I see so much love and appreciation on Facebook,etc. for dear Renata Tebaldi, I thought I would tell you a few PERSONAL experiences with her:

      I am aware I have posted some of these previously, but I know some of you have not seen them;those who have seen them, you can see them again...

1. After she signed every program (despite the cold), she got into the limo, and as it drove her up 40th St.,she yelled "Ciao" out the window, with us "Tebaldiani" running after her. Remember, this is where little Charlie forgot there was a fire plug,and almost became the last castrato.

2. At one of huge affairs,as she cut the cake, she waved the knife and said,
"Questo e il bacio di Tosca." This might have been the same party where she said to me, "Dammi il braccio,mio piccino,and since I knew Boheme even at a tender age, I responded,"Obbedisco,signorAAA" and someone snapped the photo of us, a treasure for me. You have seen it on Facebook.
   She also sang at one of the affairs,accompanied by my "maestro" Armen Boyajian, and we sat on the floor a few feet away....so you see why the rest of my life has been an anti-climax....well,sort of.


3.  Before she left on the ill-fated Andfea Doria, we saw her off, and then my friends gave me the London Forza, a gift to me on my 20th birthday.(She almost came to my surprise party.)

4.The Met went to Philadelphia on Tuesdays, and we saw her off on the train. She stood in the open last car,and when the baggage handler opened the door, she said, "Spoletta,chiudi."

   5. After dad died,I brought ma to her first opera, Traviata. Tebaldi held her hand backstage, and every time we met,she always asked, "Carlos, com'e  la madre?"  (The reason for the "Carlos" rather than "Carlo" is because I spoke Spanish at that time and not Italian, and her English was limited.)

7. At the Carnegie Bell Telephone Hr. around 1957 she looked down at us kiddies sitting in the first row, winked at us and then out came "Inflammatus" like a jet plane.

       O sante memorie.....Her performances were EVENTS and never could any of us forget what she meant to us in our misspent youth. Non possiamo scordare questa donna chi ha dato tanto a tutti noi e alla arte vocale.(opera Italian.....That is how I learned it....non ridere!!!! Carlos <

Category:general -- posted at: 6:59pm EDT

  Yes, I know there are subtle and calm moments in opera to be treasured, but what is wrong about being lifted out of your seat,as I was 40 times by Franco??

 Nothing today compares to this kind of singing!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 1:03pm EDT

You all know that there are so many singers,that sometimes it takes time to recognize what they have contributed. When I joined Facebook, and also at a friend’s recommendation, I discovered the Mar.31 birthday diva, Nelly Miricioiu.

She,like Leyla Gencer and a precious few other divas, lets it “all hang out,” and I once asked Zeani if the AIR in Romania causes some divas (Cotrubas,Zeani,etc.) to possess a special quality that is rare.

She also is the sweetest lady,and we love her, as evidenced by the Facebook posts.
So,a wonderful Happy Birthday to Nelly!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 3:49pm EDT

OFFICIALLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DEAR SAM!!!!!! When Sam one saw Norman Treigle early on....did he dream he would someday "inherit" some of the great man's famous roles...and the Olin Blitch scene here is RIVETING and represents an incredibly great artist..Love to dear Sam on his bithday..and my best to his lovely family....

 

We go back 45 years to our Anna Bolena,and we sang in Barbiere,Hoffmann,etc.

LOVE to dear Sam,one of opera's greatest artists!!!!!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 11:03am EDT

Close to 90 here!!!!!!  Magda just thrills the opera world with what she has accomplished!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 9:16am EDT

First year I cannot "call" her on her birthday...but she will NEVER be far from me.    Imagine that breath control and all the depth of emotion...a lesson to all!

 Buon compleanno 105 al miracolo!!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 8:47am EDT

At the "Loris,ove sei" near the end,I got thrills and chills..Happy birthday,dear Magda....Keep coaching those divas!!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 11:16pm EDT

 

 

 

Remember tomorrow!!! Baby Magda at 65 made her Met debut in 1975..We cried all night...I have used this clip constantly to illustrate vocal control,breath support, emotional delivery,LOVE of singing,etc....Ovation is cut...it went on forever.

No room in bathroom stalls to change tapes....

Listen to the end..Rimuuuuuuuneri cosi....Most divas cannot SWELL there.
O say that if Magda ONLY sang that....we would know what she represented.....My candle is ready..Gee.I wish I had a Menorah with 105!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 4:51pm EDT

NON SCORDARE....Light your candles (even a Jewish one like mine) for Mar.25 Magda's birthday (would have been 105.)
   I once asked her about the way she says "Nina Micheltorena in act 2 of Fanciulla...in a nasty way..showing her jealousy... Only special artists make DECISIONS that are especially effective....
I also love the glottal attacks..Amazing to have what we call an "old voice" and be a miracle!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 5:58pm EDT

Over the years,I always told Zajick (born Mar.23 1952) that she was a unique throwback to the kind of “belt-it-out” voices we rarely have. I guess she realized I had fairly good taste, and invited me to do a mini-master class for her students…She has always been a “force of nature” and she feels there is nothing so rare as having a big voice..in an era where much of it is “pleasant.” Brava to her!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 3:28pm EDT

Handelman has done crazy "scream tapes," but NEVER has a leading Met singer (a good one),RUIN a performance with a horrendous B natural GESCHREI as Manon dies.

Grigolo did a fine job, but suddenly he lets out this scream..Imagine what Callas,Milanov,Melba,etc..would do..He would  become a CASTRATO instantly....

 

How did they allow this??????????????

Category:general -- posted at: 4:45pm EDT

In 1956...WHY did teenage Charlie run to NY after Queens College  classes to freeeeeze on the standee line?? Here is why....Best example of how the 50 yr.old Zinka did sound..Go from "FERMA" and tell me why I went nuts....

Mario also tries some ppp's...and this perf.(I saw all 5 of them) also with Warren, marks the HEIGHT of my great opera days.

Category:general -- posted at: 11:26am EDT



On her Mar.22 birthday (1912), I wish to honor one of the greatest singers in opera history...as "flawed" as one might think, but total MAGIC!!! Yes,her scoooops in "Hojotoho" made us laugh, but by the end of the opera,we were in tears!!!!
   I always remnember Olivia Stapp telling me how once in Germany she did a "voiceless Isolde," but the audience went crazy...Moedl just had something in her heart and soul that is difficult to describe.

 I once heard Franz Mazura read some of King Lear in German on the radio..I did not understand one syllable, but it was like Moedl..who could read the Dresden Telephony directory and thrill you!

  There are singers with their "flaws' (G.Jones,Gencer,Callas,etc.)BUT they have outstanding qualities that may compensate for not having the basic voice of a Tebaldi, a Flagstad,etc.

I knew Moedl's accompanist and he said she was a dear dear lady...My most difficult choice would be whether to have seen Nilsson or Moedl..That is tough!!!!  Bless the memory of the great Martha Moedl.

                                                               Charlie

P.S.It was 1957, and I can see before me, Moedl sinking into Uhde's arms at Walkure finale. No WONDER I love her so much.

Category:general -- posted at: 9:23am EDT

Adelaide Negri,Argentinian soprano, is never boring, but she is what we call "variable." Look, she did sing 87,409 roles and so we cannot dismiss her.

You judge this yourself....

Category:general -- posted at: 5:12pm EDT

This is really what the great Dane was about!! NO one could touch him!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 12:31pm EDT

How did little Charlie discover opera. This 1948 film Luxury Liner!!!!!  Melchior's top is squeezed, and not the best Italian,but Aida remains my all-time favorite opera.

  I was 12.....and looking back, I express, on Melchior's birthday day my thanks.....although I might have been more normal...Maybe I should have stuck to Frank Sinatra!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 12:28pm EDT

I may not be a believer in Astrology, but on March 20, 1890, something special must have been "in the air," because BOTH Beniamino Gigli AND Lauritz Melchior were born. So two of the greatest tenors in opera history share this day.
       Thanks to their madres for giving us two legends on this day. They represent the greatest tenor icons in the history of the vocal art.

            

            

Category:general -- posted at: 12:09pm EDT

March 19 is always a special day for me,because it marks the birthdays of my darling Diana Soviero AND mia madre!!!! Mom could dance in her youth, but Diana had more chest voice.

Love to two people who made my life so happy!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 11:07am EDT

  This great lady was a miracle!!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 12:41pm EDT

Darling soprano Irina Lungu posted this..Really funny!!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 12:37pm EDT

OK.....I give up!!!! Baum had a fabulous high C,and fine reliable technique, even though (because of Zinka) we had to hear that ugly voice so much....OK,Kurt, I am sure you two made up!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 8:03pm EDT

When Antonietta Stella stepped on the Met stage as Aida in 1956...I said,"Zinka WHO??" Imagine that!!!!> What a luscious,glamorous voice..Nar.15, 1929 is her birthday.....Imagine a season with Milanov,Stella,Tebaldi,De Los Angeles,Steber,etc...I am SPOILED!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 7:58pm EDT

I just had to put another Jack Swanson clip here. When I find a new young singer, I am so thrilled!!!! This is a great talent (with an interpolated B flat).

Honestly, this guy will go far, as soon as he turns 12.(kidding).

Category:general -- posted at: 4:34pm EDT

  I found ANOTHER TENOR.  Mr.Swanson will surely go far and I invite you to search Youtube for more of his superb singing.

  Luciano would be proud!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 5:09pm EDT

Nothing like a "subtle" tenor, born Mar.11, 1900. I have a feeling Riccardo Muti might not appreciate this!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 6:35pm EDT

How lucky we are to have one of the very few divas who recalls the kind of exciting,emotional artistry of artists like Zeani,Scotto,Callas,Olivero,Soviero,and my ex-girlfriend, Maria Jeritza!

Mme.Miricioiu could teach a good number of "generic" divas how to color the tone, make special use of the text ,exhibit inner emotions, and of course you know how I love low notes (they can be "mixed chest") and those authoritative slight glottal attacks.

 

 Here is the lovely lady, a Facebook STAR, just last year,in the Lady Macbeth aria.

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

Hi all,

  I have put videos up lately, because I had some back problems and could not sit too long at the computer to do the usual podcasts, but things are better, and I will resume as soon as possible.

 

Love  Charlie

Category:general -- posted at: 9:39pm EDT

The man was one of my all-time favorites. Listen to the "feeling" in the voice, and I am so sad that he left us so soon.  BUY THE BOOK!!!!!!

 

 

Category:general -- posted at: 11:47am EDT

He left us so soon. Treigle was a veritable DYNAMO on stage, with a huge voice, and a stage personality that was RIVETING!!!!!  I  will never forget him!!!!

 

 

Category:general -- posted at: 11:41am EDT

Mar.3, 1890 is the birthday of Ruby Helder, female TENOR!!!!

  This is so interesting and a rarity.

Category:general -- posted at: 6:22pm EDT

Superb tenor replacing Jonas Kaufmann this week.Jonas has the flu, but I have seen Lee in Don Carlo and he is WONDERFUL!!!!!

We are lucky to have so many great tenors...except NO RADAMESES!!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 7:04pm EDT

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