Thu, 21 December 2017
Fine new guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 9:55pm EDT
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Sat, 16 December 2017
Whatever holiday you celebrate, all my love to you and thanks for your support all these years.
My best Charlie
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-- posted at: 8:35pm EDT
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Sat, 16 December 2017
We have come far from that manger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 8:28pm EDT
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Fri, 15 December 2017
12/15/1910..Almost made it to 100. One of the greatest singers in opera history. I hope she finally made up with Barbieri!
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-- posted at: 7:03pm EDT
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Fri, 15 December 2017
In the event that anyone here never heard the greatest single note in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 6:54pm EDT
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Thu, 14 December 2017
One of the most emotional singers, Rosanna Carteri Born 12/14/30. Never came here and retired rather early to be with family. I just love her so much!!!
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-- posted at: 9:14pm EDT
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Sun, 10 December 2017
Hi all, All these many years,I could never allow comments,since advertisers interfere. I would LOVE some people to tell me (Placido21@aol.com) if my posts are to their liking..as I want to please you. If you want..let me know..although the stats do show people seem to like the stuff, from Angola to Zanzibar. Love Charlie
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-- posted at: 11:15pm EDT
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Sun, 10 December 2017
Sarah Scuderi, 12/11/06 in the documentary "Tosca's Kiss." LOVABLE!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 12:31pm EDT
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Sun, 10 December 2017
At 85,Lauri-Volpi was still so calm and shy.
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-- posted at: 12:26pm EDT
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Sun, 10 December 2017
12/11/1892..VERY SHY TENOR!!!!!! One of the greats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 12:23pm EDT
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Sun, 10 December 2017
Here is the moment where Piotr Beczala became my adored favorite singer of today. The beauty of the phrasing, the love of the vocal line, the purity...I love this guy.I see him often backstage and he once introduced me to the son of the famous Polish tenor, Jan Kiepura. A lovable man and great star!!!!!
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-- posted at: 12:20pm EDT
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Sat, 9 December 2017
Have I never played any Mari Lyn for you? Now, be sure not to eat or drink while you watch this;send animals and small children out of the room. Italian is the greatest...especially with the titles!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 9:14pm EDT
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Sat, 9 December 2017
Today,I got Lucine to sing the first line of the "In quelle trine morbide." At 92, I know she still has a lot of voice..a fun lady, over-used at the Met,but she saved so many shows. Great xxx-rated jokes!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 9:02pm EDT
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Sat, 9 December 2017
Mehta conducts interesting Valencia Ring. Finale of Gotterdamerung!!!!! I love it!!!
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-- posted at: 8:57pm EDT
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Sat, 9 December 2017
FUN!! Jose Carreras,born 12/5/46 and friends..He beat Leukemia,thank God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 8:54pm EDT
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Sat, 9 December 2017
Not easy to take vibrato...but such a charmer..Poor thing died in childbirth. (Conchita Supervia)
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-- posted at: 3:10pm EDT
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Sat, 9 December 2017
FUNNNNNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 2:51pm EDT
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Sat, 9 December 2017
Leo Nucci at 75!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amazing man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 2:44pm EDT
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Thu, 30 November 2017
God Bless You, Dmitri
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-- posted at: 9:07pm EDT
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Sun, 26 November 2017
So sad!! Wonderful Singer passed away today.
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-- posted at: 12:55am EDT
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Sun, 26 November 2017
Bing gave her one! Idiot!
Wonderful lady!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZwSAHyGoo8 |
Fri, 24 November 2017
Still weeping over his passing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 10:02am EDT
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Wed, 22 November 2017
Dmitri returned to the Met in 2015. The love expressed by the audience will go on forever as we remember him.
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-- posted at: 10:31pm EDT
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Wed, 22 November 2017
Totally Devastated.!!! My tears are unending. He was so sweet and kind. I always got those kisses on the cheek from this beautiful man, who will live forever in our hearts. God Bless Him!!!
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-- posted at: 9:40pm EDT
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Mon, 13 November 2017
THIS is what Leonie was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She had her flaws, but at 5:09 you hear something stupendous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 2:05pm EDT
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Mon, 13 November 2017
Cry...cry.....for the lady who knew her fate and who was a miracle for all of us to behold.
She had her flaws, but NO ONE gave what she accomplished as a sensational artist!!!!!
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-- posted at: 1:58pm EDT
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Sat, 11 November 2017
I had so many glitches in my audio files,I have been sending you Videos,which I hope you enjoy. Hope to get back to the audio podcasts soon..Meanwhile, you do have archives.
Thanks for your support Charlie
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-- posted at: 1:03pm EDT
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Sat, 11 November 2017
I play you my tape, with my yelling....at the greatest miracle. as the 65 year old Magda Olivero makes her Met debut in 1975. The ovation is cut...It was one of the greatest things in my opera life...Note 3:16.."RiMUUUUneri" cosi. The miracle lasted until age 104...but her caretaker said there was voice there almost till the end. Bless her!!!!!!!!!!!!I miss those birthday phone calls,where she spoke in "Verismo"
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-- posted at: 12:47pm EDT
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Mon, 6 November 2017
I just called Virginia to tell her I had put up clips of Nicola-Rossi Lemeni,born 11/6/28. They were such a loving couple and she misses him so much!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 7:49pm EDT
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Thu, 2 November 2017
Beloved forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 8:47pm EDT
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Mon, 30 October 2017
I always wanted to do what Vickers did..Happy Birthday....10/29/26
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-- posted at: 8:28pm EDT
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Mon, 23 October 2017
I keep finding these superb new artists! I know she will have a marvelous career!!!!
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-- posted at: 2:52pm EDT
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Sun, 22 October 2017
The great Tito Gobbi 10/23/13 was even more versatile than I thought and that Fair Lady is not too bad either.
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-- posted at: 10:22pm EDT
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Sat, 21 October 2017
Just the word "CARO" tells you what Virginia was..the "cry" in the voice distinguished her from so many others.
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-- posted at: 2:13pm EDT
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Sat, 21 October 2017
Here is more of my Virginia. She always called her fabulous low notes "mask," rather than "chest." Well, whatever they are called, they are amazing. She sang over 70 roles, including 635 Traviatas. All that arthritis comes from falling on the floor, plus rehearsals. I wish she had borrowed knee pads from a football player, but she felt it was not "reality."
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-- posted at: 2:06pm EDT
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Sat, 21 October 2017
I have been blessed in my life to have become acquainted with many singers, some of whom were more than just stars I met backstage. The first was Renata Tebaldi, and later on Olivia Stapp, Diana Soviero, Marisa Galvany, Sam Ramey, and Regina Resnik. However, in the last years, I have become closely acquainted with Mme. Virginia Zeani, whom I consider as "la mia sorella." Virginia has been one of the greatest singers in opera history, although, like Magda Olivero and others, not lucky enough to make commercial recordings, but we "pirates" have spread the word. On this day, I wish my darling friend, not in the best of health, by undying love! Happy birthday, my dear Virginia.
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-- posted at: 1:57pm EDT
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Fri, 6 October 2017
Look...anyone who ever worked with Diana Soviero SHOWS it in so many ways...At least this Angel(a) can be heard in the theatre.
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-- posted at: 8:12am EDT
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Thu, 5 October 2017
New Met Mimi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have seen the greats.She is superb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 5:27pm EDT
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Tue, 3 October 2017
I adore BLACK basso voices. Rydl is so scary and I love this role, but am too nice to do it (and do not have the voice). I collect all the RINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 12:26pm EDT
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Tue, 3 October 2017
This is such fun!!!! As a language teacher I would have wanted to perform this. He is a delight!
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-- posted at: 12:15pm EDT
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Tue, 3 October 2017
Irina Lungu is a real sweetheart. Saw her Gilda and Musetta and we chat on Facebook. I wish she would return to the Met!
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-- posted at: 12:08pm EDT
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Sat, 23 September 2017
Another one!!!!!!!! Makes us all gay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 2:47pm EDT
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Sat, 23 September 2017
Hiromi Omura.......What a gorgeous voice!!! May she go far!!!! You know I have good taste!!!!
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-- posted at: 2:15pm EDT
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Fri, 22 September 2017
You can talk about divas all you want, but for me, Diana is one of the all-time greatest.Since I fell out of the balcony(Mimi) in 1977, we have been close friends. Even the way she gets onto the bed at the end is special! Sadly, many great singers do not make 50 CD's!!!!!
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-- posted at: 1:45pm EDT
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Thu, 21 September 2017
Happy birthday to the greatest and most fun-loving diva in the world! She is one of the few throwbacks to the Golden Age!!!!
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-- posted at: 2:42pm EDT
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Sat, 16 September 2017
What more is there to say on this sad day (9/16/)?Yes, she had her flaws, but the world of music lost a veritable genius/. Rest in Peace,Maria!
Category:general
-- posted at: 11:39pm EDT
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Fri, 15 September 2017
What is lacking today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The beautiful "morbidezza" in the voice. What Zeani,Muzio, Olivero,Callas,Scotto,Soviero, Favero could accomplish! Today, it is a lost art..except HERE!
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-- posted at: 2:45pm EDT
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Thu, 14 September 2017
Truly gorgeous voice!!!! Hope she goes far!!!!! Facebook poster presented this recital.So rewarding!
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-- posted at: 1:44pm EDT
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Thu, 7 September 2017
Dear Magda, the miracle of opera, passed away at 104 3 yrs.today. I called her every birthday and she was as sweet as could be. She is 83 here, a GREAT LADY, who is missed.
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-- posted at: 11:50pm EDT
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Wed, 6 September 2017
She left Roberto for me...but when I told her her voice did not carry in the Met, she belted me in the mouth!!!! He is so sweet. He told me last year, "I can see in your eyes how you love music." That was so lovely.
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-- posted at: 8:18pm EDT
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Wed, 6 September 2017
Some day I will bring people from the Met to my supermarket and we will do a complete Walkure............
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-- posted at: 8:14pm EDT
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Wed, 6 September 2017
Beautiful voice...I just found her. My friend sees her Violetta tonight at La Fenice..Those Romanians sure can sing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 11:19am EDT
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Mon, 4 September 2017
29:39..To this MOMENT I shall never forget his "Legaaaami," which was a tone of glory in my life!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 9:52am EDT
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Mon, 4 September 2017
I adored him.Middle voice was pure GOLD. Gee, why don't you hold the last note longer???
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-- posted at: 9:41am EDT
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Sun, 3 September 2017
Those of us members of Facebook discover wonderful talent! Here is marvelous young baritone Michael Chioldi. We wish him all our best!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 5:46pm EDT
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Sat, 2 September 2017
Two great guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Facebook friends. Eduardo is so funny..and great tenor..Mark is wonderful!!!!!
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-- posted at: 8:20am EDT
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Wed, 30 August 2017
Fine Russian Tenor, Khachatur Badalyan. I am so glad to "spread the word" as to the new talents.Superb!!!!
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-- posted at: 11:28am EDT
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Mon, 28 August 2017
She did it ALL!!!! Not a long career, but 1949-1955 in my view was awesome! |
Mon, 28 August 2017
Saffo aria sung by one of my favorite singers, Eugenia Burzio. OLD STYLE!!!!!!
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Mon, 28 August 2017
I was waiting once at the Met stage door after a Macbeth. Out comes this big guy who looked at me and asked, "Are you Charlie Handelman?" I said "Yes." He gave me a big hug and said,"You are more famous than me!" What a fun guy!!!!!!!!!! Joe and I have discussed a kind of "old-fashioned vibrato," which to me is "affectionate." |
Mon, 28 August 2017
Hiya, My stats for August show you are really enjoying things;however, the videos do not show up in the stats, so I must deduce that the stats are higher. I still need to work on a glitch or two in order to do new audio podcasts. Love Charlie
Category:general
-- posted at: 11:27am EDT
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Mon, 28 August 2017
At the 1972 Rudolf Bing farewell,Regina came out as Orlovsky and totally cracked us up with her rendition of :Chacun a Bing's gout." Knowing how he treated her, I know she was not kidding. Trust me!! Funniest line is "..and ask Corelli twwwwwice." The way she held the "W" is a classic!!!
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-- posted at: 11:21am EDT
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Sun, 27 August 2017
We were friends for 50 years. Regina was one of the greats!!!!! Here is one of her signature roles(even in English.)
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-- posted at: 6:41pm EDT
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Sun, 27 August 2017
8/29/1926. One of the very great singers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 5:26pm EDT
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Sat, 26 August 2017
Paul, my buddy, 8/28/1941. We sang so much from 1961 at the Paterson, New Jersey Company. He became one of the greats, and a sweetheart, despite many family tragedies.
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-- posted at: 7:07pm EDT
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Sat, 26 August 2017
So he didn't have a "C"...OH YEAH!!!! His favorite role and Virginia is so magnificent.
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-- posted at: 7:03pm EDT
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Sat, 26 August 2017
For me, greatest tenor I ever heard live. The voice rang out as GOLD!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 7:00pm EDT
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Sat, 26 August 2017
Being a language teacher, and not wanting to starve, I sang as a hobby. Aug.28 is the birthday of dear Paul Plishka. We sang a lot together, and I also sang w.Sam Ramey. Well, two of them made it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 8:56am EDT
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Wed, 23 August 2017
Another clip of this fine singer...What are all those ladies doing there?????????????????
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-- posted at: 4:14pm EDT
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Wed, 23 August 2017
I keep finding them!!!!!!! Here is a superb young tenor from Nagaland,India.May he go on to great success!!!!! They are all out there..just go to YouTube!!!!!
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-- posted at: 4:11pm EDT
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Tue, 22 August 2017
Imagine rehearsing Rigoletto years ago and out comes this fabulous voice. "Who are you?" "I never sang an opera before..Is the Duke hard????" I guess I can pick them!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 6:20pm EDT
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Mon, 21 August 2017
As a real tenor he was superb in Zarzuelas with the great Pilar Lorengar!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 3:43pm EDT
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Sat, 19 August 2017
VERY few opera singers can sing popular music. Farrell did it pretty well and many male singers do it well, but the DIVAS have trouble. I guess the breaks in the voice make it more difficult...but Dorothy Kirsten mastered the crossover, compared to the ludicrous Fleming or L.Price. |
Sat, 19 August 2017
Corelli had more vibrato young (DelMonaco called him a "goat) but these commercial discs still tel us of the man's greatness. I saw him 40 times.Yes,he could be a pain...but generally speaking,he raised the roof!!!!!!!!!! I have friends who knew him well,and they tell me how sweet he was and so concerned about his artistry. |
Fri, 18 August 2017
In the event any of you have been living on another planet, here is the great Mari Lynn, (in)famous on YouTube. She is currently coaching with Zinka Milanov.
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-- posted at: 4:11pm EDT
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Fri, 18 August 2017
She did lots of films and was popular. HOWEVER, the end of the Bolero makes me HYSTERICAL! She and Erna Sack are "fun" in a certain way. Howyalike all my new posts???????????
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-- posted at: 4:06pm EDT
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Fri, 18 August 2017
It was so nice when Piotr Beczala introduced me to the son of another Polish tenor,Jan Kiepura. His beloved mother, Martha Eggerth was alive at the time, and he called her and said, "Hi,ma!! I felt as if I was in some way "part of history." Piotr is my favorite singer of today, by the way.
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-- posted at: 4:00pm EDT
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Fri, 18 August 2017
When she showed up, Caballe was one of the greatest singers of the century! Her birthplace was Barcelona, as we at this tragic time send our deepest feelings for their people. |
Fri, 18 August 2017
HUGEST voice from a baritone. Great man...In Ernani, the audience sometimes started to yell at the G before the A flat, so stupendous the sound! |
Fri, 18 August 2017
An Oddity!!!!!! Beverly as Aida!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Fri, 18 August 2017
8/21/33. One of the most haunting voices imaginable.I am so sorry I never got to hear her live. My loss!!
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-- posted at: 2:22pm EDT
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Thu, 17 August 2017
Tribute to the dear people of Barcelona after this terrible tragedy. Es imposible expresar en palabras lo que siento!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 9:26pm EDT
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Mon, 14 August 2017
If you asked me what my all-time favorite commercial recording by a diva is, I would tell you that the Lotte Lehmann Wunder der Heliane aria is to me SUPREME!!!! The lady had this "veiled and haunting" tone that thrills me no end!!!!
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-- posted at: 12:27am EDT
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Sat, 12 August 2017
The great ones never lose it. He is 67.
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-- posted at: 10:13am EDT
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Sat, 12 August 2017
Ferruccio Tagliavini had an incredibly beautiful "Gigli-like" voice. Here is an aria from a rare Refice work, "Chopin." He did not even have a recording of it, saw my catalogue, sent me a request and I sent it to him!!! 8/14/1913. More to come.
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-- posted at: 10:11am EDT
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Sat, 12 August 2017
I saw this marvelous baritone in Macbeth and I wish to show you this clip on his birthday, Aug.12 (1966.)
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-- posted at: 9:49am EDT
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Thu, 10 August 2017
FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 10:55pm EDT
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Wed, 9 August 2017
Imagine attending a performance with your four favorite singers in their respective voice categories. The matinee 1956 for me was something never to forget. Zinka,my all-time favorite singer, is absolutely at her PRIME!!!! The B flat pp on "Invan la pace" is UNREAL and the last "Maledizione" is sensational. I was standing all the way down across the orchestra pit. Yes, I live in the past!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 2:52pm EDT
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Tue, 8 August 2017
Sweetest nicest guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 8/8/79 Happy Birthday!!! Wonderful voice. GREAT HIGHS!!!!!!!! Lovable in person also!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 2:58pm EDT
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Mon, 7 August 2017
Hilarious Traviata w. Carreras,Ricciarelli,Baltsa,Raimondi
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-- posted at: 10:38pm EDT
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Mon, 7 August 2017
I decided this morning to trace the stats for a given time period. In only three hours, I observe,for example that there were 40 "hits" in this time period. I guess you have not deserted me (like in that opera in the desert where the soprano sings, "Sola,perduta,e abbandonata."). I thank you for years of support,despite some glitches (and the flu). Please send me personally any comments (Placido21@aol.com), as I cannot open the comments page here, or I will get all sorts of ads. We are up to over a million and a half "hits." Keep listening!!! Lovingly Charlie
Category:general
-- posted at: 10:10am EDT
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Mon, 7 August 2017
So there we were in the first row at Carnegie and just before Tebaldi launched into this aria, she looked down and winked at us! We were sure she sang just for US!!!!!
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-- posted at: 8:08am EDT
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Mon, 7 August 2017
Absolutely RIVETED by the Amfortas of Ryan McKinny. I have seen the best, as you well know:London,Uhde,Schoeffler,etc. This artist is a true STAR!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 7:46am EDT
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Sun, 6 August 2017
I do not believe that there has ever been any soprano with the combination of gorgeous voice quality and Wagnerian volume.. When she sang "Pace" at the Met in a concert with Bastianini and Del Monaco, I thought the roof would come down on the "Maledizione." I so miss our yearly birthday (Feb.1) phone calls. NO artist was as sweet and dear to us in our youth..and funny!
Category:general
-- posted at: 10:19pm EDT
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Sat, 5 August 2017
One of the most riveting scenes in opera. It makes one cry!!!!!!! I met Silja once and asked her for the Makropolous formula so I could live 356 years so I could listen to my collection. She must have thought I was nuts!! (I was!)
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-- posted at: 2:11pm EDT
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Sat, 5 August 2017
Dear sweet funny Rolando had to see many doctors until he found what was causing the vocal problems. I miss him..such fun we had with him. After his Traviata debut we all walked down Broadway and he was so excited he almost hit his head on the glass bus stop..I SAVED HIM!
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-- posted at: 2:05pm EDT
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Sat, 5 August 2017
Sorry! My fonts were too big and some text is cut.I will be careful in the future.
I love singing the end of act two of my favorite opera and the video is of a show we did.I was the King (on left) BUT until I saw the tape, I did not realize that the great Sue Hassel thought she was Callas. How did I get involved in this mess? Sue supposedly vocalizes on the NY Ed Koch bridge,walking home..This accounts for all the recent accidents!!!! How do these people think they can sing??????????????
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-- posted at: 1:56pm EDT
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Sat, 5 August 2017
A marvelous compilation of the Aida E flat, made famous first by Callas.
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-- posted at: 1:18pm EDT
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Sat, 5 August 2017
I recall meeting Sondra long before she became one of our present great singers. You must be there is person to hear the incredible resonance of the voice, where she sounds as if she is singing in your ear! I want more chest voice from her, but in one opera I recall she sang more lows, and wrote on the program, "How did you like the chest,Charlie??"
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-- posted at: 3:39am EDT
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Sat, 5 August 2017
Thinking of how our 1971 Bolena rehearsal introduced us to a guy named Sam Ramey and how I looked down Marisa Galvany's throat when she hit those high notes. Now I see two people I know, Steven Costello and Sondra Radvanovsky in Bolena rehearsal...They seem to have fun, as we did back then.
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-- posted at: 3:32am EDT
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