A comparison of various renditions of Strauss' Four Last Songs,
   including the world premiere (1950) as sung by Kirsten Flagstad.

    Since many people like to test themselves on a podcast  
like this, I am deliberately not listing the
artists here. The artists' names will be
provided after each group of three selections.

                                       ENJOY!!!!!

                       
    I

 Many scenes and arias from Verdi's sometimes neglected masterpiece
 featuring the following artists:

Zinka Milanov, Antonietta Stella, Leyla Gencer, Josela Ligi,
Christina Gallardo-Domas, Elizabeth Rethberg, Carlo Bergonzi,
Richard Tucker, Giovanni Martinelli, Lawrence Tibbett,
Leonard Warren, Giuseppe Valdengo, Jose Van Dam,
Cesare Siepi, Leo Nucci, Frank Guarrera, Tito Gobbi,
Nicolai Ghiaurov, Sesto Bruscantini, Franz Grundheber,
Giuseppe Taddei,Andre Turp, and Gwynne Howell

   You now have access to ARCHIVES as noted to the right of the page,by month. Therefore you can begin to download anything from the past that you might have missed.

OWING TO THE ORIGINAL GLITCH,MY NARRATION DID NOT COME THROUGH. YOU MIGHT PLAY A GUESSING GME OR SCROLL DOWN AND SEE THE SELECTIONS.

These are Italian operas sung in German and German operas sung in Italian:
(1-9 in German.Rest in Italian)

 

1. Cavalleria Duet:Astrid Varnay,James Pease

2. Figaro Finale: Erich Kunz, Hilde Gueden,
Elizabeth Grummer, Paul Schoeffler

3/4. Tosca act two scene: Hildegard Ranczak and Georg Hann and then Leonie Rysanek and Josef Metternich

5. Forza Duet:Gottlob Frick and Carla Martinis

6. Rigoletto Duet:Rita Streich and Josef Metternich

7. Turandot: Gertrude Grob-Prandl

8. Macbeth aria:  Martha Moedl

9.Aida Nile Duet:Leonie Rysanak and George London

10. Rienzi aria:Francesco Vignas

11. Brangaene's Warning: Cloe Elmo

12. Parsifal Act Two Scene  Maria Callas and Africo Baldelli

13/14. Renata Tebaldi in Tannhauser and in Lohengrin(w.Gino Penno)

15. Edward Johnson(Former Met General Manager) in Parsifal Finale.

Sorry for the problem.All will be resolved soon.

NOTE: On earlier podcasts,you will see a note at the end of the podcast that you click on so you can download it.

 

 

 

 A pot-pourri of selections that have in common the letter "Z."

Included are scenes from Zaira, Zaza, and an opera by
Zandonai, plus scenes and arias as sung by:

Zeani, Zamboni, Zajick, Zednik, Zschau, Zanasi,
Zinetti, Ziliani, Zenatello, Zylis-Gara, Zakharova,
plus Zinka Milanov, Zarah Leander, and even
Zubin Mehta conducting.

I zinzerely hope you will not fall azleep while
lizening to these zelections.

                     Zounds like fun!!!!!

One of the all-time greatest bassos, Cesare Siepi,
is heard in arias and scenes from Salvator Rosa,
Nozze di Figaro, Forza del Destino, Ernani, Vespri,
Don Carlo,La Favorita, Italiana in Algeri, in a selection
of Italian songs, and in his renditions of some of the
songs of Cole Porter.

A series of excerpts from Puccini's superb opera.
Included in these scenes are the following artists:

Franco Corelli, Richard Tucker, Anselmo Colzani,
Giuseppe Taddei, Nino Puglisi, Mario Chingari,
Daniele Barioni, Gian-Giacomo Guelfi, Clifford Harvuot,
Renata Tebaldi,Aprile Millo, Magda Olivero,
Dorothy Kirsten,Gigliola Frazzoni, Antonietta Stella,
 and Johanna Meier.

Selections from the opera and song repertory of this
very great artist;included are scenes from:

Frau Ohne Schatten,Tristan und Isolde,Walkure,
Macbeth, Lohengrin, Nozze di Figaro, and songs
by Wagner and Mahler.

ARIAS AND SCENES AS SUNG BY MY THREE FAVORITE
TENORS IN THE ERA IN WHICH I CAME TO LOVE OPERA

MARIO DEL MONACO

        FRANCO CORELLI

                  RICHARD TUCKER

  (Photo: Mario del Monaco as Otello)

A selection of arias from various Handel operas:
Rinaldo, Rodelinda, Alcina, Serse, Giulio Cesare,
Judas Maccabeus, Joshua, Floriodante, Semele 
Acis and Galatea.  Artists featured are:

Bryn Terfel, Richard Tucker, Ewa Podles, Marilyn Horne,
David Daniels, Janet Baker, Samuel Ramey, Beverly Sills,
Norman Treigle, Kathleen Ferrier, Kathleen Battle,
Joan Sutherland, Fritz Wunderlich, and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson

 Well,let us see how this works, and if it does, in the words of my friend Arnie, "I'll be bach."

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

Fifteen exciting interpretations of the great mezzo aria
"O Don Fatale." I am not announcing the names
of the artists until each group of three is played
because I want you to play a guessing game;also
you might want to use this post as a quiz at an opera party.

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.