European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 11, 1978, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 20 the stars and stripes monday september 11, 1978 Simon Estes left performs in his Lead role at Beyrouth. Dennis Davies right conducts dutchman. American by Franz Treiber Simon Estes first Black Bass baritone in the history of the 102-year-old Richard Wagner Festi Val at Bayreuth to sing the coveted role of the flying dutchman did t even know 15 year Sago that Bayreuth and its festival existed. But 1963 was the turning Point for the Iowa City native who dropped his other studies in Medicine theology and psychology to dedicate himself exclusively to sing ing. After preparing himself with courses at the Julliard school of music in new York he came to Europe to try his Luck and in 1966 in Moscow won the Tchaikovsky International music Competition. That Triumph was followed by invitations to sing in the Johnson White House at the opening of the Lincoln enter in Washington and As a featured soloist with major orchestras and opera companies in the unite states. He returned to Europe where he picked up critical accolades at several important opera houses including Berlin Hamburg la Scala and Zurich. Wolfgang Wagner grandson of the composer and artistic director of the festival after a special Audi Tion invited Estes to open this year s festival. Wagner has called Estes the greatest voice since George London. As the first Black american Singer to appear in that Sanctuary of wagnerian music Estes expressed a sense of great responsibility to be Able to represent America i Bayreuth. I Felt a great Honor to be invited for americans in Gen eral he said. Not just Blacks but Whites also. It is very Good that people can see negroes in All different professions in life especially in music that we Don t have losing just jazz and  Estes is a warm person who openly expresses a deep Faith in these cynical times. I am grateful to god for the gift i have with my voice he said adding that he believes a real artist has to have religious values in life. Estes with a unique Range and Mastery of 80 different roles of the Bass and Bass baritone repertoire followed his Bayreuth Triumph with his debut at the Vienna state opera sept. 8 As the flying dutchman and two Days Lateran the deep Bass role of Carastro in Mozart s magic flute. During the coming season he expects to sing in Man opera houses in Germany. He said in Bayreuth his Only firm Date after Vienna is on Jan. 1 in Saar Blicken As thebans soloist in Beethoven s ninth symphony. Estes shared ovations at Bayreuth with 34-year-old conductor Dennis Russell Davies of Toledo Ohio who toured Europe during the last season As musical director the St. Paul minn., chamber orchestra. He says it is the Only professional chamber orchestra Active in the states. An invitation to conduct Debussy s pellets and Meli Sande in Amsterdam became a Milestone in his career together with a later guest appearance in the Wurtem Berg state opera in Stuttgart it brought the invitation to conduct the flying dutchman at this year s Wagner festival. Davies whose elegant precision in bringing Wagner s score to life with a fresh new sound won Universal acclaim in Bayreuth is Only the second american born con Ductor to Lead production there. The first was the late Thomas Schippers who conducted die meistersinger in1963. In spite of claiming to consider himself a musician More than an operatic conductor Davies could t turn Down an offer to become the musical director of the Wurt Temberg state opera a Job hell Start next autumn. Three american women also contributed substantially to the Success of this year s festival. Gwendolyn Kille brew Philadelphia born Mezz Soprano endeared herself with the sophisticated audience As the first Black Singer in the role of one of the valkyries. Californian Carol Rich Ardson and Norma Sharp of Oklahoma appeared in Vari Ous minor roles. The annual festival which ran july 25 through aug. 28, presented the Complete ring of the Nib Lungen the flying dutchman parsifal and Tannhauser in 30 performances. By Erma Bombeck at wars end i have a Little piece of costume jewelry i Wear fro time to time. It s a Little Button that reads if Man s Home is his Castle. Let him clean  i did t flaunt that Little message Back in the Days when i was a full time serf and Mother. Face it i had whole Days to devote to dust and Static electricity on socks but As time went on things in the Castle began to  became a three time a week court Jester for a news paper Syndicate took on a few More responsible things in the Community and the appearance of three children took a bite out of my Long lunch hours. Most men recognize the need to share some of the domesticity. Others refuse to believe that housework is an equal Opportunity employer. With the opening of school at hand when everything gets crazy i be made out a manual for husbands who might like to pitch in How to operate children push alarm Button on the clock the night before to manual. Set three inches from child s ear. It will activate child at 7 00 who will rus around the House like an out of control Garden Hose. To keep child in running order fill with food six times Aday and have regular checkups. You. T. Not the Chil Dren mathematical formula for getting five people around the table at the same time for dinner As soon As one meal is finished Start to thaw for the next one. Gauge 1 to 2 pounds of meat per person one potato and two vegetables subtracting one potato for dieters adding an extra portion of meat for football hopefuls and trying to Antici Pate who ate soft pretzels on the Way Home from school and who had a birthday at the office. Use six o clock As fail Safe time for which there is no return being careful to calculate interstate traffic on exit 16, overtime ride Home from Friend s House and late practice. Know your laundry clothes in the dirty clothes hamper Are not dirty Only discarded. Clothes on the floor have not been discarded but Are Only dirty. Clothes on the bed Are not dirty and not discarded Only i limbo. Clothes that Are being worn Are definitely dirty. Join something it May not help you with your frustrations your anxieties your loneliness your boredom nor will it clean your oven. But they give you Little buttons to Wear that make you laugh once in a while. C 1978 Field enterprises inc