Beverly Bower- 1925-2002

North Olean History - Beverly Bower
BEVERLY BOWER
Beverly Bowser was born in 1925 at Olean, the daughter of Archie and Esther Bowser. She was a noted lyric soprano of the New York City Opera, Metropolitan Opera and of international fame. Her first public appearance was at the age of three when she sang her first solo at the First Presbyterian Church of Olean. She started piano and voice lessons at the age of seven with Henry Hill of Olean. At the age of fifteen she won a scholarship to the Chautauqua Institute and at the age of seventeen left home to study voice privately for sixteen years with Clarence Reinhart at Philadelphia, Pa. Her education to prepare for her work included a study of languages at Pennsylvania University and courses in both drama and opera. Beverly enjoyed her opera performances best since she like acting as well as singing.

The famous Metropolitan star, Helen Jepson, gave Beverly her advance training and when Miss Jepson retired from the stage presented her with several of her costumes as well as her theatrical trunk.

Beverly was a devoutly religious person, who did not smoke or drink. She shared that she was deeply grateful that God had given her a voice that she was able to use in opera and for the opportunity to sing the finest music ever written. She also revealed that she always asked God to sing through her and let someone in the audience know that it was God singing through her and not her. She felt closer to God when she sang that at any other time and believed that she was an instrument of God. She also exclaimed that as you go on, the more you need the Lord and the more you pray for it to be right.

La Traviata by Giuseppe Veridi, sung in Italian, a breathtaking new production of the New York City Opera, with Julius Rudel directing was presented on October 29, 1963, in the Olean High School auditorium. Beverly Bower, the first lady of Olean was truly a prima donna when she starred in the opera She was stunningly attired in the opening act party scene at her Paris mansion in a black velvet gown dotted with rhinestones, featuring a low neckline gathered with a roseate bouquet. In the third act, she was radiant in a white taffeta gown gathered with white chiffon ribbons at the hem forming a scallop, accented with sparkling jewelry and tiara. Miss Bower sang and acted with authority as she moved with ease through the wide range of scale and emotions reflecting Violetta's early life of pleasure, her love affair with Alfredo and the gradually weakening induced by her terminal illness. As the final curtain closed on the death scene of the heroine, a jubilant opera star, Beverly Bower, stepped on stage to receive the resounding bravos and unanimous adulation of her home town.

Chester Klee, president of the Civic Music Association, presented red roses to Beverly and cheered, "It was the greatest thing that ever hit Olean."

Beverly's voice was better than ever when she appeared in Franz Leherï's imperishable "The Merry Widow" at the Olean High School auditorium on December 10, 1964. This would be a sort of hometown overture to her debut at New York's Metropolitan House in February.
Beverly, stunning attired in a white and gold laminated sweeping evening gown when she won over the heart of Prince Danilo, received the applause of her fellow performer of the New York City Opera company as she was presented a bouquet of red roses. She graciously presented half of the bouquet to Patricia Welting, who played the second female lead, Natalie.

Over 1300 fans from Olean showed their devotion with a thundering chorus of applause from the moment the curtain parted and during a series of curtain calls. Beverly's curtain call curtsies ended her eight-year career as the leading soloist with the New York Opera. In February she would sing on stage of New York's Metropolitan Opera House, making her debut in Die Walkure.

On a Saturday night, October 23, 1965, Beverly was the second leading soloist with the New York Opera Company when she sang the part of Musetta, a Parisian flirt of the 1830's. As Musetta, Miss Bower sang major parts in three acts of "La Boheme's" four acts. This was her first major role performance in the Metropolitan Opera House. Miss Bower said, "It was just like Christmas," as she described the many flowers, telegrams and telephone calls she had received.

Rudolph Bing selected Ms. Bower to sing the first acoustical test performance of "La Fanciulla Del West" in the new Metropolitan Opera House in the Lincoln Center in April of 1966.

Due to ill health, Beverly retired from her professional life in the early 1970s. After joining the board of the New Jersey Pro Arte Chorale, she continued to sing at local concerts and became a voice teacher.

On March 24, 2002, Beverly Bowser died of cancer at her home in Washington Twp, N.J. She was survived by her husband John C. Kaufmann and a son Mark D. Kaufmann.

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By: Eileen McCartan Smith, Olean, NY All rights reserved.

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