Wed, 8 May 2013
A beautiful compilation of famous artists of the past singing Puccini material. Arias and scenes are from Tosca,Boheme,Suor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi, Mme.Butterfly, and Manon Lescaut. All selections are announced. (69 min.) |
Wed, 8 May 2013
A collection of music as composed by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. The contents are as follow: 1. Der Ring Des Polykrates aria Gundula Janowitz 2. Violantha Duet with Hans Hopf and Hildegard Hillebrecht 3. Die Tote Stadt Act One scene including Marietta's aria Ilona Steingruber and Anton Dermota and 4. the baritone aria from act 2 "Mein sehnen,mein Wehnen" Alfred Poell 5. Das Wunder Der Heliane "Ich ging zu ihm" Steingruber (also check out Lotte Lehmann's rendition on Youtube, which is one of my all-time favorite recordings.) 6. Die Kathrin Scene w. Steingruber 7-11 songs as follows: "Ich bin ein Liedersanger" Janowitz and Rudolf Christ. " Soldaten Marsch und Gebet" Steingruber "Szene in Nachtlokal" Rose Schweiger and Anton Dermota "Arie des Malignac" Alfred Poell "Wanderlied" Anton Dermota The Austrian State radio Orchestra from Vienna, 1949 (59 min.) |
Mon, 6 May 2013
More material from the career of 172 year old diva Olive Middleton, the cult figure of the 1960's and star of the (in) famous La Puma Opera Company. After a decent "Pace" from around 1955, Olive sings highlights from Trovatore, Gioconda,Fedora, Norma, Walkure (as Sieglinde) and I just could not resist playing you a "typical" La Puma adventure, the act two opening of Walkure. As I always warn, if you are a purist, do not listen...(I bet you can't resist!!) (36 min.) |
Sun, 5 May 2013
My dear Diana Soviero stars in this La Boheme from 1980, Los Angeles, under John Mauceri. The cast features Riccardo Calleo, Frederick Burchinall, Robert Hale(Colline), Robert McFarland (Schaunard), and Stephanie Sundine (69 min.) 35 years later I am so happy I found her,one of opera's great artists and a treasure in my life. (The photo is ancient. I had hair.) |
Sat, 4 May 2013
A mini podcast of scenes from acts 3 and 4 of Charpentier's Louise. This is 1977 under Julius Rudel and in addition to the great Beverly, one of the most beloved figures in opera, we have John Alexander,Frances Bible, and Robert Hale. The sound is a bit distant, but the voices come across pretty well. (38 min.) |
Sat, 4 May 2013
Frida Leider was born at Berlin, where she studied singing while working in a bank. Her first engagements led her to opera houses in Halle, Königsberg, and Rostock. After an engagement with the Hamburg State Opera in 1923, she was hired by the Berlin State Opera as first dramatic soprano. After her retirement from the stage in 1946, she remained there as the director and manager of a studio for the rising singers of the Berlin State Opera. Frida Leider made regular guest appearances for over 15 years at the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden in London, at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, at La Scala in Milan, and at the State Operas of Vienna and Munich. Naturally, she also made appearances at the Bayreuth Festival, where she was the unrivaled star soprano of the 1930s. In the 1920s she alternated Wagnerian roles with Florence Austral at Covent Garden and the two recorded large parts of The Ring for HMV. Leider married the first concert master of the Berlin State Opera, Prof. Rudolf Deman. The couple had no children. She died in her home city of Berlin. Leider had a wonderful voice, and especially the warmth and feeling is there. We hear first two excerpts of two commercial recordings of Tristan from 1929 under Leo Blech, with Elfreide Marherr as Brangaene, and then under Sir John Barbirolli in 1931. This is followed by live Gotterdamerung Act 2 scenes from 1936 with Herbert Janssen and Ludwig Weber, followed by a commercial recording of the Immolation Scene in 1929 under Leo Blech. |
Thu, 2 May 2013
From La Scala 1969,under Thomas Schippers, we present the Rossini "L'Assedio di Corinto," featuring Beverly Sills, Marilyn Horne, Justino Diaz, and Franco Bonisolli. (70 min.) |
Tue, 30 April 2013
I have previously posted,from Youtube, some material of the Latvian soprano,Kristine Opolais. I wish to present the final portion of her Suor Angelica, under Andris Nelsons, with Lloba Braun as the Zia Principessa. By now, you know I have spoken of all the great divas I have heard for over 60 years, and you do understand that when I rave, it is because I have found someone very special. New York audiences will be treated next season to her Mme.Butterfly.(You will excerpts on Youtube.) What a revelation for the usually jaded Charlie to find such an artist among us. (29 min.) |
Tue, 30 April 2013
The Magic Flute (in Italian) from RAI Rome 1953 under Herbert Von Karajan. In the cast are: Nicolai Gedda,Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, Giuseppe Taddei, Mario Petri, Rita Streich, and Alda Noni (Papagena) (64 min.) |
Fri, 26 April 2013
From Turino, 1999 under John Mauceri, the great Renata Scotto sings Poulenc's one-woman opera, La Voix Humaine. I know you will enjoy one of the very last of the great verismo divas. (50 min.) |
Fri, 26 April 2013
With permission of the star, here is a sampling of Piotr Beczala's new Verdi album.Mariusz Kwiecien joins him in the Don Carlo (with a nice interpolated high C at then end.) I think you will all love it. I get NO commision, although there are some who think I ought to be committed. |
Mon, 22 April 2013
Under the direction of the legendary Fritz Reiner, we present an all-star Rosenkavalier featuring the beloved late Rise Stevens, Eleanor Steber, Erna Berger, Emanuel List, Martha Lipton, and Giuseppe Di Stefano. The only time in all my opera-going in which I totally "lost it," was at the finale of the trio. Many people have considered the Rosenkavalier trio as the most sublime moment in ALL opera. I surely agree. (70 min.) |
Sun, 21 April 2013
You know by now how much I loved the beloved Leyla Gencer, sometimes flawed, but nevertheless,one of the most important sopranos. Here are excerpts from a 1957 la Scala Forza under Antonino Votto, with Giuseppe di Stefano,Cesare Siepi,Aldo Protti, and Franco Calabrese (Marchese). (73 min.) |
Sun, 21 April 2013
A compilation of some of the most important Italian artists from around the 1950-1960 period. Included are Tito Gobbi, Magda Olivero, Anita Cerquetti, Cesare Valletti, Paolo Silveri, Renata Scotto, Carlo Bergonzi, Rosanna Carteri, Mario Filippeschi, Renata Tebaldi, Ebe Stignani, and Giuseppe Di Stefano. (70 min.) |
Sat, 20 April 2013
When do I get to hear anything? There is just too much, and I wonder whatever possessed me to have items like "The Complete Works of The Rolling Stones."(Lord Forbid!!).However, some performances stand out in one's memory, and this Carnegie Hall 1974 Pearl Fishers under Eve Queler, with Nicolai Gedda (the GOD of the tenor voice), Renato Bruson (still active at 77), and Christiane Eda-Pierre is special to me. Especially thrilling is the version of the final trio, not always perfomed these days, and of course Gedda's high C pianissimo at the end of the aria is in itelf a tremendous achievement. I know you will enjoy this. (71 min.) |
Thu, 18 April 2013
A superb Parsifal from Rome, 1956 under Eugen Jochum featuring Wolfgang Windgassen, Martha Moedl,Herman Uhde (Klingsor), Ferdinand Frantz (Amfortas), and Ludwig Weber (Gurnemanz.) (73 min.) |
Thu, 18 April 2013
Highlights from a brilliant Ballo under Nello Santi from 1963. The cast includes Birgit Nilsson, Richard Tucker, Robert Merrill, Mattiwila Dobbs, and Jean Madeira. Note that the way it was tracked did noit allow me to include some key material. (61 min.) |
Tue, 16 April 2013
A compilation (announced) of material as sung by the radiant Maria Muller. This indeed is a superb voice, and I know you will enjoy her art. (71 min.) |
Tue, 16 April 2013
A rather "unsubtle" but exciting Naples 1951 Trovatore, conducted by Tullio Serafin, with Maria Callas in her prime, Paolo Silveri, Cloe Elmo, and an aging Giacomo Lauri-Volpi (I think the Pira is booed). This is the kind of show we never experience today;it has its flaws, but it is really mostly quite exciting. (72 min.) |
Tue, 16 April 2013
The most beloved Licia Albanese in her Met farewell as Manon Lescaut. At this writing, Licia is over 100, and one of the most loved opera artists in our time. Richard Tucker and Mario Sereni complete the cast. This is a 1966 performance under Kurt Adler. (71 min.) |
Fri, 12 April 2013
An abridged Don Giovanni (exc.) from NBC TV in 1960, in English.It stars Cesare Siepi,Leontyne Price, Judith Raskin (Zerlina), Helen George (Elvira), Charles K.L.Davis (Ottavio), James Pease (Leporello), John Reardon (Masetto), and John Macurdy (Commendatore.) The conductor is Peter Herman Adler. (55 min.) |
Wed, 10 April 2013
A NDR (German Radio) performance of highlights from a 1952 Das Rheingold under Wilhelm Schuchter. Some of the great artists of that era are heard,especially those "black voices." Ferdinand Frantz (Wotan) Gottlob Frick (Fasolt) Josef Greindl (Fafner) Gustav Neidlinger (Alberich) Wolfgang Windgassen (Loge) Paul Kuen (Mime) Res Fischer (Fricka and Erda) Josef Metternich (Donner) (72 min.) |
Sun, 7 April 2013
For April 8, I present a tribute to Franco Corelli, Born 1921. He was one of the greatest tenors in opera history. (Selections are announced.) (71 min.) |
Sat, 6 April 2013
A 1958 Naples Mme.Butterfly under Angelo Questa, starring Renata Tebaldi,Giani Raimondi, Giuseppe Valdengo, and Anna Di Stasio.(72 min.). Please be aware that although the sound is superb, the prompter is rather loud. |
Thu, 4 April 2013
Highlights from a Golden-Age-of-Wagner Tannhauser in 1936,under Artur Bodansky. It features, Kirsten Flagstad, Lauritz Melchior,Lawrence Tibbett, Emmanuel List, and Margaret Halstead. In those days they did make cuts in Wagnerian performances, but I am not sure if the cuts involve this music. If you do know the opera well, you will possibly hear some cuts. I know it is a bit longer to sit through Wagner these days, BUT I hate cuts (unless everyone is terrible.) (71 min.) |
Wed, 3 April 2013
Ballet Music from Verdi Operas; Vespri, Macbeth, Trovatore, Don Carlo, Otello. Edward Downes conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra (70 min.) |
Mon, 1 April 2013
A selection of arias from commercial discs, 1939-1943 by the legendary Hans Hotter. The arias and scenes (in this order) are from Hans Heiling (Marschner),The Flying Dutchman, Die Meistersinger, Die Walkure, Aida (with Hilde Scheppan),Otello, Falstaff, and Pagliacci. All material such in German. (68 min.) |
Mon, 1 April 2013
A "mini-cast" of the great Confrontation Scene in Elektra, from 1964 under Arnold Quennet, featuring the remarkable Martha Moedl and Marijke van del Lugt. (17 min.) |
Sun, 31 March 2013
The last scene of Siegfried from1972 under Erich Leinsdorf with the exciting Ursula Schroeder-Feinen and Helge Brilioth. (38 min.) |
Sun, 31 March 2013
This amazing baritone was noted not only for his voice, but for his superb Italianate style, and for the amazing ability to sing notes that only a tiny number of baritones sang.(Traviata,Attila B Flats).We hear arias (in this order) from: Puritani,Luisa Miller,Traviata.Ernani,Ballo, Faust,Forza,Il Guarany,Zaza, and Andrea Chenier. (68 min.) |
Tue, 26 March 2013
Highlights from Kalman's "Countess Maritza", with Sena Jurinac, Karl Terkal, Anneliese Rothenberger, and Rupert Glawitsch, followed by highlights from Lehar's "The Land of Smiles," with Charlie's favorite tenor, Piotr Beczala and Camilla Nylund.. (73 min.) |
Fri, 22 March 2013
The dear late Rise Stevens sings music by Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers, George Gershwin, Cole Porter,and Irving Berlin. (66 min.) I will never forget her! |
Fri, 22 March 2013
Another of those blazing recordings from the Cetra Soria Archives. Angelo Questa leads the Radio Turino Orch.in 1955 in this Favorita with Fedora Barbieri,Gianni Raimondi,Giulio Neri, Carlo Tagliabue, Mariano Caruso, and Loretta di Lelio(Mrs.Corelli.) (66 min.) |
Thu, 21 March 2013
In loving memory of the late Rise Stevens, I present a podcast of arias that feature this great artist in her prime years. I have announced the selections. In tribute to my beloved Rise. (68 min.) |
Thu, 21 March 2013
One of the world's greatest aingers, Lilli Lehmann recorded a wide variety of material (announced) and I sincerely hope you enjoy it. Remember,she was almost 60 here. (66 min.) Lehmann sang in the first Bayreuth Festival in 1876, singing in the first complete performances of The Ring Cycle as Woglinde and Helmwige. She performed in London in 1884, and appeared at the New York Metropolitan Opera in 1885–1890. Together with her Met colleagues Fischer, Alvary, Brandt, and Seidl, she helped to popularise Wagner's music in America. By remaining in America beyond the leave granted her by the Berlin Opera, she faced a ban following her return to Germany. After the personal intervention of the Emperor, the ban was lifted. She appeared at London's Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in 1899 and sang in Paris and Vienna in 1903 and 1909 respectively. In 1905, she sang at the Salzburg Festival, later becoming the festival's artistic director. Lehmann was also renowned as a Lieder singer. She continued to give recitals until her retirement from the concert stage in the 1920s. Her mature voice, of splendid quality and large volume, gained for her the reputation of being not only one of the greatest Wagnerian singers of her day but also an ideal interpreter of Bellini's Norma and the operatic music of Mozart. She was considered unsurpassed in the rôles of Brünnhilde and Isolde but sang an astonishingly wide array of other parts. Indeed, across the span of her career, she performed 170 different parts in a total of 119 German, Italian and French operas. She was noted not only for her rendering of the musical score, but also as a tragic actress.[1] She was also a noted voice teacher. Among her pupils were the famous sopranos Geraldine Farrar and Olive Fremstad. In 1888, she married the tenor Paul Kalisch. Lehmann founded the International Summer Academy at the Mozarteum in Salzburg in 1916. The academy's curriculum concentrated on voice lessons at first but it was extended later to include a wide variety of musical instruction. [2] The Lilli Lehmann Medal is awarded by the Mozarteum in her honour. Her voice can be heard on CD reissues of the recordings which she made prior to World War I. Although past her peak as an operatic singer when she made these records, they still impress. |
Mon, 18 March 2013
Here are scenes from the ancient (1952) recording of Il Trovatore, featuring Stella Roman, Gino Sarri,Antonio Manca Serra, AND the true model of proper Italian diction, Sylvia Sawyer as Azucena. Anyone who wishes to learn Italian must use Sawyer as a MODEL, but if you follow her example and travel to Italy, someone may throw you off the leaning tower of Pizza. (46 minuti di non so che) |
Mon, 18 March 2013
Here's a really exciting Cav. with Rysanek,Domingo,Benito di Bella, Ruth Falcon, and the great Astrid Varnay as Mamma Lucia. It is from Munich 1978 under Nello Santi, and i know you will enjoy it. (69 minutes) |
Sat, 16 March 2013
A 1978 Toronto,Canada recital by Renata Scotto and Carlo Bergonzi,two of the most famous artists of the past generation. (Contents announced.) (60 min.) |
Fri, 15 March 2013
From the Teatro Massimo "Bellini" in the 1990's (no date noted in my info.) we present a most exciting Puritani under Richard Bonynge, with soprano Mariella Devia, tenor William Matteuzzi (with the high "F"), Paolo Washington (Giorgio), and Christopher Robertson (Riccardo.). (68 min.). I do strongly advise you not to attempt the "F" at home, unless you wish to scare someone. |
Fri, 15 March 2013
A rare appearance by the great Gedda in Tosca.This is from Nice,France in 1987 under Tchakarov. The Tosca is Olivia Stapp and the Scarpia is Theo Adam. The performance is recorded live so there is some distance, but to hear Gedda in a rare role for him is worth it. (72 min.) |
Wed, 13 March 2013
An interesting German Radio (Koln) 1950 performance of Tales of Hoffmann under Eugen Szenkar with Rudolf Schock, Alexander Welitsch, Wilma Lipp, Martha Moedl, Elfriede Trotschel, Maria von Ilosvay(Niklaus), Otto Von Rohr (Crespel), Willy Hofmann (Spalanzani), Walter Kassek (Franz and Pitichinaccio), Marion Matthaus (Mother's voice), and Robert Blasius (Schlemil). (73 min.) |
Sat, 9 March 2013
Beginning in 1830, Vincenzo Bellini embarked on a project to compose an Ernani, but he never got to complete it. Very few fragments remain, and we present them here, with the Oltenia Phil.Orchestra under Franco Piva. The cast is as follows: Ernani Patricia Morandini (a travesti role written for Giuditta Pasta) Elvira Rosanna Savoia Don Carlo (a tenor in this version) Paolo Pellegrini Don Sancio (also a tenor) Patrizio Saudelli Ines Nina Batatunashvili (mezzo) I hope you enjoy this rare set of excerpts. (37 min.) |
Wed, 6 March 2013
Wilhelm Furtwaengler conducts scenes from a 1937 Covent Garden Gotterdamerung with Kirsten Flagstad, Lauritz Melchior, Kerstin Thorborg, Herbert Janssen, and Ludwig Weber (71 min.) |
Wed, 6 March 2013
In the 1970's (I do not have the exact date), the great tenor Nicolai Gedda gave a recital (broadcast) from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Musica Aeterna Orchestra was conducted by Frederick Waldman, and the French horn soloist was Antony Miranda (in the Britten piece.). Gedda sings the Serenade for tenor, horn, and strings by Benjamin Britten, followed by arias of Rameau and Gretry. (39 min.) |
Wed, 6 March 2013
A fine cast in this Scala 1968 Bellini "I Capuletti e i Montecchi" under Claudio Abbado, featuring Renata Scotto (Giulietta), Giacomo Aragall (Romeo), Luciano Pavarotti (Tebaldo), Agostino Ferrin (Capellio), and Alfredo Giacomotti (Lorenzo.) (72 min.) |
Mon, 4 March 2013
Highlights from a Dresden 2011 Gala under Christian Thielemann. It features excerpts from Lehar's Giuditta, Land Of Smiles, Paganini, and Der Zarewitsch. (28 min.) |
Sun, 3 March 2013
A not-too-well-known opera by Saverio Mercadente ( 1795-1870), "Elisa e Claudio" with the following cast: Virginia Zeani Elisa Agostino Lazzari Claudio Domenico Trimarchi Tricufazio Ugo Trama Arnaldo Giovanna Fioroni Carlotta From San Carlo, Naples, 1971 under Ugo Rapalo (69 min.) |
Sat, 2 March 2013
Verdi and Puccini arias (announced) by the wonderful Antonietta Stella. I have always placed her as one of my all-time beloved divas! (67 min.) |
Thu, 28 February 2013
An interesting compilation of scenes from operas of German Composers of the 20th Century. 1-2 Franz Schmidt "Notre Dame" (w.Gwyneth Jones) 3-5 Alexander Zemlinsky "Es War Einmal" 6. Zemlinsky "Der Traumgoerge" 7. Zemlinsky "Der Kreiderkreis." 8-9 Zemlinsky "Der Koenig Kandaules" 10. Franz Schreker "Der Ferne Klang" 11. Schreker "Der Schatzgraber" 12-14 Manfred Gurlitt Three scenes from "Wozzeck" |
Thu, 28 February 2013
A sample from Jonas Kaufmann's new Wagner Album. "Der Engel" from the Wesendonck Lieder. Go BUY IT!!!!!!! |
Thu, 28 February 2013
An exciting Tosca on Cetra (the label that I was bought upon),with Adriana Guerrini, Gianni Poggi, and Paolo Silveri under Francesco Molinari-Pradelli. (70 min.) PODCASTS ARE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Wed, 6 February 2013
Turandot from 1985, Rome with Gwyneth Jones,Diana Soviero, Nicola Martinucci, Alessandro Corbelli. Great Performance!! (72 min) Podcasts have returned!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Sat, 12 January 2013
Under the leadership of conductor Georges Pretre, here are three lovely ladies in Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier. They are Gundula Janowitz,Brigitte Fassbaender, and Ileana Cotrubas, with Karl Ridderbusch as Baron Ochs. (69 min.) |
Fri, 11 January 2013
A few lowlights from a 1965 Tosca with the famous cult figure Olive Middleton. She truly endeared herself to opera lovers and even in her 70's, she managed to exhibit some sense of emotion and even a few high C's, although most of her singing was closer to Berg than to Puccini. We all loved her and even some Met singers attended her performances. She is currently coaching with Maria Jeritza and Frances Alda. (31 min.) |
Fri, 11 January 2013
From La SCala 1967 under Herbert von Karajan, here are highlights from the Verdi Requiem featuring Leontyne Price, Luciano Pavarotti, Fiorenza Cossotto, and Nicolai Ghiaurov. (67 min.) |
Sun, 6 January 2013
In Italiano, we present Donizetti's delightful opera,starring Mirella Freni, Alfredo Kraus, Vladimiro Ganzarolli, and Anna Di Stasio, from 1975, under Nino Sanzogno. (71 min.) |
Sat, 5 January 2013
From 1980 Aix-en-Provence under Jesus Lopez-Cobos, we bring you an example of remarkable Bel Canto singing. The cast includes Montserrat Caballe, Marilyn Horne,Samuel Ramey, and Francisco Araiza (72 min.) |
Sun, 30 December 2012
DO NOT PEEK before you listen!! Here are the 15 Flower Songs from Carmen (61 min.) If you guess them all, I will send you my entire Fischer-Dieskau collection: Roberto Alagna, Peter Anders, Fernand Ansseau, Vladimir Atlantov, Enrico Caruso, Franco Corelli, Raoul Jobin, Antonio Cortis, Libero de Luca, Mario del Monaco, Placido Domingo, Beniamino Gigli, Jussi Bjoerling, Giuseppe di Stefano, and Nicolai Gedda. |
Sat, 29 December 2012
The very great Cesare Siepi at age 63 in a superb Simone Boccanegra that features Renato Bruson (still singing these days at 77), Ileana Cotrubas, Taro Ichihara, and Enrico Serra (Paolo.) The conducter is Gabor Otvos. (71 min.) |
Sat, 29 December 2012
The great tenor,who "teaches a vocal lesson" when he sings. This is a 68 year old man who is a legend. I heard him at 78, and he was just as wonderful. He is not in the best of health these days at 88, and I hope he feels better soon. We love him so much. |
Sat, 29 December 2012
Facing a tough audience at Parma in 1962, after there had been some altercations, Tebaldi sang a great Mimi, and saved the day. Others in the cast are: Renato Cioni,EnzoSordello, Silvana Zanolli, Giorgio Taddeo (Colline), and Otello Borgonovo (Schaunard) under Arturo Basile. (64min.) |
Fri, 28 December 2012
I have just received a series of wonderful compilations of various arias, terrific for your opera parties, where you can give prizes if you wish if people can guess some or all of the selec tions. I did not do a narration here, but here are the mezzos doing the Trovatore "Stride la Vampa": Giuseppina Zinetti, Nell Rankin, Irene Dalis, Blanche Thebom, Miriam Pirazzini, Elena Nicolai, Oralia Dominguez, Bruna Castagna, Ebe Stignani, Irene Minghini-Cattaneo, and Fedora Barbieri. (29 min.) I hope this series is enjoyable to you. My best for a happy New year Charlie |
Thu, 27 December 2012
All fixed!!!!! Here is part 2 of the Rigoletto |
Tue, 25 December 2012
Part One of a 1972 Rigoletto with a stellar cast under Richard Bonynge. Featured are Sherrill Milnes,Luciano Pavarotti,Joan Sutherland, Ruggero Raimondi, and Batyah Godfrey. (55 min.) |
Sat, 22 December 2012
Music for the Holiday Season (announced), as sung by famous artists. I know you will enjoy the selections and I wish you all the happiest holiday season!! (62 min.) |
Sat, 15 December 2012
The miraculous Birgit Nilsson is heard in recitals from Australia and New York. Selections are announced on the podcast. I do not believe ANYONE in opera history could produce tones like her!!! (70 glorious minutes.) |
Sat, 8 December 2012
The late Shirley Verrett, one of my all-time favorite artists, appears as Carmen in this Rome 1967 performance under Georges Pretre. The superb Australian tenor, Albert Lance, is the Don Jose, with Robert Massard as Escamillo. (70 min.) |
Sat, 8 December 2012
Highlights from a 1975 Barcelona Tosca under Giuseppe Morelli, with Virginia Zeani, Placido Domingo, and Piero Francia. Why don't more people realize how great she is?? Well,you've heard this before. (70 min.)k |
Wed, 5 December 2012
Just enjoy these marvelous scenes from an opera written by Giuseppe Verdi, who made his fame at the premiere. However, not all performances are up to his standards. If you are a basso, I suggest you do not attempt to learn Zaccaria with this recording. (16 wonderful minutes.) |
Wed, 5 December 2012
The sensational Kirsten Flagstad is heard in the World Premiere of Strauss' Four Last Songs from 1950 under Wilhelm Furtwaengler in London.She is then heard in three Strauss songs: Befreit, Allerseelen, and Caecilie, from San Francisco in 1950 under Merolla. She is joined by Set Svanholm in Wagner Scenes from The Flying Dutchman, Lohengrin, Tristan und Isolde, and Die Meistersinger, from 1949 also under Gaetano Merolla. (70 min.) |
Mon, 3 December 2012
Here is a comparison podcast of some wonderful mezzos and contraltos singing the Ulrica Scene from Verdi's "Un Ballo in Maschera." The singers,in order, are: Bruna Castagna, Grace Bumbry, Jean Madeira, Susanne Resmark, Marian Anderson, Ewa Podles, Giulietta Simionato, Ebe Stignani, Regina Resnik, Fedora Barbieri, and last (and least), Sylvia Sawyer (66 minutes) |
Fri, 30 November 2012
From New York City in 1994, I bring you the radiant voice of the superb Peruvian tenor, Juan Diego Flores, a man who sings as gloriously as anyone I have ever heard. Included (announced) are songs and arias by Bellini,Rossini,Donizetti, Gluck, Morales, Serrano, and Tosti. (70 minutes). Note that the only times that encores have been allowed at the Met is when Flores sang the Fille du Reeggiment aria (with 18 high C's) and on a broadcast of Elisir, where he repeated the "Una furtiva lagrima." This is a rarity in New York Met opera. |
Wed, 28 November 2012
One of the very last exponents of truly emotional style and careful attention to the delicacy of phrasing in opera has been Renata Scotto. This 1967 Radio Turino Butterfly from 1967 under Artuto Basile is an example of her great artistry, despite some of the top notes that were often a bit problematical as the years passed.he is 33 here, but for many more years her Butterfly remained possibly the greatest of them all.She is joined by Renato Cioni,Franca Mattiucci, and Alberto Rinaldi. (71 min.) |
Mon, 26 November 2012
A delightful Die Fledermaus from Stuttgart Radio, 1938 under Gustav Goerlich.The cast includes Margarete Teschemacher (Rosalinda), Peter Anders (Alfred), Karl Mikorey (Eisenstein), Einar Kristjansson (Orlovsky), Martina Wulf (Adele), and Karl Schmitt-Walter (Dr.Falke.). In act two the guests are Erna Berger, Peter Anders, Maria Reining, and Esther Rethy. (70 min.) |
Sat, 24 November 2012
Here is part two of the Vienna 1961 Son Carlo (51 min.) |
Sat, 24 November 2012
Part One of a 1961 Vienna Don Carlo under Fausto Cleva,featuring Flaviano Labo,Antonietta Stella, Giulietta Simionato, Eberhard Waechter, and Walter Kreppel. (61 min.) |
Sat, 24 November 2012
The beloved Bidu Sayao makes her Met debut as Manon in 1937 under Maurice Abravanel. The cast is completed by Sydney Rayner, Richard Bonelli, Angelo Bada, Chase Baromeo, and George Cehanovsky. This is a historic event, for it heralds the great Sayao career. (71 min.) |
Wed, 21 November 2012
Scenes from a glorious Parsifal under Hans Knappertsbusch from Bayreuth 1951. The stellar cast includes Martha Moedl, Wolfgang Windgassen, George London, Ludwig Weber, and Herman Uhde (Klingsor.) (73 min.) |
Tue, 20 November 2012
Several Golden Age artists sing songs of Paolo Tosti.(Announced).They as follows: Adelina Patti, Mattia Battistini, Fernando de Lucia, Emma Eames, Charles Dalmores, Enrico Caruso, Giuseppe Anselmi, John McCormack, Alfred Piccaver, Dusolina Giannini, Rosa Ponsellle, and Richard Tauber. (62 min.) |
Tue, 20 November 2012
Another example of the versatilty and artistry of Leyla Gencer, "Queen of the Pirates." This is an Adriana from Naples, 1966, Under Oliviero di Fabritiis. The cast also features Amadeo Zambon, Enzo Sordello, and Adriana Lazzarini. (70 min.) |
Sun, 18 November 2012
For a little change of pace, I present a series of songs as written by Giuseppe Verdi.(Announced.) They are sung by Renata Scotto, accompanied by Vincenzo Scalera in 1989 (50 min.) |
Wed, 14 November 2012
This is a most exciting Ballo from 1940 under Ettore Panizza, featuring Zinka Milanov, Jussi Bjoerling,Alexander Sved, Bruna Castagna, and Stella Andreva. (70 min.). Why didn't mommy take me, even though I was only 4!!! |
Tue, 13 November 2012
As I indicated in my spoken commentary, sometimes you forget, with all the material available, just how some performances stay in your memory, and how unbelievably exciting the Mexico 1951 Aida was. Here is a mini-podcast of most of act three with Callas,Del Monaco, and Taddei. Sorry, they do not make them like this anymore!!!! (24 min.) |
Wed, 7 November 2012
The very great mezzo Christa Ludwig in scenes from Parsifal (w.Fritz Uhl and Walter Berry, Vienna 1961 under Von Karajan), Walkure w. James Morris under James Levine, and the marvelous finale of a 1966 Frau Ohne Schatten under Karl Boehm w.Berry,Rysanek, and Dalis. (70 min.) |
Sat, 3 November 2012
Choruses from French operas, including Mireille, Romeo et Juliette (Gounod), The Pearl Fishers, La Jolie Fille de Perth (Bizet) w.Alfredo Kraus, La Damnation de Faust (Berlioz), Herodiade (Massenet), Hamlet (Thomas) w.Thomas Hampson and Gregory Kunde, and the Salve Regina from Poulenc's Dialgues des Carmelites. (69 min.) |
Sat, 3 November 2012
In 1955, Cappuccilli auditioned for La Scala in Milan, where the auditioners, deeply impressed, encourage him to enter the Viotti competition. After his first place award, he made his official operatic debut in 1957 at the Teatro Nuovo in Milan, singing Tonio in Pagliacci. In 1960, he made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera, singing Giorgio Germont in La traviata, which was to be Cappuccilli spent most of his career singing in Europe, with only infrequent travels to North and South America. He made his debut at the Teatro alla Scala in 1964, as Enrico, at the Royal Opera House in London as Germont in 1967, and his Opéra de Paris debut took place in 1978, as Amonasro. He also appeared at the Vienna State Opera and the Salzburg Festival. He worked with the greatest European conductors of his time (Karajan, Gavazzeni, Abbado, Kleiber) and became one of the finest interpreters of the Italian repertoire. Cappuccilli was highly respected as a "Verdi baritone", where his beautiful voice, fine vocal technique, musical elegance, and dignified stage presence, were shown to their best advantage. He left an impressive discography, he recorded Lucia di Lammermoor twice, first with Maria Callas in 1959, and with Beverly Sills in 1970. Other notable recordings include; Rigoletto, opposite Ileana Cotrubas and Placido Domingo, under Carlo Maria Giulini, Macbeth, opposite Shirley Verrett, and Simon Boccanegra, opposite Mirella Freni and Nicolai Ghiaurov, both under Claudio Abbado. He also recorded Don Carlos, Il Trovatore and Aida under Herbert von Karajan Cappuccilli sang until his mid-sixties; an automobile accident in 1992 ended his stage career. He died in his native Trieste, at the age of 78.[2] Pagliacci,Zaza,Macbeth,Attila,Due Foscari,Forza,Trovatore,Do Carlo,Pearl Fishers, Chenier, Nabucco,Ernani,Roberto Devereux. (68 min.) |
Wed, 31 October 2012
A pretty good cast!!!! Don Giovanni under the legendary Karl Boehm in Naples 1955, with early Birgit Nilsson,Sena Jurinac,Alda Noni, Giuseppe Valdengo, Sesto Bruscantini, Anton Dermota, Gottlob Frick, and a new guy as Masetto named Walter Berry.(He might make it some day!!) (71 min.) |
Wed, 31 October 2012
From RAI Turino, 1951, under Arturo Basile, we present Cilea's "L'Arlesiana," with Ferruccio Tagliavini, Pia Tassinari (his wife), Paolo Silveri, Gianna Galli, and Loretta de Lelio (Mrs.Franco Corelli.) (68 min.) P.S. My brilliant (??) intro.did not come out, but the cast speaks for itself, so you can be spared my voice at least once. |
Sun, 21 October 2012
An early Renata Tebaldi performance from Naples, 1951 under Gabriele Santini. Featured also are Giino Penno (loudest high notes I ever heard), and Ugo Savarese. ( 72 min.). Featured also is a bonus of Tebaldi, Campora, and Taddei in the finale of the Traviata Gambling Scene from Naples, 1952, where uncharacteristically, Tebaldi thinks she is Elektra. |
Sun, 14 October 2012
Anita Cerquetti had to retire very soon. She had a magnificent voice,as you will hear, in arias from Ernani, Agnese di Hofenstaufen (Spontini), Oberon, Vespri Siciliani, Forza del Destinmo.William Tell, Aida,and Ernani. (63 min.) Anita Cerquetti (April 13, 1931) is an Italian dramatic soprano who had a short career in the 1950s. Cerquetti was born in Montecosaro, near Macerata, Italy. She was originally a student of the violin and trained eight years with Luigi Mori. After a mere one year of vocal study at the Conservatory of Perugia she made her operatic debut in Spoleto in 1951 as Aida. She sang all over Italy, notably in Florence as Noraime in Les Abencérages, under Carlo Maria Giulini in 1956, and as Elvira in Ernani, under Dimitri Mitropoulos in 1957. Her Teatro alla Scala debut was in 1958 as Abigail in Nabucco. She also sang on RAI in a wide variety of roles such as Elcia in Mosè in Egitto, Mathilde in Guglielmo Tell, Elena in I vespri siciliani, etc. Cerquetti made headlines in January 1958, when she replaced "in extremis" the ailing Maria Callas in Norma, at the Rome Opera House. She was already singing the role at the San Carlo in Naples. She commuted between the two cities to honor both engagements for several weeks. This "tour de force" won her great acclaim but had serious effects on her health. Shortly after she started withdrawing little by little from the stage until her complete retirement in 1961, aged only 30. Cerquetti sang relatively little in America. Her debut there was at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1955, as Amelia in Un ballo in maschera, opposite Jussi Björling, with Tullio Serafin conducting. Cerquetti made only two commercial recordings, both for Decca in 1957, a recital of Italian opera arias and a complete La Gioconda with Mario del Monaco, Ettore Bastianini, Giulietta Simionato, Cesare Siepi. Among her "pirated" recordings is a 1958 Aida, from Mexico City, with Flaviano Labò, Nell Rankin, Cornell MacNeil, Fernando Corena and Norman Treigle. The Rome Norma of 1958 with Franco Corelli is also available. In 1996 she sang and talked in Jan Schmidt-Garre's film Opera Fanatic. A recording of Don Carlo from Florence 1956 featuring Cerquetti as Elizabetta is available from Melodram. |
Sun, 14 October 2012
Highlights from an exciting Fidelio from Vienna, 1953 under Herbert Von Kareajan. It features Martha Moedl, Wolfgang Windgassen, Josef Metternich, Otto Edelmann (Rocco), Rudolf Schock, Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, and Hans Braun (Don Fernando.) (65 min.) |
Sat, 11 August 2012
The first commercial recording of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, featuring Camilla Williams and Lawrence Winters in the title roles, with Avon Long as Sportin' Life, Inez Matthews as Serena, June McMechen as Clara, and Warren Coleman as Crown. The conductor is Lehman Engel. (60 min.) |
Thu, 9 August 2012
My dear friend Ta'u Pupu'a, a native of Tonga, and former pro-football player. He "tackles" opera like the star he was at the sport. His career is blossoming, and here are some rehearsal excerpts from Tosca,Carmen, Turandot, and the terribly difficult Mahler "Das Lied von der Erde." We wish him the best as he embarks on an exciting career.(and I knew him "when.) (18 min.) |
Tue, 7 August 2012
The opera debut, on NBC TV in 1955, of Leontyne Price, in an abridged English version of Tosca. This historic performance features David Poleri, Josh Wheeler, and a newcomer named Thomas Stewart as Angelotti. The conductor is Peter Herman Adler. (72 min.) |
Mon, 6 August 2012
An Exciting Il Tabarro from 1946 under Cesare Sodero, with Licia Albanese, Lawrence Tibbett, Frederick Jagel, Margaret Harshaw, Alessio de Paolis, and Virgilio Lazzari. This is followed by some 1970 scenes from Il Tabarro from Florence, with Magda Olivero, Aldo Bottion, and Giulio Fioravanti,under the direction of Gaetano Delogu. (72 min.) |
Sun, 5 August 2012
From 1967 under Lamberto Gardelli, a wonderful Rigoletto starring Cornell MacNeil,Nicolai Gedda, Roberta Peters, Bonaldo Giaiotti, and Belen Amparan. You will love this!! (72 min.) |
Sat, 4 August 2012
The sound track of the 1969 Hamburg Elektra film under Leopold Ludwig, featuring Gladys Kuchta, Regina Resnik, Ingrid Bjoerner, and Hans Sotin. This is followed by the Elektra/Klytaemnestra scene with Martha Moedl and inge Borkh from Rome 1965, under Antal Dorati (71 min.) |
Wed, 1 August 2012
A thrilling Trovatore from Paris 2003 under Maurizio Benini. Featured are Roberto Alagna, Sondra Radvanovsky,Dolora Zajick, Stefano Antonuccci, and Orlin Anastassov (Ferrando.) ( 71 min.) Just a little postscript: I used to tell Mme.Zajick that is so RARE in our usually "pretty" approach to opera, and that she is a throwback to a Stignani, a Barbieri,etc. She seemed to understand my feelings in regard to what she does want of her own students, and had me do a "Handelmanian Master Class" in which I played recordings illustrating style,emotion, etc.....I cudda beena star!! (But I cannot read music.) |
Wed, 1 August 2012
A truly glorious Simon Boccanegra from Monaco, 1966, featuring the kind of singing we adore. Giuseppe Taddei, Giorgio Tozzi, Antonietta Stella (Toni Starr), Gianfranco Cecchele, and Ivan Sardi. The conductor is Giuseppe Patane. (66 min.) |
Wed, 25 July 2012
There is just nothing that compares to Nilsson/Corelli in Turandot. I saw several and as I say "the applause and cheers never stopped in 50 years." This is from 1964 La Scala under Gianandrea Gavazzeni with Gallina Vishnevskaya and Nicola Zaccaria. ( 71 min.) |