Her debut season was not very good. I was there...but you do find the greatness in the woman.She returned in 1958 and was much better...but the great years were 1949-1955. Still, this is a great document.

Category:general -- posted at: 7:18pm EDT

Great man..Jon Vickers, born Oct. 29, 1926...You told them that "Tristan" is not "DRISTAN"  (a cough formula.)

Category:general -- posted at: 1:24pm EDT

LOVE the ascending decoration at the end of the duet, but Frizza does not allow Meade and Barton to hold the B flat...but glorious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 10:51pm EDT

MY NEW LOVE !!  As Adalgisa in Norma last night, she showed that she will be a great star in the near future..Magnificent,rich voice with brilliant tops (easy C's) and lush lows. This is someone who will shortly "take over' the mezzo fach in the opera world!!!!  (and a sweet person)

Category:general -- posted at: 4:31pm EDT

I understand you are tired of my Marisa Galvany posts,.....SO WHAT!!!!!!!! Let's face it..This is an example of sensational singing..fearless...and the chest NEVER hurt her voice......but today this would be called "vulgar." She  says she still can get up to a D!!! She is currently giving some master classes in Raleigh,North Carolina. Maybe she can show the kiddies that chest does not hurt the voice if you know how to sing!!

 

Category:general -- posted at: 11:34am EDT

  All of us here in New York, and I am sure throughout the entire operatic world, feel that Joyce di Donato is one of the most extraordinary artists in our memory, an artist who would be considered magnificent in ANY opera era. It is not simply "una voce" (poco fa) but a special talent, a personality, a loving lady who can thrill us by virtue of her sincerity in all she accomplishes. I hope you enjoy this clip.

By the way,slight delay in podcasts, as i found a slight glitch. PIACENZA!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 9:03pm EDT

   We hear so much about Simionato, Cossotto, etc.BUT I place Verrett up there with the all-time greatest..maybe for me THE GREATEST!!!! That B natural at the beginning was as loud as any Nilsson note. It was a gorgeous,lush voice with phenomenal top and remarkable chest voice. Adored her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 7:17pm EDT

Dmitri knew him.What a fabulous voice..Born Oct.24, 1911. Lisitsian did one Met Amonasro...that is all..sad...

Category:general -- posted at: 12:07am EDT

GREAT MAN!!! Oct. 23, 1913. Not known for high notes but one of the most sensational artists EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 10:21pm EDT

VERY FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Bless her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 1:49am EDT

Walkure act one 1953

Walkure act one from 1953 with the young Birgit Nilsson and Set Svanholm. The conductor is Hans Schmidt Isserstadt  from Hamburg Radio.  (65 min.)

Direct download: Walkure_act_1_1953.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:53am EDT

  One of the great JOYS of my life is to have Virginia Zeani as a friend and honorary "sorella." She turns 88 on October 21, and is still active in her teaching career, and even can still hit E flats on the phone! NO ONE sings like this these days, and I know you will greatly appreciate her career and her contribution to the vocal art.

Category:general -- posted at: 9:35am EDT

  Dear tenor Henry Price celebrated his birthday on October 18. I wrote him that if he could survive that insane woman in the audience in1977 giving out such a scream, he could survive anything!!!

  We never found out what that was all about, but perhaps it was a rival soprano, as Ashley Putnam made her debut that evening.

   

Category:general -- posted at: 2:17am EDT

AMORE!!!

The superb tenor, Joseph Calleja, sings two selections from his newest album, "Amore." I know you will enjoy the selections which are "You raise me up" and "Musica Proibita."

Direct download: Calleja_amore.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:47pm EDT

I loved the late Enrico di Giuseppe,born Oct.14,1938. He was so under-appreciated in my opinion. I once complimented him on his :high E flat" in Coq d'Or and he replied, "E NATURAL!" This finale of act one of the Saint of Bleeker Street with the wonderful Catherine Malfitano is superb!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 4:00pm EDT

   Who can forget this man??????????????

Category:general -- posted at: 12:04pm EDT

  Born October 12, 1935, the great Pavarotti brought so many people to opera. Yes, he became something of a "caricature' over the years, but who can deny his incredible contribution to opera..and that FABULOUS voice!

Category:general -- posted at: 11:43am EDT

Galliano Masini part 2

  Part Two of my tribute to one of my favorite tenors, Galliano Masini.(all selections announced.)

Direct download: Masini_Pt.2.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:33am EDT

Galliano Masini  Part One

Part one (I had to break this up) of a tribute to Galliano Masini, 1896-1986. A wonderful tenor!!!!!

Direct download: Masini_pt.one.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:28am EDT

  Would Verdi think Galvany should calm down???????????????

Category:general -- posted at: 3:41pm EDT

 I do not care where you are tomorrow. You VILL sing this, in key, and never mind Muti senza acuti..I do not care if you are in the shower, at work, in the car,In bed alone or with three people...you MUST honor the great Verdi on his 200th birthday. Look, I have heard many tenors who are worse than you!!!

 All'aaaaaaarmiiiiiiiiiiii!     Charlie

Category:general -- posted at: 12:17am EDT

Stephanie Blythe's New Pop Album

Not many opera stars can do "crossover," but the great Stephanie Blythe's new album entitled, "As Long as there are songs" shows us how a great opera star can sing pop music so beautifully, I include "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon" and "The Man that got away" and I know you will enjoy Mme.Blythe's remarkable endeavor.

Direct download: blythe_pop.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:47pm EDT

Happy Birthday to Leyla Gencer

The marvelous Turkish soprano, Leyla Gencer, was born on October 10, 1928. She was born on the same day as we celebrate the 200th birthday of Giuseppe Verdi. She sang 12 Verdi roles, so it is a convenient coincidence.

She sings arias from Werther, Le Nozze di Figaro, Idomeneo, La Wally, Assassino nel Catedrale (Pizzetti), Monte Ivnor (Rocca), Il Trovatore, Forza del Destino, La Traviata, Aida, and IDue Foscari.  (68 minutes)

Direct download: Gencer_2013_Birthday.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:27pm EDT

Oct.10, 1813 (Giuseppe Verdi) and Oct.10, 1928 (Leyla Gencer).How incredibly fitting for the great Leyla,who sang 12 Verdi roles, to be born on Verdi's birthday!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 4:22pm EDT

First time the great Jonas Kaufmann sang this role!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 3:23pm EDT

Chereau, who just passed away, was criticized for his "controversial" Ring. It was great....and I cry my eyes out every time at the way Jones and McIntyre embrace with that divine music!!!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 11:01pm EDT

Nabucco with Maria Callas

A blazing performance of Nabucco from Naples, 1949 under Vittorio Gui. The cast includes Maria Callas,in her vocal prime, Gino Bechi, Gino Sinimberghi (Ismaele),Luciano Neroni (Zaccaria), and Amalia Pini (Fenena)   72 minutes)

Direct download: Nabucco_Callas.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:48pm EDT

Imagine that you are a member of the Italian audience at the premiere of Verdi's Nabucco, and you are witness to history! The audience made them encore the chorus and it was the beginning of a fabulous career as an incredible genius, whose 200th birthday we celebrate on Oct,10.,

Category:general -- posted at: 11:17pm EDT

Verdi Discoveries

Celebrating the 200th year of Verdi's birth.(Oct.10, 1813), Riccardo Chailly leads the Orchestra Sinfonica of Milan in a series of rarely-heard Verdi orchestral music, including opera preludes later discarded.  VIVA IL MAESTRO!!!  (63 min.)

Direct download: Verdi_Discoveries.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:58pm EDT

It is "Goofy time."

Here is a "goofy"(pictured) podcast of all sorts of strange happenings (announced) that I think might be enjoyable for opera parties. Over the years,we have collected so many of these 'oddities," and I wish to share them with you.

Direct download: Shall_I_go_on-vol.8.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:44am EDT

Maria Stuarda with Leyla Gencer

Mamma mia!!!! This is a blazing performance of Donizetti's "Maria Stuarda" from Florence 1967 under Francesco Molinari-Pradelli. The cast includes Leyla Gencer, Shirley Verret, Franco Tagliavini,Agostini Ferrin (Giorgio), Giulio Fioravanti (Cecil), and Mafalda Masini (Anna.)   (69 min.)

Direct download: Stuarda_Gencer.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:48pm EDT

Poliuto from La Scala, 1960

 A seldom-heard but truly superb work, Donizetti's "Poliuto," from opening night La Scala, December 7, 1960 under Antonino Votto. The cast features Franco Corelli, Maria Callas, Ettore Bastianini, and Nicola Zaccaria.  (69 min.)

Direct download: Poliuto_Callas.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:52pm EDT

Iris with Magda Olivero

The amazing Magda Olivero (now 104 yrs.young) in a great role in Iris of Mascagni from Amsterdam 1963 under Fulvio Vernizzi. Others in the cast are Luigi Ottolini,Renato Capecchi, and Plinio Clabassi. (71 min.)

Direct download: Iris_Olivero.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:38pm EDT

Luciano Pavarotti 1973 Recital

 Songs and arias (announced) by Luciano Pavarotti in a 1973 New York recital. We may sometimes forget that he was one of the greatest tenors in opera history.  (66 min.)

Direct download: Pavarotti_1973_rec.2.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:53am EDT

  Met opera's newest star..Yuri Cundari Cundari. I have been going to the opera for many years but I NEVER heard anything like this. Check out his Vesti la giubba and Elektra scene. He will sing the role of Il PUZZZZO del giardino this season.

Category:general -- posted at: 2:39am EDT

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