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The Peters Principle

Opera diva Roberta Peters returns
to Detroit to headline this year's
Balfour Concert.

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oprano Roberta Peters had
an easy time planning her
program for the 63rd an-
nual Balfour Concert.
That's because she knows Detroit
and Detroiters.
Operatic arias, Viennese
waltzes, Italian songs and Irving
Berlin show tunes will ring
through the recently renovated
Detroit Opera House when she
takes the stage Tuesday evening,
Nov. 5, for the Zionist Organiza-
tion of America, Metropolitan De-
troit District.
`Tye sung in Detroit
many times with the
Metropolitan Opera,"
Peters recalled.
"I've sung for the
Michigan Opera The-
atre, and I've done
recitals in the area,
one at Congregation
Shaarey Zedek. I feel
a warm spot in my
heart for Michigan.
Peters' local engage-
ment is one of 35 she
accepts throughout the
year in a busy perfor-
mance schedule main-
tained since she
debuted with the Met-
ropolitan Opera at age
19, when she played
Zerlina in Don Gio-

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1996

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in our
Classified
Section

Roberta

Going on to star with Peters: A
internationally ac- down-to-
claimed opera compa- earth diva.
nies, major symphonies
and musical comedy organiza-
tions from Europe to the Far
East, Peters has been featured in
television, films and recordings.
Debut at the Met, her memoir,
gives the details of her career.
"Opera is always my first love
because it's where I began, but I
love recitals and singing with sym-
phonies," said Peters, 65. "Opera
singers have the connotation of be-
ing divas, and although I am a
diva, I feel I'm very down-to-earth
and haven't forgotten my roots."
Those roots keep her very ac-
tive in Jewish causes both in the
United States and Israel, a com-
mitment that carries over into
her performances.
"I haven't yet performed at the
Clinton White House, but I have
sung for every other president
since John Kennedy," she remi-
nisced.
"The Reagans asked me to en-
tertain for Chaim Herzog, who

then was president of Israel.
When I gave the social secretary
a list of what I had planned for
the program, I asked to sing a
Jewish song because the event
was for the Israeli president.
"After I was told ethnic songs
really are not done, I was very up-
set but said nothing. I did my reg-
ular program, and as an encore,
I did my favorite Jewish song,
"Roshinkes Mit Mandlen"
("Raisins and Almonds"), a beau-
tiful lullaby sung to a baby about
what life will be like when he

grows up. It was greatly appre-
ciated."
Managing family, career and
community service, Peters was
a woman of the '90s long before
the '90s began.
"One of the reasons I believe
I was so successful at doing all of
this was because I've had a very
understanding and supportive
husband (Bertram Fields, a real
estate and hotel executive)," said
Peters.
Last year, the classical enter-
tainer was in the film City Hall
with Al Pacino, and she's negoti-
ating to do another movie.
"I've been sent some material
on the Detroit Opera House,
and I'm very excited about per-
forming there,' " said Peters. The
news has traveled on how good
the acoustics are."

Roberta Peters will enter-
tain for the Balfour Concert,
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, at
the Detroit Opera House, 1526
Broadway.For information,
call (810) 569-1515.