Scanning the "hatched, matched and despatched" columns (as is my wont), I came across the name Michael Aspinall above], which I was sure I knew from somewhere. His meagre three-paragraph Wikipedia bio was hardly illuminating, either [musicologist, teacher, scholar, all very dry] - until I spotted a citation...
...from (the sadly now no longer updated) oracle Queer Music Heritage, and the penny dropped.
He was indeed everything that Wikipedia said he was - and such an expert in operatic musical styles that even Montserrat Caballe sought his guidance on finessing the bel canto mezzo roles for which she became known - but it was as a performer, imitating and sending-up the divas of opera, dressed in drag, that Mr Aspinall became famous!
As "The Surprising Soprano", he carved an international career as an opera parodist, using his falsetto range to delight audiences with his impressions. As the LA Times said of him: "It is a brave voice, however, a voice that dares awaken the ghosts of Adelina Patti, Pauline Viardot Garcia, Maria Malibran, Jenny Lind, Amelita Galli-Curci, Fritzi Scheff, Conchita Supervia, Maria Callas and Luisa Tetrazzini.", even if, as its critic continues, "Unfortunately, Aspinall often conjures up unintended images: ...Florence Foster Jenkins, Beatrice Lillie... Mae West..." Regardless, even Dame Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge were fans.
And thus, the reason for knowing his name became clear - we (of course) have his album [as pictured above] in our collection here at Dolores Delargo Towers!
So, for your delectation...
RIP, Michael Aspinall (31st October 1939 – 10th July 2026)
Fabulon is getting filled up !
ReplyDeleteBy the time we get there, there will be no room left !
Aspinall was like the divas of Italian films of the silent era.
Lyda Borelli comes to mind with her over dramatic acting style that became known in Italy as Borellissimo, in the UK you have Aspinallissimo :)
-Rj
Funny you should mention Italy - Mr Aspinall lived there for many decades until his departure for Fabulon [where there are indeed far more camp gay icons these days than are in the "real" world]. Apparently, his "drag" persona began as a "side act" to the great Paulo Poli! Jx
DeleteYes , I remember him. But it was quite a scare a few minutes ago when seeing this without my glasses...I thought I'd read "Michael Aspel" Whew...
ReplyDeleteBut I do remember ASPINALL, too.
Michael Aspel is indeed still with us, at the venerable age of 93.
DeleteI'm pleased to note that you remember Mr Aspinall. He was hardly a household name in quite the same way... Faboo, though! Jx
Oh yes! Back then, if you were a "drag artist" you really couldn't get far unless you had a comic line and/or could sing.
DeleteUntil the rise of RuPaul's bloody Drag Race, and all that American-style lip-synching and ultra-femme makeovers, it was still the way drag "worked" in the UK - either sing or be funny, and preferably both, or else you're just a transvestite... Jx
DeleteThe vast archive and collections here at Delargo Towers never ceases to amaze me.
ReplyDeleteI didn't remember that we had this. We will have to the Delargo Institute to update the catalogue.
It's one hell of an archive, and we really need to revisit some of its dustier shelves... Jx
DeleteAspinall is a famous name though, isn't it? Animal charity. For some reason it makes me think of cut glass.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I remember the Fairies at the Bottom of the Garden, though - sort of thing my mum would have enjoyed.
Sx
It's one of those old Music Hall-style songs that was very popular in the early-mid 20th century - there are versions by Bea Lillie and Dame Julie Andrews on YouTube! Jx
DeletePS Aspinall Glass has a ring to it. Boom! Tish!