Lohengrin From Bayreuth 1954

   In keeping with my promise to select certain live opera performances and present highlights, I chose a marvelous Bayreuth 1954 Lohengrin. It is conducted by Eugen Jochum and features the following cast:

Lohengrin   Wolfgang Windgassen
Elsa            Birgit Nilsson (age 36)
Ortrud         Astrid Varnay
Telramund   Herman Uhde
King Henry   Theo Adam

               I trust you will enjoy this podcast, and I will always select certain works to highlight for you. (72 min.)

Direct download: 2009-06-14-21-58-35.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:27pm EDT

 Diana Soviero as Tosca

    Those of you who have tuned in to my podcasts already know what love and admiration I have for Diana Soviero, whom I consider one of the greatest exponents of the "Verismo" style of singing, a style that reminds us of the era of Claudia Muzio, Mafalda Favero, Virginia Zeani.
      I am presenting highlights from the very first Tosca of Mme.Soviero, Montreal 1991, featuring Tony De Paolo as Cavaradossi and Harry Dworchak as Scarpia, conducted by Joseph Rescigno.
       I  believe you will concur that Mme.Soviero has been one of our greatest artists, and presently is hailed as one of our finest teachers and coaches. I consider myself most fortunate to have followed Mme.Soviero's career for the past 30 years, and hope you enjoy this superb performance.  
( 70 min.)

 

Direct download: 2009-06-13-23-35-47.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:01am EDT

Bel Canto Supreme:Semiramide 1980

Highlights from an extraordinary performance of Rossini's "Semiramide." Featured are two of the greatest exponents of Bel Canto singing, Marilyn Horne and Montserrat Caballe. Featured also are Samuel Ramey and Francisco Araiza, conducted by Jesus Lopez-Cobos (Aix-en-Provence, 1980)                                      (72 min.)

Direct download: 2009-06-13-22-16-21.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:47pm EDT

Happy 96th birthday to Rise Stevens, a great Octavian.

   The first real live opera star I met, at age 16, was dear Rise Stevens, who celebrated her 96th birthday on June 11. We had so many lovely afternoons at her home since we had a club for her, and she was always a dear gracious person. 
     One of her greatest roles was Octavian in Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier, and we present highlights from a superb 1949 performance that also features Erna Berger, Eleanor Steber, and Emmanuel List. I know this special tribute to this great artist will be appreciated by all.
                                              (70 min.)

Direct download: 2009-06-13-00-38-29.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:07am EDT

Magda Olivero Sings at 99!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qQqsyPPRhM

Can you imagine that at 99 Magda Olivero can still sing??

 This is a brief scene from Francesca da Rimini.

    I am so touched.....  Cent'anni,Magda!!!!

Category:general -- posted at: 9:25pm EDT

Golden Age Artists Sing Donizetti

  Here is a compilation of arias and duets from Donizetti operas as sung by many great artists of the early 20th century. The selections are:

 Maria di Rudenz:
             Mattia Battistini   "Ah! Non avea piu lagrime."

Linda di Chamounix:
              Rosina Storchio     "Oh luce di quest'anima"

Lucrezia Borgia:

               Carlo Albani       "Di pescatore ignobile"
Don Sebastiano:
                Alfred Piccaver    "Deserto in terra."

La Favorita:
                Aureliano Pertile  "Una vergine"
                 Giacomo Lauri-Volpi   "Spirto gentil"
                 Riccardo Stracciari   "Vien,Leonora"
                 Sigrid Onegin      "O mio Fernando"
                  Ezio Pinza         "Splendon piu bel in ciel."
                  Marcel Journet   " Balthazar Aria"(In French)
 L'Elisir d'amore:
                   Fernando de Lucia and Ernesto Badini  Duet,act one.
                    Tito Schipa "Una furtiva lagrima"
Don Pasquale:
                     Giuseppe Anselmi     "Sogno soave e casto"
                     Olympia Boronat      "So anch'io la virtu magica"
                      Lucrezia Bori and Giuseppe de Luca     Duet
Lucia di Lammermoor:
                      Luisa Tetrazzini   Act One arias
                                         (74 min.)

 

 

Direct download: 2009-06-05-19-10-01.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:43pm EDT

The Art (??) of mezzo Sylvia Sawyer

   One of the most hilarious singers ever to record (some nerve!!). Sylvia Sawyer recorded mezzo roles in Ballo, Aida, and Trovatore on Capitol records in the 1950's. The rest of the cast of the Aida and Trovatore was respectable, and included Stella Roman, Gino Sarri, and Antonio Mancaserra.
   However, Mme.Sawyer sounds like a little kid (even with chest tones), and her Italian diction has caused many opera lovers to become hysterical over the years. I hope you will not mind a little more levity in this sea of great music.             (71 min.)

Direct download: 2009-06-02-14-13-56.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:44pm EDT

The Legendary Callas Covent Garden Norma debut

Highlights from one of the greatest performances of opera. This is the Maria Callas debut at Covent Garden as Norma in 1952. The great Ebe Stignani is the Adalgisa, Mirto Picchi is Pollione, Giacomo Vaghi is Oroveso, and a newcomer by the name of Joan Sutherland is the Clotilde.   Vittorio Gui is the conductor.  
(70 min.)             

Direct download: 2009-06-01-23-31-49.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:03am EDT

Tristan und Isolde,1957

Highlights from a magnificent performance of Tristan und Isolde from Florence, May 21,1957.It is conducted by the very famous Arthur Rodzinski and features:

Birgit Nilsson        Isolde
Wolfgang Windgassen   Tristan
Grace Hoffman      Brangaene
Gustav Neidlinger   Kurvenal
Otto von Rohr        King Marke
                                                 (71 min.)

Direct download: 2009-06-01-18-44-56.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:17pm EDT


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