From various commercial recordings, we present scenes (announced) from Puccini operas, featuring many of the great stars of the recent past. They include:

Carlo Bergonzi, Roberto Alagna,Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras, Jussi Bjoerling, Mirella Freni, Renata Tebaldi, Kiri Te Kanawa, Montserrat Caballe, Sherril Milnes, Joan Sutherland,Rolando Panerai,Leo Nucci and Franco Corelli.  (68 min.)

Selections from the earlier part of the 20th century, featuring the marvelous voices of:

Frieda Hempel, (pictured),Lucien Muratore, Celestina Boninsegna, Jacques Urlus, and Margarete Matzenauer. All selections are announced   (68 min.)

Here are selections from live radio programs in the 1940's. (Selections announced.) Some of the finest singers are included: Eleanor Steber, Charle Kullman, Beniamino Gigli, Erna Berger, Eugene Conley, Rose Bampton, Ferruccio Tagliavini, Pia Tassinari, Rise Stevens, Dorothy Maynor, Alexander Kipnis.   (55 min.)

 (Photo: Eleanor Steber)

 Thank HEAVEN mommy was not around to hear this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vassilka hits the greatest unnatural B natural in captivity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   Has anyone had a problem burning a podcast on to a disc??I received word that the Dorothy Kirsten Tosca was a "restricted' item and could not be burned. Write to me at Placido21@aol.com if any problem exists and i will contact the libsyn helpdesk.   Thanks  Charlie

  Zinka Milanov material mostly from 1965-1966. Some I have presented previously, but it is nice to hear her last appearances (in Newark and Trenton, New Jersey). I added the Covent Garden Vissi d'arte from 1958, the famous "Enzo adorato" note from 1957, and Zinka speaking of hr career in 1976 and 1978.(70 min.)

    I have announced all selections and the photo you see is Zinka and the 20 year old kid who stood on the old Met Standee Line for hours, as we all froze while waiting for the doors to open. I would not trade it for anything.

    Zinka was not exactly a "umille ancella,' and once said, "No vun can take my chair!" She was right!