DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987 | 1985-02-08 ""Roses for Iowa's own Estes"" Page 1

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Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987

1985-02-08 ""Roses for Iowa's own Estes"" Page 1

Roses for Iowa's own Estes
 New York- In New York, its a matter of who you know, If you want  job, an apartment or...a ticket to an opera. I wanted to hear Simon Estes sing the title role in the Metropolitan Opera debut of Gershawin's "Porgy and Bess" Wednesday. But I couldn't beg, borrow or steal a ticket. And i tried all three. When I called the Metropolitan press, chief, I explained that I wanted to do an article for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. There was no welcoming recognition - even when I explained that were were from Simon Estes' home stat and that our people raised the first money that sent Estes to New York. 

Then I phoned Estes' vocal coach, Charles Kellis, with an impassioned plea for assistance. But he, too, was unable to help. Estes had already allotted his tickets for the performance.

As scalpers were charging $100 and over per ticket, and wealthy patrons were paying $150, defeat was imminent.

So I did the next best thing. i called a floral designer. I had met three years ago and offered my services as a dishwasher. He found that so amusing that I became the assistant to the assistant to the assistant said the florist, who was designing the arrangements for the opera's premier party.

While my fellow Iowan starred the Met production-- performing on crutches because he had his knee the day before opening-- I spent the evening schlepping flowers from the sixth floor tot he Grand Tier restaurant, dodging speeding waiters, guarding arrangements from over-zealous patrons, garnishing tulle center-pieces with batteries and listening to tuxedoed commandos greet me with 'Move it, sweetheart."

But between duties, i sneaked into the auditorium to hear a few notes of the 50-year-old American opera, written by a Jewish man who once lived in Harlem. It tells of black life on Catfish Row in Charleston.

It was a proud moment for any listener, and i felt the special tug of joy which I knew anyone who had contributed to the career of Simon Estes must share. 

Many years ago, a young black man from Centerville had audi-

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Roses for Iowa's own Estes New York- In New York, its a matter of who you know, If you want job, an apartment or...a ticket to an opera. I wanted to hear Simon Estes sing the title role in the Metropolitan Opera debut of Gershawin's "Porgy and Bess" Wednesday. But I couldn't beg, borrow or steal a ticket. And i tried all three. When I called the Metropolitan press, chief, I explained that I wanted to do an article for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. There was no welcoming recognition - even when I explained that were were from Simon Estes' home stat and that our people raised the first money that sent Estes to New York. Then I phoned Estes' vocal coach, Charles Kellis, with an impassioned plea for assistance. But he, too, was unable to help. Estes had already allotted his tickets for the performance. As scalpers were charging $100 and over per ticket, and wealthy patrons were paying $150, defeat was imminent. So I did the next best thing. i called a floral designer. I had met three years ago and offered my services as a dishwasher. He found that so amusing that I became the assistant to the assistant to the assistant said the florist, who was designing the arrangements for the opera's premier party. While my fellow Iowan starred the Met production-- performing on crutches because he had his knee the day before opening-- I spent the evening schlepping flowers from the sixth floor tot he Grand Tier restaurant, dodging speeding waiters, guarding arrangements from over-zealous patrons, garnishing tulle center-pieces with batteries and listening to tuxedoed commandos greet me with 'Move it, sweetheart." But between duties, i sneaked into the auditorium to hear a few notes of the 50-year-old American opera, written by a Jewish man who once lived in Harlem. It tells of black life on Catfish Row in Charleston. It was a proud moment for any listener, and i felt the special tug of joy which I knew anyone who had contributed to the career of Simon Estes must share. Many years ago, a young black man from Centerville had audi-