It’s not every day one has the opportunity to be in the presence of a film legend like the Academy Award winning Celeste Holm. However, that's exactly what happened last evening for a lucky few hundred fans, when the she held court at an Indianapolis Opera benfit in partnership with Heartland Truly Moving Pictures, at the Frank & Katrina Basile Opera Center.
Winner of the 1947 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Gentlemen's Agreement, Holm was also nominated for an Oscar for her roles in Come To The Stable (1949) and All About Eve (1950). Besides her work in films, Holm was also a prolific television and stage actress.
In a program featuring a video montage of her films, television and stage appearances, as well the presentation of a Career Achievement Award to Holm by Jeff Sparks, Heartland President & CEO, Holms was joined by her husband Frank Basile. An opera singer who received his degree from Indiana University School of Music, Basile and Holm reside in New York City.
Upon discovering that opera singer Frank Basile and he share the same name, Indianapolis philanthropist, Basile (for whom the Opera Center is named for him and his wife) reached out to him. Eventually the two men became friends. It was at his request that the NY Basile and Holm agreed to appear here on behalf of the Indianapolis Opera.
Opening the program with "Back Home In Indiana," bass-baritone Basile, accompanied by David Lewis on piano, sang selections from operas and several Italian art songs. Later during the video tribute to Holms, he sang a medley of songs associated with her career. They included "Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’," "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top," and "People Will Say We’re in Love,---all from Oklahoma! (in which Holm played Ado Annie in 1943).
With a powerful voice, both rich and warm, Basile demonstrated a skilled versatility as he switched from opera to show tunes with relative ease.
Basile also sang "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," which Holm sang with Frank Sinatra in the 1956 movie, High Society, and "Impossible," from the 1965 TV special, Cinderella in which she played the Fairy Godmother.
Also performing were members of the Indianapolis Opera Ensemble---Thomas Gunther, Daniel Anderson, Kristin Gornstein, and Jacqueline Brecheen, who sang excerpts from operas, such as “The Barber of Seville.”
For the concert's finale, the still vital 93-year, Holm, was escorted onto the stage where she and Basile sang a poignant duet of "Getting To Know You," (from The King and I). Near the conclusion of the song, Basile encouraged audience members to join in. Singing along, their joyful sounds filled the Center's auditorium. It was a fitting tribute to a legenday star who had obviously touched them with her greatness.
For information about the next Indianapolis Opera attraction, La Tragedie De Carmen, Friday, March 11-Sunday, March 20, 2011, call 317.283.3470 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 317.283.3470 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or go online to www.indyopera.org.
