This is why Dolora Zajick is so UNIQUE these days.Even at 60, and with Asthma, she drives us NUTS with that fabulous voice, a throwback to the "biggies" I used to hear. She has FUN!!!!

Here is the Comte D'Ory aria sung by our newest discovery, Pretty Yende. She has thrilled NY audiences these weeks.!!!

Our new sensation from S.Afrika..Pretty Yende, who replaced Nino Machaidze on short notice in the Met "Comte D'Ory." What a wonderful lady!!!!! a true STAR!!!!

Could we cast my favorite film as an OPERA?? Every time Madeline LeBeau utters the words, "Mugir ces feroces soldats," with the tears streaming down her face, it gets to me...every time...

  Still some glitches on the podcast site....I will "entertain" you meanwhile with some more videos..Thanks for your patience.

                                                      Charlie

Now LOOK, it is nice to have some smaller opera groups perform for an audience. I think Mr.Gelb should give serious consideration to changing the new Ballo to this cast and production. Note how the Riccardo cannot get the papers out of his pocket..that is even funnier than his singing..I think!)

I know..I am mean!  However, this just made my day!!!!!

                             Sweet memories of Funny Renata "Tosca Quotes"

       Renata was so funny and I recall some of her humorous quotes, both from Tosca:

1. At a big hotel party, she grabbed the knife to cut the cake and exclaimed,    

"Questo il bacio di Tosca!!"

2. When we saw her off on the train to Philly.(The Met went there on Tuesdays), the baggage handler opened the door of the open last car where she stood, and she said, "Spoleta,CHIUDI!"

      I will add that when us kiddies sat in the first row at Carnegie for a Bell Tel.Hr. appearance, she looked down at us, winked, and then DESTROYED the place by starting the "Inflammatus!" We felt the show was just for us.

  This act two Fanciulla scene in 1970 caused us to tear programs and throw them down!!!!!

     So how can anyone not think of her the way we all did..and still do????

                           
                            Do we need more words to describe the great Renata Tebaldi, on her birthday,Feb.1? Little did us "kids" know, when we first met her,on the occasion of her Met debut,Jan.31, 1955 as Desdemona, that she was celebrating her 33rd birthday. Her performances were "events" and the love she brought across the footlights and after the show was something that has remained with me all these years.
                             On this day,let us all remember one of the most treasured singers in opera history. Your friend "Carlos" remembers you. (When I met her, her English was bad, as was my Italian, so I spoke in Spanish and thus,she called me "CarloS."
                                                               With all my love,

                                                                           "Carlos"

More of our Feb. 1 birthday girl, the sensational Renata Tebaldi. I guess singers today would be scared of using chest voice...That is why so many are boring!!!!

We miss the late Cornell MacNeil.He had the HUGEST baritone voice I ever heard,even bigger than Warren. This is an Example of how he ROCKED the Met!!!!