written in Italian.

Mr Cortis will be accompanied to Monte Carlo by his vivacious wife. Mrs Cortis accompanies her husband on every trip overseas, shares his hobbies, and even suffers his pre-concert “nerves.’' Backstage at the Majestic Theatre last evening, Mrs Corti* said that her husband was always outwardly calm before a performance—-‘but with m* it is different, as with many wives of great men.” Mrs Cortis leads an extremely busy life. She and her husband travel a great deal, and prefer to stay in flats in each place. Mrs Cortis always does her own cooking and enjoys collecting new recipes io eaeh country. She praised New Zealand crayfish and salad*, and has added two new salads to her collection while here. Mr Cortis liked rich foods most, but always ate steak, which he did not like, before a performance, his wife said. •‘lt is very digestible and helps to give force to his voice,” she said. Mr and Mrs Cortis have been married tor 15 years.

Both Austrians, they have known each other since childhood, and attended the same schools. They have made their home in Milan, where Mrs Cortis does her own housekeeping and cooking. But much of their time is spent overseas. They have been all over Europe, and to Israel. Travelling has provided the Cortis's with their favourite hobby—photography. In Spain, Holland, Germany, France and other European countries, they made a series of colour slide* with accompanying tape recordings of national songs, and place descriptions which Mr Cortis recorded. One of the bathrooms in their Milan home has been converted into a darkroom Mr Corti* enters many of hi* pictures in major international photography competitions, and has given private exhibitions in Europe. Record collecting is another hobby shared by Mr and Mrs Cortis—they have about 800. Whole operas are included, classic works (favourite composers are Brahms. Bach, and Mozart), and recordings of operas in which

Mr Cortis has sung. Mrs Cortis does not sing. A mezzo-soprano. she took training before her marriage, but gave it up at her husband's wish. She also played the piano, but says that the now “plays the dishes” instead. Mr and Mrs Cortis will leave New Zealand on Saturday afternoon for Milan. They will be in Turin on Monday in time for rehearsals on Tuesday morning. They hope to be bank in New Zealand in 1063. “We have loved New Zealand so much that we would like to live here.” Mrs Cortis said last evening.