Biography Charles S. von Stade

1 biography

1.1 personal life
1.2 polo
1.3 military service
1.4 elegies

biography
personal life

charles steele von stade born in westbrook (westville), kwazulu natal, south africa on november 24, 1919 francis skiddy von stade, sr. (1884–1967) , kathryn nevitt steele (1896–1981). raised in saratoga springs, new york, , trained architect. married sara worthington clucas (1918–1983) in gladstone, new jersey on january 24, 1942.

polo

in 1941, john h. h. phipps, michael grace phipps , alan l. corey, jr., won u.s. open polo championship @ meadow brook polo club against westbury team (gerald dempsey, earle hopping, stewart iglehart , windsor holden white).

military service

von stade enlisted in united states army in march 1942, achieving rank of first lieutenant. while fighting liberate europe nazi regime in second world war, killed in action in germany on april 10, 1945 when jeep ran on land mine. buried @ netherlands american cemetery , memorial in eijsden-margraten, netherlands.

elegies

during time in service, charles von stade wrote several heart-felt letters wife, pregnant child. daughter, frederica von stade, born after killed in world war ii, , grew become internationally renowned opera singer. had long wished turn of letters father song cycle. of words , expressions fashioned poems kim vaeth , in 1997, richard danielpour completed composition of music. resulting work, entitled elegies, cycle of songs mezzo-soprano, baritone, , chamber orchestra, performed @ carnegie hall. according classics today, 5 songs form sort of conversation across gulf of time between father , daughter. text alludes separation, longing each other, , eventual reconciliation on spiritual plane.

elegies has been recorded sony masterworks, frederica von stade, thomas hampson, , london philharmonic orchestra , perspectives ensemble conducted roger nierenberg.