THE JEWISH NEWS - 43
Friday, December 12, 1952
Roberta Peters' Cinderella Story:
From Obscurity to Met and Hollywood
By LEON GUTTERMAN
Jessel considered for the role of
the young American concert
singer in 20th Century-Fox's
Technicolor musical, "Tonight
We Sing."
The musical revolves around
the career of famed Jewish im-
presario Sol Hurok and the art-
ists he sponsors, and it was
Hurok who, on tenor Jan
Peerce's recommendation, took
Roberta to Metropolitan Opera
Manager Rudolph Bing, who
signed her for America's top
operatic company. It was in-
evitable that Hurok's latest pro-
tege should appear in the film.
What makes her first movie
role more perfect for the youth-
ful singer is that • her warbling
in the picture is done with her
professional mentor, Jan Peerce.
Hollwood and motion picture*
But the petite and pretty
coloratura soprano, who found
fame and fortune on the night
she substituted for Nadine Con-
nor in the role of "Zerlina" in
"Don Giovanni'' at the Met, was
Copyright, 1952, Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Inc.
Roberta Peters, the Jewish
singing Cinderella who became
an overnight sensation at the
Metropolitan Opera in 1950, says
she never dreamed she'd land in
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A Happy Hanukah to
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:
Roberta was born in New
York City on May. 4, 1930, the
daughter of a Bronx shoe
salesman Sol Peterman, and a
hat designer, Ruth Hirsch
Peterman. She was 10 when
a schoolmate asked Roberta to
accompany her to her music
.lesson. Roberta burst into
song along with her friend,
and the teacher, Harry Pa-
rada, promptly recognized her
gift, asked permission of her
parents to teach the child.
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She was rushed for a ses-
sion on staging, borrowed Na-
dine's dress, Patrice Munsel's
shoes, didn't even hear an or-
chestra rehearsal; instead was
rushed home to get ready.
When her taxi was stalled by
traffic on the way to the Met,
she got out and got to the
opera house by subway.
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Her ovation was spectacular
nd when the young singer
ame off stage she was besieged
y reporters and photographers'
i 1 ashlights "just like in the
i ovies." Roberta tried to stay up
see the music critics' reviews,
i ut fell asleep when she got
i ome that night. Her mother
ought the early editions of the
orning newspapers, turned to
e music pages, saw nothing,
i. nd greatly disappointed, closed
e papers .. . only to find Ro-
rta's reviews on the front
a ges.
When Sol "Hurok learned Jes-
1 was going to produce his
t ory, he asked Roberta if she
ould be interested in appear-
n g in it, and arranged for her
o d o a screen test in New York.
e did the test and was
pr omptly signed for the role.
Although Roberta's family
h a ye always been in moderate
c •cumstances, the girl with the
n-up face and figure claims
e has never had any real
Tuggle except with her own
co nscience. Many more times
th an she cares to remember, she
wa lked around Central Park
cry ing because she felt that, as
ha rd as she was studying, she
wa sn't living up to the faith
ev eryone else had in her voice
an d in its future success.
l?]
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Two years later, fascinated
with her studies, Roberta con-
fided her ambition to Jan
Peerce, a friend of the family,
who listened to her sing then
sent her to coach William Her-
man, to whom she credits her
entire training, vocally, artisti-
cally and technically.
At 16, Roberta had offers
from Broadway shows at $1,000
a week. It took considerable
thought and meant a great fi-
nancial sacrifice for the Peters
f amily, but they turned the
0 ffers down.
When Roberta was 19, Peerce
heard her sing again, and was
o impressed that he arranged
or Roberta . to audition for
Hurok.
On Jan. 25, 1950, Hurok ar-
r anged for Roberta's first audi-
tion with Metropolitan Opera
Manager, Rudolf Bing. It was
h er first time on any stage, and
t urned out to be a legend-
making audition. She signed
er actual contract with the Met
a few months later.
Then came Nov. 17, 1950, the
m ost confused and exciting day
0 f her career. Nadine Conner
w as ill. Would Roberta be ready
o sing the role that night? Al-
hough she knew 22 operas in-
luding "Giovanni," Roberta
h ad never rehearsed the opera,
erely watched others rehearse
it
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