Fri, 31 July 2009
I take great pleasure in presenting a podcast, the first of several, in which I specifically choose material to assist the young students in Dolora Zajick's program with their repertory, allowing them to sample some of the great artists of the past and present, and offering examples chosen from their requests. Mario del Monaco, Franco Corelli, Carlo Bergonzi, Jon Vickers, James King, Rene Kollo, Jonas Kaufmann, Wolfgang Windgassen, Peter Schreier, Lauritz Melchior, Set Svanholm, Stephen Gould, and Jose Carreras. (66 min.)
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Sat, 25 July 2009
As a special tribute to the great Mario Del Monaco, born on July 27, 1915, I present highlights from a La Scala 1954 Otello, conducted by Antonino Votto, and featuring the great Renata Tebaldi and Leonard Warren. |
Fri, 24 July 2009
Highights from the 10 Wagner operas featured in a new Decca 33 cd set (only 65.00 on Amazon). These are live performances from Bayreuth, and feature some of the greatest Wagnerian artists.The highlights are as follows: Die Meistersinger Hannelore Bode, Karl Ridderbusch Best way to get this is to use this link!!!!!! |
Wed, 22 July 2009
Several years I was delighted to hear Argentinian soprano Fabiana Bravo as Giorgetta in "Il Tabarro" and at a concert as well.I found her voice what we call "old style," with mixed chest voice and quite a depth of emotion. I present three excerpts from her new CD and hope you enjoy her. The selections are from Verdi's "Il Corsaro," Giordano's "Andrea Chenier," and Puccini's "Edgar." The album is on the KLEOS Classics label,Number KL5149 and you might search on Helicon Records Site. (I get NO commission!!!!) |
Wed, 22 July 2009
We honor the 96th birthday of the legendary Licia Albanese (born on July 22, 1913) by featuring highlights from two of her greatest performances: Mme.Butterfly 1941 w. Armen Tokatyan, John Brownlee, and Lucille Browning. Manon 1951 with Giuseppe Di Stefano All our best to this great lady!!!!!!!!! (66 min.) |
Wed, 15 July 2009
I know that Signore Riccardo Muti (senza acuti**) would be scandalized at the kind of singing this Trovatore features. However, this is the kind of exciting singing that makes one's hair (if he has any) stand on end. (** without high notes) |
Tue, 14 July 2009
As a special birthday tribute to the great Nicolai Gedda, who turned 84 on July 11, 2009, we present him and Joan Sutherland in highlights from 1963 live performances of La Sonnambula and I Puritani. The singing is truly amazing, and I know you will be thrilled! (65 min.) |
Mon, 13 July 2009
On July 13, 2009, we celebrate the 85th birthday of Carlo Bergonzi, one of the greatest singers in opera history. His singing serves as a true "vocal lesson" for singers, and we have been blessed by his presence on opera and concert stages for over 50 years. This podcast, the second in his honor, features songs by Verdi, Caccini, De Curtis, Schubert, and Donizetti plus arias from Martha, La Boheme, Il Trovatore, Tosca, La Forza del Destino, L'Arlesiana, Mefistofele, and I Lombardi. (71 min.) |
Fri, 10 July 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjvjU4QmVK0
Go to the above link to watch and listen to Stephen Costello, one of opera's finest young artists, as Romeo. Stephen will be the recipient of this year's Richard Tucker award, and will be singing in the Tucker Gala in November. Those of us who have followed his career,including his Met Edgardo, will attest to the fact that he is one of the brightest lights on the opera scene. ENJOY!!!!! Charlie
Category:general
-- posted at: 11:00am EDT
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Thu, 9 July 2009
These photos are too big to place here...Go to this site and you will get a feeling for what I saw in the old Met...especially those gorgeous Zinka photos from her last performances......Nothing will replace these treasured memories... http://images.google.com/images?sa=4&imgc=&imgsz=&q=color+opera+source%3Alife
Category:general
-- posted at: 1:53am EDT
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Mon, 6 July 2009
From a poster on RMO: Sorry to report that Ms DiDonato slipped over on the raked stage last Elsewhere in the cast, JDF turned in another stunning display of It was a fantastic evening - really funny and the musical standards were THEY ARE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So many singers are up there sick or injured, and we never know...That is the miracle of these great artists and what they do for us!!!! GO HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 10:20pm EDT
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Sun, 5 July 2009
One of the most sumptuous voices in my opera experience has been that of mezzo Olga Borodina. Here is a podcast that features some of her magnificent recordings: Songs by Borodin and Tchaikowsky |