Nedda Casei is seen in a number of the photos in the #herbflatowcollection. Here she demonstrates the Swan on the Reformer (link to purchase photos and posters for the benefit of the PTP. is in our bio.)
“Who was Nedda Casei? In addition to a career in the 1960s and 70s with the Metropolitan Opera she later served on the board of the American Guild of Musical Artists, the union representing opera singers and other theater performers. In 1982, she became the union’s first female president. (Source: New York Times obituary, 2/15/2020)
Photos from the Herb Flatow Collection are ©Mary Kelly for the exclusive use of the Pilates Transparency Project, a fundraiser to cover legal expenses in the ongoing copyright lawsuit in U.S. District Court, SDNY.
This quote said everything to me.
“I lived for my singing. I married very late – almost forty. I realized it was a good idea not to marry young because you need to share – and being an opera singer you need to be selfish. ‘What’s good for me? What’s good for my voice? What’s good for my health?’ After performances I was tired. I really tried to avoid receptions, most of the time. Its not like you just had a performance and then you rest for a month. You have other rehearsals, other performances, things keep going.
You’re basically earning a living, and to go and be social – the talking, being charming – is wearing. You know, its not like life stops and you can go and enjoy it. You have lessons, coaching, preparations, performances.”
Source: https://www.classicalvoice.org/people/2009/10/21/interview-with-american-mezzo-soprano-nedda-casei
And clearly Pilates was in the mix, as evidenced by these photographs, as part of her regimen and preparation. I love the onstage “swan” extension after her performance of “Carmen.”
Mary tells me it’s also Nedda doing “Back Rowing” in the image below.
I wanted this image, in particular, as it featured four women in the studio, and at the time, only Clara (dressed in ‘nurse whites’) was recognizable to me. Now I know that it is Nedda, on the same Reformer, also wearing white.
You can see Clara placing the towel down for her student ( off frame ) in the “Swan” image. The poster size image of that shot is going to be perfect in my studio.
I am thinking of placing it either near the Reformers or behind the Ladder Barrel, where I personally prefer to do Swan. 😉
