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, 27 February 2013
One of the GIANTS of our music culture!!!!!!! Rest in peace@!!!
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-- posted at: 10:54pm EDT
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Tue, 26 February 2013
Feb.27, 1888,the great great lady was born.....If I had to see ONE diva in my life from the past..it would be this remarkable lady!!!
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-- posted at: 7:14pm EDT
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Sat, 23 February 2013
The very first Met telecast. Renata was a bit "chubby" here......butso what....Listen to that EMOTION!!! LOVE HER!!!!!
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-- posted at: 7:18pm EDT
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Sat, 23 February 2013
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-- posted at: 7:14pm EDT
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Fri, 22 February 2013
Why did that Parma audience go NUTS???? Here is an example!!!!!
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-- posted at: 1:41am EDT
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Fri, 22 February 2013
After that Parma Tosca, the audience demands an encore at end of opera...I love it!!!!!
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-- posted at: 1:39am EDT
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Thu, 21 February 2013
Feb.22, 1927 was the birthday of one of the greatest sopranos ever,Regine Crespin. It was an amazing voice, and here she sings the aria from The Damnation of Faust.She will never be forgotten!!!
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-- posted at: 6:38pm EDT
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Mon, 18 February 2013
The finale of an unusual production of one of the greatest operas,Die Frau Ohne Schatten. It is available on DVD complete (Salzburg 2011).Look it up on Amazon..It is totally UNCUT and takes place in a studio...this is the staging..but the singing is truly remarkable.
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-- posted at: 2:06am EDT
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Mon, 18 February 2013
Yes,she had her flaws...but LORD,Leonie Rysanek remains in our hearts one of the most exciting singers EVER!!! Here is the duet from "Aegyptische Helena" with Bernd Aldenhoff.
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-- posted at: 1:59am EDT
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Sun, 17 February 2013
She just continues to thrill me NO END!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 1:54pm EDT
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Sun, 17 February 2013
Have you all seen this wonderful scene from the Video "The Golden Ring?" Birgit enjoyed the joke!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 1:30am EDT
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Sat, 16 February 2013
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-- posted at: 8:33pm EDT
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Sat, 16 February 2013
Marian Anderson (February 27, 1897 – April 8, 1993)[1] was an African-American contralto and one of the most celebrated singers of the twentieth century. Music critic Alan Blyth said "Her voice was a rich, vibrant contralto of intrinsic beauty."[2] Most of her singing career was spent performing in concert and recital in major music venues and with famous orchestras throughout the United States and Europe between 1925 and 1965. Although offered roles with many important European opera companies, Anderson declined, as she had no training in acting. She preferred to perform in concert and recital only. She did, however, perform opera arias within her concerts and recitals. She made many recordings that reflected her broad performance repertoire of everything from concert literature to lieder to opera to traditional American songs and spirituals.[2] Anderson became an important figure in the struggle for black artists to overcome racial prejudice in the United States during the mid-twentieth century. In 1939, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) refused permission for Anderson to sing to an integrated audience in Constitution Hall. The incident placed Anderson into the spotlight of the international community on a level unusual for a classical musician. With the aid of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt, Anderson performed a critically acclaimed open-air concert on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. She sang before a crowd of more than 75,000 people and a radio audience in the millions. Anderson continued to break barriers for black artists in the United States, becoming the first black person, American or otherwise, to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on January 7, 1955. Her performance as Ulrica in Giuseppe Verdi's Un ballo in maschera at the Met was the only time she sang an opera role on stage. Anderson worked for several years as a delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Committee and as a "goodwill ambassadress" for the United States Department of State, giving concerts all over the world. She participated in the civil rights movement in the 1960s, singing at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. The recipient of numerous awards and honors, Anderson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963, the Kennedy Center Honors in 1978, the National Medal of Arts in 1986, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991. I was there and saw her debut.A historic occasion,paving the way for so many wonderful Afro-American artists.Sad so many suffered under the prejudice of others, but at least she made it.I was there!
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-- posted at: 8:30pm EDT
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Sat, 16 February 2013
Rigoletto on radio today from the Met. They no longer allow the Rigoletto to sing "AVRAIIIIIII".Instead,he says "avrai" and then the duet..and is thre anything like this????Leyla's glottal attacks and a fabulous ending.......
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-- posted at: 8:06pm EDT
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Thu, 14 February 2013
I love compilations like this. If you like high notes...have fun!!!!! I hope the podcast glitches are fixed soon. Thanks for your patience.
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-- posted at: 11:36pm EDT
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Thu, 14 February 2013
I have been informed that since Placido has nothing much else to do these days, he will probably be taking over the Pope's job, and besides, he LOVES the costume. Unfortunately, he will have to sell Madrid (es propietario de la ciudad) and as far as Marta goes...well,look, you can't have everything!!! Buena Suerte, Placido!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 8:16pm EDT
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Thu, 14 February 2013
May I wish you all a most happy Valentine's Day. Ella Fitzgerald has the kind of style in pop that many of our great opera stars possess in their fach. (Skip the AD!!) My best wishes to all of you....Charlie
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-- posted at: 7:42pm EDT
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Wed, 13 February 2013
ANOTHER great voice for Wagner, although it was Farrell's decision not to sing a complete Wagner opera..Preferred JAZZ...well, in opera,one of the great voices of all time, and a very funny lady!!!
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-- posted at: 1:56am EDT
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Wed, 13 February 2013
I just LOVED this lady....Magnificent voice..Born Feb.13, 1938. She should be more noticed. I saw her in Tosca, Ariadne,etc. She would be the GREAT Wagnerian of today!!
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-- posted at: 1:50am EDT
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Tue, 12 February 2013
Born Feb.12, 1940, Gilda Cruz-Romo today would be QUEEN of the dramatic sopranos!!!!!!What a marvelous,exciting artist!!!!!
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-- posted at: 11:17pm EDT
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Mon, 11 February 2013
In 1967,Beverly Sills was "discovered" in this role..but she was always wonderful. We came close to falling out of the balcony at the way she sang this music!!!!!
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-- posted at: 2:15pm EDT
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Mon, 11 February 2013
Magda Olivero and Richard Tucker in Manon Lescaut,Act 4. Just phenomenal!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 2:04pm EDT
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Mon, 11 February 2013
This is not my week..Another Libsyn glitch..so meanwhile,I will give you some videos..PACENZA!!!!!
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-- posted at: 1:48pm EDT
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Sat, 9 February 2013
One of the joys of my life is when a marvelous artist shows such a lovely personality, and also is interested in singers of the past, and even visits this site. Stefan Kocan, a Slovak bass,currently at the Met as a sleazy Sparafucile in the Las Vegas Rigoletto. Stefan is not just a fine artist, but a "regular guy" and i am so happy to have met him and enjoy his amiable personality.
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-- posted at: 1:31am EDT
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Fri, 8 February 2013
In 1965, we did Tchaikowsky's beautiful and less-known "Iolantha." This was when I met Marisa Galvany, since I was her doctor (we did it in English.) The Met will do it in a few years, with these two great singers, Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala, LOVE THEM!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 9:16pm EDT
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Fri, 8 February 2013
In my effort to please you all, I was told I could make my podcasts longer;however, if you only want the podcasts shorter than 74 min.because you want to burn them to a CD, I will keep the format the same. Please write me at Placido21@aol.com if you feel I should NOT lengthen the podcasts. I will then keep everything the same. As ever Charlie
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-- posted at: 12:56pm EDT
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Wed, 6 February 2013
Do we know of any Violettas who can conclude "Sempre Libera' like this??All she had to do was take a high E flat..Well,what more can we ask of this great lady???
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-- posted at: 10:52pm EDT
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Wed, 6 February 2013
Several years ago,I sang the Sacristan in a Tosca with a superb artist, Dorothy Bishop. Since then, Dorothy, one of the sweetest and most talented individuals I have ever met, has been a HUGE hit all over the globe.This is from Helsinki,Finland. How many Toscas do you know who can belt out pop songs, hilariously imitate some of our personalities (She did Sarah Palin BETTER than Sarah Palin), and hit high D's????
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-- posted at: 10:43pm EDT
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Wed, 6 February 2013
Have you ever wanted to yell at some idiot(s) at the opera who talk,eat,text, and annoy you? I am happy Patti blasted this guy for taking a FLASH photo!
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-- posted at: 10:38pm EDT
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Wed, 6 February 2013
Turandot from 1985, Rome with Gwyneth Jones,Diana Soviero, Nicola Martinucci, Alessandro Corbelli. Great Performance!! (72 min) Podcasts have returned!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Tue, 5 February 2013
Leonie Rysanek tears up the stage in a scene from act two Jenufa...There cannot today EXIST anything of this nature!!!!! LORD! How we miss her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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-- posted at: 9:37pm EDT
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Sun, 3 February 2013
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!!!!
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-- posted at: 1:49pm EDT
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Sun, 3 February 2013
Here is the Comte D'Ory aria sung by our newest discovery, Pretty Yende. She has thrilled NY audiences these weeks.!!!
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-- posted at: 1:39pm EDT
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Sun, 3 February 2013
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!!!!
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-- posted at: 1:17pm EDT
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Sat, 2 February 2013
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...
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-- posted at: 8:37pm EDT
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Sat, 2 February 2013
Still some glitches on the podcast site....I will "entertain" you meanwhile with some more videos..Thanks for your patience. Charlie
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-- posted at: 8:32pm EDT
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Fri, 1 February 2013
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!!!!!
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-- posted at: 2:13pm EDT
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Fri, 1 February 2013
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????
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-- posted at: 1:50pm EDT
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Fri, 1 February 2013
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-- posted at: 11:32am EDT
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Fri, 1 February 2013
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!!!!
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-- posted at: 12:38am EDT
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