A visiting padre brought out star quality
in village couple during their 1998 golden
anniversary year, with wish they might return
for an encore on diamond jubilee in 2023
INTRODUCTION BY ANN HAUPRICH
Although my nine siblings and I had been treated to scores of impromptu parental duets in our homestead over the decades, it wasn’t until Mom and Dad took center stage in gala attire at “An Evening with Cole Porter” that we came to fully appreciate the musical endowments about which they’d always been so humble.
The sun will surely rise, welcoming the dawn of a new day . . . and then set, so stars may sparkle like diamonds in the night sky . . . on March 27, 2023.
And on that day and night, I fully expect I will reflect upon cherished memories of 25 years ago when my now late parents celebrated the 50th anniversary of their March 27, 1948 wedding.
But mostly my thoughts will fast forward to a later occasion in 1998 when Audrey and Donald G. Hauprich, whose two hearts began beating as one while singing in an Albany Light Opera Company production in 1946, blended their voices in romantic duets as part of a cabaret-style production in the auditorium at St. Mary’s School in Ballston Spa.
Although my nine siblings and I had been treated to scores of impromptu parental duets in our homestead over the decades, it wasn’t until Mom and Dad took center stage in gala attire at “An Evening with Cole Porter” that we came to fully appreciate the musical endowments about which they’d always been so humble.
Credit for shining the spotlight on their talents – as well as the performing arts abilities of other members of the parish family who participated in the event — goes to the Rev. David Shaum. The silver-haired padre — whose vocational credits included having distinguished himself as a music professor at Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland — had been filling in with some Masses at the Ballston Spa church that summer when he was inspired to produce the show.
As the accompanying video segments recorded by youngest Hauprich daughter Mary clearly attest, the visiting priest brought out the star quality in our then 73-year-old Mom and 74-year-old Dad, who until then were best known to parishioners as a pair of mild-mannered members of the large church choir. Public displays of affection were decidedly NOT in their repertoire!
While recently watching these precious clips during which our parents enchanted the audience with tender renditions of True Love as well as Night and Day, I was struck by something sweet Father Shaum had said with trademark theatrical flair as he invited the audience to join him in singing Happy Anniversary to them. The charismatic cleric had expressed a wish that the golden couple (whose matrimonial union epitomized True Love. Not just on anniversaries. But rather true love day and night, night and day) might return to sing together again on the occasion of their diamond wedding anniversary on March 27, 2023.
Ladies and Gentleman, without further ado, my sister Mary and I give you encore duets of a pair of Cole Porter’s most beloved compositions as only Audrey and Donald G. Hauprich could put heart and soul into performing them for Past, Present and Future generations!
ADDENDUM
Although my dear old Dad, who passed away in August 2021, was still singing and telling stories until a week before his Earthly exit, the time between then and my Mom’s heavenly reunion with her True Love in December 2022, had included sorrowful notes linked to her advanced Parkinson’s disease. The degenerative condition had rendered Mom (by then also blind) a prisoner in her own body who struggled in her final months to speak but a few words. Often to utter just a few syllables. Singing was impossible. Thus I rejoiced upon discovering that Mary’s 1998 video collection also preserved a recording of our Mom performing Cole Porter’s rather flirtatious C’est Magnifique. Our normally demure and modestly dressed retired school teacher mother had been directed to conclude her solo performance by wrapping a long silky scarf around the neck of an adult male in the audience. Ever a Class Act, Mom chose grandson Michael G. Irish, Jr. –then one of the youngest members of the prestigious Circle Theatre ensemble in Averill Park –as the lucky recipient. We hope you’ll agree her rousing rendition of C’est Magnifique was also tres magnifique!
Kindly use the links below to read other features about Donald and Audrey Hauprich that were also written by their daughter Ann.
Two hearts began beating as one during Albany Light Opera rehearsals in 1946
Schooling at Mother’s knee: Lessons in life from A to Z!