When I would sing (lower key) "Dein ist mein ganzes herz" ma liked Gedda more...Why?

Today she would like Piotr more!

The great Gigli w.Elizabeth

Barbato in Forza. He was 61. I saw his 1955 farewell. Had he lived to 80, he would still have had it!!!!!

  Diana Soviero's Met debut

with Alfredo Kraus in Romeo

et Juliette.The "Poison aria"

is superb.(Also on YouTube).

I know her since 1977.Still feel

she is as great as any soprano in

my experience.

Carteri and Taddei in

act 3 are so moving!!

Ferruccio Tagliavini is Rodolfo.

Close to Ruffo!!  I thought Warren had a big voice.MacNeilwas awesome!!!!!!!

My buddy,Marisa Galvany (one of many fake names) as Medea.

Hard to find right words for the

glorious Victoria's voice!!!!! Here is "Dove sono?"

Joseph Calleja wants people to 

call him "Joe." That is the kind

of guy he is. When he met me, he

said I was more famous than he is.

  TRUE?????????????????

If you are not feeling well, do NOT

listen to Sirach von Bodengraven!

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!

  I am finding old audio stuff for you.

Are you thrilled??????

Great fun guy, Brian Hymel, in French arias.

He is such a wonderful person, and has

a beautiful family. BUY IT! I get

no commission on the full CD.

Callas, Corelli, Nicolai

from Trieste.Note Corelli attack before Callas D!!!!!!!!!    Nothing like this today!!!

Here are early recordings of my dear friend

Diana Soviero.Friends since 1977. I hope you like them.

Great cast!! (well,almost!)  

Milanov,Baebieri,Siepi,Warren. They had

to Baum, but that's life!!!!! DelMonaco

did other shows, but this is what did

occur at times.

I totally disagree with Placido singing baritone.

He has an amazing amount of voice at

75, and he was also born on a famous

day,Jan.21 (like me, but I sang the right stuff.)

Some of you will disagree,but I feel

he does not do proper justice to

the Verdi line. BUT here he shows what

a great singer he has been.

FLU got me...went to rehab for legs..sang in the gym...back soon......

Live Radio broadcasts sponsored by Martini & Rossi.

Di Stefano  Iris  "Apri la tua finestra"

Carosio       Sonnambula    "Ah non credea"

Callas          Seraglio aria (In Ital.)

Gigli             Werther aria  (In Ital.)

Simionato     Tancredi   "Di tanti palpiti"

G.Raimondi   Luisa Miller    "Quando le sere al placido"

Callas            La Vestale     "Tu che invoco"

Olivero           La Wally       "Ebben,ne andro"  

DelMonaco       Walkure Act one scene

Cossotto       Samson et Delilah  act 1 aria

Bergonzi/Carteri    Butterfly Duet

A friend was listening to the live Bayreuth Walkure, featuring the debut of Swedish baritone, John Lundgren. He was CRAZY..likening him to Hotter and London. I tuned in and I was just AMAZED!!

Of course it is unique, but he must be ranked as one of the great singers of today. He is the Rance on the DVD Fanciulla w.Stemme, and I hope he records more.

Not often do we hear this level of singing, especially in such difficult music.  Bless him!!!!!

Born in Jessup, Pennsylvania, Cossa studied with Anthony Marlowe in Detroit, Michigan, Robert Weede in Concord, California, and Armen Boyajian in New York City. He made his debut at the New York City Opera as Morales in 1961, and a week later sang Sharpless with the company. He won the American Opera Auditions in 1964 and was sent to Italy for debuts at the Teatro Nuovo in Milan and Teatro della Pergola in Florence.^[2]

He made his debut at the San Francisco Opera in 1967 as Zurga in Les pêcheurs de perles. His Metropolitan Opera debut took place on January 30, 1970 as Silvio in Pagliacci. Other roles there were Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Lescaut in Manon Lescaut, Marcello in La bohème, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliette, Masetto in Don Giovanni, Valentin in Faust, Yeletsky in Pique Dame, Germont in La traviata, and Albert in Werther. In 1976 he created the role of David Murphy in the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti's The Hero with the Opera Company of Philadelphia.^[3]

Cossa's left a few notable recordings of his best roles such as Belcore in L'elisir d'amore opposite Dame Joan Sutherland and Luciano Pavarotti, Achillas in Handel's Giulio Cesare opposite Norman Treigle and Beverly Sills, Nevers in Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots, again opposite Sutherland, Martina Arroyo and Huguette Tourangeau, and the baritone solo part in Roger Sessions' When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd. He can also be heard on the Classical Record Library's A Celebration of Schumann and Schubert with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

He has sung as soloist with the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Chicago Symphony, the Israel Philharmonic, and the National Symphony.

He was chosen by Licia Albanese to be the recipient of the Puccini Foundation's Bacccarat Award in 2004, and in 1993 was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Great American Singers at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.

Cossa taught at the Manhattan School of Music and in 1988 he accepted a position as Professor of Music at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he became chair of Voice/Opera.

Also, a SWEET GUY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

His North American debut was as Alvise in Ponchielli's La Gioconda at the second season opening of Hammerstein's Manhattan Opera House. It was the night of "Golden Age" stars, also featuring American debuts of Giovanni Zenatello as Enzo and Jeanne Gerville-Réache as La Cieca, while Lillian Nordica sang the tile role, Mario Ancona was Barnaba and Eleanora de Cisnero was Laura. A year later, Metropolitan Opera engaged Didur as Méphistophélès in Gounod's Faust at the inauguration of the new Brooklyn Academy of Music to be followed two days later by his Ramfis in Giuseppe Verdi's Aida. On this all-star opening night of the 1908 season, Arturo Toscanini was in the pit and the rest of the cast included Emmy Destinn in her Met debut as Aida, Enrico Caruso (Radames), Louise Homer (Amneris) and Antonio Scotti (Amonasro). He remained with the company for a quarter of a century and became one of its principal bass singers, counting 933 performances in 55 roles.^[9]

It was at the Met in 1913 that he appeared in the title role of Boris Godunov in the American premiere of Mussorgsky's opera.^[10][11][12] Didur created the roles in three operas by Giacomo Puccini at the Met, La fanciulla del West and the Il tabarro and Gianni Schicchi of the Il Trittico trilogy. He also appeared at the world premiere of Humperdinck's Die Königskinder. His other important "firsts" at the Met include the US premieres of Mozart's Così fan tutte, Smetana's The Bartered Bride, Borodin's Prince Igor (singing both Prince Galitzky and Khan Konchak), and Montemezzi's L'amore dei tre re. He also sang under the baton of Gustav Mahler in Mozart's Le nozze de Figaro, Smetana's The Bartered Bride and the Met premiere of Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades. Didur's last appearance at the Met was in the role of Coppélius in Les Contes d'Hoffmann on 11 February 1932.^[9] His voice had been on the wane for some time and he returned to live in Europe.^[13

  I was 18.(She was 48). My first introduction to the artist who would become my all-time favorite singer was during the 1953-54 season. I knew enough to realize she did have problems with high C, so I did not include all of the performance.

With Blanche Thebom,Cesare Siepi, and  the LOUDEST tenor on record, Gino Penno,who did not last too long, Zinka emitted some of the greatest sounds I have ever heard.

  Note the opening of "In mia man," where you hear the rich mixed low tones, brilliant top,total involvement with the music, great nobility, and to my ears, a legendary performance.

  I saw her 88 times, and can "play her repertory in my ears."

    She was not a cuddly Tebaldi, but I accepted it. She was a tough lady, until her butcher threw her out for smelling the chickens!

  (VAT??? Don't you know who I am???)

 I TOLD you more great stuff is coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Callas, Monti, Cossotto,Zaccaria

Cond.Antonino Votto 8/21/57 

Edinburg  Scala Visit

1.Hoffmann w.Stich-Randall (1954-56)

2. Onegin w.Valerie Bak (1954)

3. Prince Igor aria (1953)

4. Aida duet w.Varnay (1953)

5. Walkure scenes w.Varnay (1953)

A great man!!!! One of the most dynamic singing/actors in opera. Sadly, the career was cut short by physical problems, but he still managed a fine career.

Charlie's all-time favorite aria:

Behrens,Caballe, Callas, Galvany, Malfitano, Marton, Milanov, Millo, Olivero, Price, Rysanek, Scotto, Tebaldi

Please note: These are all LIVE, so sound may vary.

My beloved friend,Diana Soviero, in Fedora from Montreal,1995. Loris is Ermanno Mauro.

For me, Diana has been one of the very last of the "verismo divas."

Just the first phrase is so emotional!!

Zinka and Franco rarely sang together, but when they did.....wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IN THE HIGH KEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After a Macbeth, this big guy said to me, "Are you Charlie Handelman?..You are more famous than I am!!"

   Not true...but we had so much fun!!!!!!! Since then, I always sign my e-mails to him "More famous than you!!!"

A superb voice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was a teenager, and POOR..but those Cetra recordings with Mario Filippeschi were so exciting. He was born on June 7, 1907. I know he was not "subtle" but a wild voice!!!!!!!

Superb Mandryka and Coming up Dutchman at the Met.

Michael Volle has established himself as one of the leading baritones, receiving the important German Theatre Award “Faust” and awarded “Singer of the Year” by the opera magazine “Opernwelt”. He studied with Josef Metternich and Rudolf Piernay.

His first permanent engagements were at Mannheim, Bonn, Düsseldorf and Cologne. From 1999 until 2007 Michael Volle was a member of the ensemble of the Zurich Opera House where he sang various roles in new productions, including Beckmesser Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Eugene Onegin, Golaud Pelléas et Mélisande, Marcello La Bohème, Count Le Nozze di Figaro, Barak Die Frau ohne Schatten (2009) and Wolfram Tannhäuser (2011).

Since the 2007/2008 season Michael Volle has been a member of the Munich State Opera singing the title roles in the new productions of Eugene Onegin and Wozzeck and further roles like Count Le Nozze di Figaro, Kurwenal, Amfortas, Wolfram and Amonasro.

Messiah, An Sylvia,Tannhauser,Parsifal,Meistersinger,Don Carlo, Falstaff, Merry Widow

Mess

Combining an attractive voice with sparkling coloratura agility and good looks, Peters became a favorite of American audiences and a great proponent of opera for the masses. She quickly established herself in the standard soubrette and coloratura repertoire. Her roles at the Met included Susanna in Nozze di Figaro; Despina in Così fan tutte; The Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute; Amore in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice; Marzeline in Beethoven's Fidelio; Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia; Adina in L'elisir d'amore; Norina in Don Pasquale; Oscar in Un ballo in maschera; Nanetta in Falstaff; Olympia in Les contes d'Hoffmann; Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier; Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos; and Adele in Die Fledermaus. She later added lyric-coloratura roles such as Amina in La sonnambula, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor and Gilda in Rigoletto, the last being her farewell role at the Met in 1985.

Fra Davolo,Sonnambula,Etoile Du Nord(Meyerbeer), Hamlet, Perle du Bresil(David)

Luisa Tetrazzini. One of the greats! Today they would "laugh" at the deliberate register breaks. That was the style. I love it!!!

THAT TRILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Linda di Chamounix, Sonnambula, Crispino e la Comare (Ricci), Vespri Siciliani,

I have archived all podcasts, but in the case of individual singers, it is often hard to check exactly what selections I presented. However, there is so much, I am sure you will like it all,even if you heard it previously.

The range of roles which she undertook was unusually varied in their vocal requirements: Manon, Charlotte (in Werther), Juliette (in Roméo et Juliette), Marguerite (in Faust), Mignon, Zerlina (in Don Giovanni) and Mélisande. She also sang the trio of heroines in The Tales of Hoffmann.

Vallin had a great affection for French operetta, and performed works by Lecocq, Massé, and Chabrier; she even ventured into music hall during the 1930s, singing at the Alhambra in Paris. Such was her popularity in her native country that she also appeared in a 1937 film, La fille de la Madelon.

Vallin worked with most of the leading French singers of her era, including the renowned tenor Georges Thill, whom she disliked. Her voice was that of a good-sized lyric soprano, well balanced but strongest in its middle and lower registers; but, at her peak, she was also capable of singing high coloratura, as recordings of arias by Bellini and Donizetti illustrate. Her tone was cool and clear, with exemplary enunciation. Louise, Charlotte and Manon became her signature roles. Her performances were described by the critic André Tubeuf as the "epitome of good singing but also of good taste". Sound technique supported both her versatility and the durability of her career; as late as 1946, when she was 60, she sang the Countess (in Le nozze di Figaro) and she continued singing and recording into the 1950s. Between 1953-59, she was a guest professor at the Conservatory in Montevideo.

Roi d"Ys,Pearl Fishers,Louise,Enfant Prodigue,Fortunio(Messager),Chanson Georgienne (Balakirev)

  More stuff to come.Have had glitches...Non mi abbandonare!!!!

Confessate!!!!  I know some of you sing in the shower!

Here is a guy who thinks he is the succesor to Nicolai Gedda. Let us give him credit! (or should we?)

See, I TOLD you I would do audio podcasts again! I just had so many glitches.

Here is a 1967 Rigoletto under Fernando Previtali, with the glorious cast of Cornell MacNeil,Richard Tucker, and Renata Scotto.

(I do not have complete cast information.)

  Wolf-Ferrari: Preghiera, Come tu mi fai rabbia

  Respighi:Ballata

   Puccini: e l'uccellino

    Cimara:  Stornello

     Denza:    Se

     Buzzi-Peccia:  Colombetta

      Donizetti:   Me voglio fa 'na casa

       Musetta's Waltz

       Buzzi-Peccia:  El Morenito

         Danny Boy

          Lehar: Yours is my heart alone (In Italian)

           Tosti:  'A vucchella

Part One of Tebaldi NY  Feb.19, 1976 Farewell

(Acc.Martin Katz)

Sarti:Lungi dal caroi bene

Scarlatti: Se Florindo e fedele

Rossini:  Anzoleta avanti la regata

Bellini:  Vanne,o rosa fortunata

Verdi:  Otello "Ave Maria"

Rossini:  L'invito

Gluck:  Alceste aria

Puccini:  Mimi Addio

Wolf-Ferrari:  O miei sospir

Happy Jan.21 birthday to at least one famous guy, but the other one is also a star(in my own mind.)

 Tannhauser,Luisa Miller (where he gets to sing, "Quando le sere al PLACIDO"),and duet w.Pilar Lorengar.

                        Un abrazo fuerte,Placido!!!!

Hope this works!! Have had computer disasters!!!

Lucrezia Bori was a very famous singer. Her name I think was Borgia, and I would not have wanted to eat at her house!

 Here are live scenes from La Rondine w.Mario Chamlee (1934 Chicago), and Manon (1936 Met) with Richard Crooks.   

Hope I can do many more podcasts,before you get frustrated!

On occasion, a brilliant artist comes along and thrills audiences all over the globe. Here are three excerpts from tenor Bryan Hymel's Album entitled "Heroique."

The operas are: Vepres Siciliennes, Les Troyens (where he made a Met debut on short notice and was a sensation. See Youtube), and Queen of Sheba.

 Buy the whole album!!!!  As usual, I only give you excerpts, since I  would not want him to lose royalties. He is too nice a guy!

Mr.Bo Rydberg suggested a podcast on the famous Swedish singers, some of whom I have enjoyed live.(Star next to those I saw at the Met.) Some are fabulous LEGENDS in the history of the vocal art.

1. Karen Branzell (mezzo) Walkure act 3 scene

 2. Ivar Andresen Huguenots aria

 3. Kerstin Thorborg  Delilah act 2 scene

 4. Sven Nilsson   Onegin  Gremin aria

5. Fanal (Atterberg) Finale, Bjoerling, Berglund,Gorlin

6. Medeltida (Rangstrom)* Svanholm sings the ballad

7. Joel Berglund  Meistersinger Fliedermonolog

8.Hjoerdis Schymberg (Pronounced "Schimbarri") Flute aria

9. Gertrude Wetergren   Ballo Ulrica aria

10. Torsten Ralf  Lohengrin aria

11. Nicolai Gedda   Postillon aria

12. Ingvar Wixell and Bust Margit Jonsson in Flute duet

  More to come!! Guess who????

I present the magnificent tenor, Piotr Beczala, in arias from Werther, Le Cid, La Favorite, and Romeo et Juliette.

 Few tenors in my opera experience have thrilled me as much, and in addition he is the sweetest human being one could know.

 I did not give you the entire album, because if you don't buy it, he loses royalties.(I think!)

HEY!!!!!

First test for my new Windows 10. Joel Berglund singing Tannhauser aria. I hope now finally to get audio podcasts back for YOU!!!!!!

Talk about leaving a VOID,never yet to be filled..."No vun vill take my chair.". She sure was right, as Zinka and Tucker sang a fabulous Chenier on Apr.13, 1966. She sounded as fresh as this 1954 clip...Bless her forever...she gave me a treasurable youth....

Clip coming!!!!!!

Under Silvio Varviso in Atlanta,Georgia in 1963. I present a glorious (somewhat distant) Tosca with Milanov,Tucker, and Colzani.  I miss them so much!

Very famous soprano. Speeches, Exc.From Manon With Richard Crooks(1935-6),Exc.from Rondine w.Mario Chamlee (1934)

Cossotto and Bergonzi sure light up the stage in this 1970's Cavalleria under Christopher Keene. Also featured are Anselmo Colzani,Jean Kraft, and Nedda Casei (Lola)

Oberon,Gotterdamerung,Consul,Macbeth  SUPERB!!!!!!!

1 Lauritz.Melchior                    Walkure "Walse"  (get a stopwatch)

2. Mario Filippeschi     PIRA!!!!

3. Renata Scotto                         Luisa Miller aria

4. Vera Galupe-Borszkh    In questa reggia    (Ira Siff -better than most Turandots)

5. Piero Cappuccilli                        Attila Cab...B FLAT!!!

6.  Joseph Schmidt                            Ma Parri

7. Diana Soviero                              Mefistofele aria

8.Christine Goerke               "Come scoglio" (Cosi)

9. Sergei Lemeshev              May Night Aria

10. Georges Thill                    Saffo aria

11.Maria Caniglia                   "Pace"

12. Marilyn Horne                   "Or la tromba"

13. Joseph Rogatchevsky     Oberon aria

14. Antonio Cortis                    PIRA

15. Lucine Amara, Richard Tucker,Martial Singher   Hoffmnn Trio

16. Meta Seinemeyer            Liebestod  (great  singer,died at 33)

Léon Escalaïs (August 8, 1859, Cuxac-d'Aude – November 8, 1940, Cuxac-d'Aude) was a prominent Gallic tenor, particularly associated with French and Italian heroic roles. His lean, nimble and powerful voice was noted for the ease and brilliance of its upper register.

Life and career

Born Léonce-Antoine Escalaïs, he commenced his vocal studies as a young man at the Music Conservatory of Toulouse, where he won prizes for singing and opera performance. He continued his studies at the Paris Conservatory with two well-known teachers of the day, Crosti and Obin, prior to making his professional debut at the Théâtre du Château (Paris) in 1882, in Sardanapale by Jean-Baptiste Duvernoy.

Escalaïs was offered a contract by the Paris Opéra. His first appearance with the Paris Opéra at the Palais Garnier occurred in 1883, as Arnold in Guillaume Tell. (Arnold would become one of his signature roles.)

Two years later, he sang for the first time at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, and he made his debut at La Scala, Milan, in 1888. He left the Paris Opéra in 1892 after a dispute with management and accepted engagements in Dijon, Lyon, Marseille and Italy. Among the taxing roles which he undertook were Eléazar in La Juive, Robert in Robert le diable, Raoul in Les Huguenots, Vasco in L'Africaine and the title parts in Le Cid and Sigurd.

Between 1892 and 1908, Escalaïs sang more often in Italy (this is wrong, he sang once in Milan and it was a fiasco) than he did in his native land. He added to his repertoire such Verdi roles as Manrico in Il trovatore, Radamès in Aida and the title part in Otello' (Escalais never sang Otello)'. Consequently, he was sometimes described as "the French Tamagno" (after Francesco Tamagno, the Italian heroic tenor).

Escalaïs rejoined the Paris Opéra in 1908. The following year, he sang as a guest artist at the New Orleans Opera House. These would be his only performances in the United States. He retired from the stage in 1912 while still in good voice and was appointed to the Legion of Honour by the French Government in 1927. In retirement, he gave private singing lessons. One of his students was José Luccioni, an outstanding dramatic tenor of the 1930s and '40s. Escalaïs died in Cuxac-d'Aude during the Second World War, aged 82.

What a VOICE!!!!!!   Wm.Tell, Robert le Diable, Huguenots,Prophete,Africaine,Juive,Jerusalem,Trovatore,Aida, Otello

Olimpia Boronat (1859 or 1867^[1] – 1934) was an Italian operatic coloratura soprano, noted for her performances of the soprano roles in the bel canto repertory.

Boronat was born in Genoa, and made her debut either there or in Naples during 1885. She sang around the world, particularly the Spanish-speaking world, but was particularly associated with Russia; she first sang there at St Petersburg in 1894. She married a member of the Polish aristocracy, and retired from the stage for six years from 1896 to 1902. After her hiatus, she sang initially in Russia; it was not until 1909 that she returned to her native Italy to sing.

Boronat was noted for a voice of great beauty and clarity, and exceptional technical ability, coupled with sensitive musicianship. She was particularly associated with the roles of Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Violetta in La traviata, Elvira in I puritani, and Ophélie in Hamlet.

After her retirement, Boronat founded a singing school in Warsaw.

Puritani,Don Pasquale,Rigoletto, Martha, Huguenots,Sonnambula, Olga (Gianelli),Nightingale, 2 Ave Marias (Bach)

....and speaking of BACH,I hope my fuguing BACH gets better. If you do not get the pun, you are not missing an anything)

Superb Voice!! Pagliacci,Chenier,Zaza, Faust

Bless Dear Licia,as we hear Suor Angelica,Rondine,Onegin, Louise

Tebaldi arias  Louise,Forza,Wally,Forz.Boheme,Lescaut,Chenier,Mefistofele,Adriana,(Alli Live)

Exclude the small print.

I have been ill (BACK!!~) .Hope I do more.

Italiana,Barbiere,Maometto,Tancredi,Cenerentola,Donna del Lago

Italiana, Barbiere, Maometto, Italiana,Tancredi, cenerentola,Semiramide,dona del lago

Placido Domingo, Falk Struckman   cond. Christian Thielemann

Wagner's Wesendonk Lieder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Greatest lady!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1.NAPUKO.....The greatest basso ever. (I sang with him....hard not to laugh)

2.Tagliavini   Amor ti vieta (Fedora)

3. Richard Tucker   Celeste Aida

4. Ernani Ensemble..Milanov,Warren,Del Monaco (I saw all of them)

5. Olive Middleton recites (?) Adriana Phedre Scene

6.Gabriel Bacquier   Damnation of Faust aria

7.Dino Borgioli   Una furtiva lagrima

8. Piotr Beczala    Macbeth aria  (My fav.tenor)

9.  Caruso  Duca D'alba aria   (LORD!!!!)

10.   Fedora Barbieri   Trovatore  "Condotta)

11.Rita Hunter  Trovatore (In English)

12.Fanciulla finale (I cry every time) Dorothy Kirstem Clifford Harvuot (Sonora's lines get to me every time..

13. Marisa Galvany (as mezzo)  Aida act 4 scene

Iphigenie in Aulis,Lohengrin, Siegfried, Rigoletto

Don  Giovanni,Favorita,Barber, Tell, Rigoletto, Trovatore

Birgit Nilsson in Gotterdamerung,Elektra,Frau     OH BOY!!!!

Tannhauser,Dutchman,Meistersinger (w.Seefried)

Aida,Ugonotti,Rigoletto, Trovatore

Zaza,Germania,Adriana,Butterfly

 Verstovsky(3), glinka, moniuszko,smetana

Serse,Rodelinda,Bertarido

Aida,Faust,Trovatore,Juive,Carmen,  Folk Song      ADORED MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Figaro,Lucia,Favorita,Nabucco,traviata,Trovatore

 Like high notes???????????????????

Donizetti, Bellini, Rossini (L'ape musicale)

F0rza (w.Masini-love him), Traviata,Faust, Gioconda

Rigoletto,Macbeth,Wm.Tell

Mia sposa sara, Se, Vizione Veniziana, Occhi di Fata, Rondine al nido, E canta il grillo, Mattinata

 Puritani Mefist,Traviata,Ernani

????????????????????????????????????????????????

Traviata, Tosca, Tu che non Chiagne,Passione

Great top, passionate, but sometimes her Verdi sounded like Berg.

A fun lady..Rest in Peace

 HINT One of them made us hysterical.

Italian Songs  Acc.John Wustman.  Bellini,Verdi,Denza,Donizetti,Donaudy, Tirindelli, Rossini, Mascagni, Tosti,Buzzi-Peccia, De Curtis.

Plus aria from Edgar....and DI QUELLA PIRA....Your flame will never die!!!!

Please understand the emotion I bring to this rather unusual podcast.My heart is broken,and I never realized how much we adored him...until his passing. Rest his soul!!

Tchaikowsky Competition Winners of the past!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jane Marsh, Simon Estes, Elena Obratsova, Evgenyi Nesterenko, Peter Dvorsky, Dolora Zajick,Nina Rautio

 I  found some flaws in my earlier podcast so here it is again.BOY!They said she was LOUD!

Aida W.Uzunov    Trovatore w. Nikolov

Semiramide, Macbeth (FAST!!)Don Carlo,Carmen,Trovatore,Ballo,Euryanthe,Elektra (w.Varnay)

Stuttgart 1938  (Leonardt) Reining, Manowarda, F.Kraus   2 tracks flawed  plus Manowarda aria

GREAT!  Martinelli,Greco,Tibbett,Valentino,De Paolis   (Calusio)     No Overture

1.Rosenk.Trio  Stevens,Gueden,Della Casa   (At my first in 1956 I needed a towel)

2. Finale Act 2 St.of Bleeker St.  RIVETING!!

3. Attila Aria    Gilda Cruz-Romo

4."Marcella"    Titi Schipa

5. Tannh.Rome Narr. Peter Seiffert

6. Vissi D'arte  Meta Seinemeyer  (died at 33

7. Boccanegra Sc. Nucci/Siepi  (How to sing Verdi!!)

8.Adriana Aria   Simionato  (would not sing on same planet as Barbieri)

9.Leo Slezak    Queen of Sheba( with pppppppppp)

10.Signore Ascolta    Diana Soviero

11.Steber     Mignon aria

12.Adieu Forets (Jean D'Arc) Rise Stevens

13. If you can't guess it is Tebaldi in Louise, I will be FURIOUS!!

14.Panis Angelicus    Jacques Urlus

15.Alain Vanzo    Pearl Fishers aria

16. MY fav.basso of the olden days  Ludwig Weber as Gurnemanz

 In memory----- I knew her 55 years.     Here are TWO Reginas

Benvenuto Franci   Trovatore,Ballo,Forza,Aida, Otello,Africaine, Gioconda

Font size needs to be corrected

Art and Politics.......The man had a wonderful voice...BUT was a member of the Nazi party..What to do?  He was not alone..Many voices we love were "controversial" to say the least.What a dilemma!

Tannhauser,Tristan,Meistersinger,The Ring (w.Melchior)

Magda Sorel's marvelous scene from Menotti's The Consul."

1.Beverly O'ReganThiele

2.Virginia Zeani (In Italian-from Spoleto.)

3.Eileen Farrell   (One of my all-time favorite recordings.)

Amy Shuard CBE (19 July 1924 – 18 April 1975) was an English operatic soprano renowned in such dramatic roles as Elektra, Turandot and Brünnhilde. She created both title roles in Janáček's Káťa Kabanová and Jenůfa in their respective British premieres. She has been described as "the best English dramatic soprano since Eva Turner" (her teacher). ^[1]

Biography

Amy Shuard was born in London. After studying at the Trinity College of Music, she had lessons from Eva Turner. In 1948 the Worshipful Company of Musicians awarded her a prize and she toured South Africa as the organization's representative.^[2] She returned there in 1949 to make her operatic debut, in Johannesburg, in the title role of Verdi's Aida; during that season she also sang Giulietta in The Tales of Hoffmann and Venus in Tannhäuser. ^[3][2]

She sang at Sadlers Wells from 1949 to 1953, before undertaking more study in Milan^[2] with Rosetta Pampanini, and then at Covent Garden from 1954 until her death. She also sang at Bayreuth, La Scala, Vienna, Buenos Aires and San Francisco.^[3]

Her notable roles included the title roles in Káťa Kabanová (in the 1951 United Kingdom premiere), Jenůfa (in the 1956 UK premiere), Carmen, Tosca, Turandot, Elektra, Madama Butterfly and Aida; as well as Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana, Eboli in Don Carlos, Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, Magda Sorel in The Consul, Lady Macbeth (in the first production of Verdi's Macbeth at Covent Garden), and Kostelnička Buryjovka in Jenůfa in 1972 and 1974.^[3][1]

The latter part of the career saw her essay Wagnerian roles, and she was the first English soprano to sing Brünnhilde at Covent Garden. She also sang Isolde at Geneva, as well as Sieglinde and Kundry.

San Francisco was the only place she appeared on stage in the United States, firstly as Brünnhilde in Die Walküre in October 1963, then in 1966 as Elektra, 1968 as Turandot, and finally as Brünnhilde in Götterdämmerung in 1969.^[2]

Amy Shuard was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). She died in 1975, aged 50.

Aida,Tosca,Turandot,Boheme,Schicchi,Chenier,Cavalleria,Onegin

This superb baritone sings arias from Glucks's Iphigenie Auf Tauris,Favorita,Nachtlager in Granada (Kreutzer), Merry Wives (w.Kim Borg)n Tannhauser,Faust,Konigskinder (Humperdinck).

Another of the great sopranos:

Norma, Gioconda, Lescaut Ninna Nanna (Leoncavallo),Ballo, Vespri,Africaine, Trovatore,Forza, Aidam "Tu solo"

Georg Hann (January 30, 1897 - December 9, 1950) was an Austrian operatic bass-baritone, particularly associated with the comic (singspiel) German repertory.

Born in Vienna, he studied at the Music Academy there with Theodor Lierhammer. He joined the Munich State Opera in 1927, and remained with this theatre until his death. He also appeared regularly at the Vienna State Opera and theSalzburg Festival, quickly establishing himself as a leading buffo interpreter, notably in roles such as Leporello, Falstaff,Kecal, Ochs, La Roche (role he created in 1942), etc.

He made guest appearances at the Berlin State Opera, La Monnaie in Brussels, the Paris Opéra, the Royal Opera Housein London, La Scala in Milan.

He did not limit himself to comic roles but also sang Sarastro, Pizzaro, Gunther, Amfortas, Daland and tackled a few Italian roles as well notably Wurm, Alfio, Tonio, as well as Mefistophele in Gounod's Faust.

Hann died in Munich aged only 53.

Arias from:Zar und Zimmermann(Lorzing),Barber of Bagdad(Cornelius) w. Lorenz Fehenberger, Nabuco,Falstaff,Gypsy Baron,  Bettelstudent (Millocker), and two songs by Loewe

 Saffo(Pacini),Norma,Trovatore,Ballo,Otello,Mefistofele,Gioconda, Cavalleria,Tosca and four songs by Grieg,Simonetti, Tosti,Denza and Bach/ Gounod Ave Maria.

 Tomorrow I call Magda Olivero (104 years old) and tell her to sing this repertory..Well, maybe only a little..BET SHE COULD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

1. Ivan Koslovsky               Lohengrin aria (in Russian)

2. Selma Kurz                      Seraglio   "Ach ich liebte"

3.Lotte Lehmann                 Walkure Sieglinde aria

4. Jose Luccioni                    Werther Ara

5. Roberta Peters/Cornell MacNeil      Rigoletto act three duet

6. Lois Marshall                       Seraglio aria  (same as Kurz)

7. Dorothy Maynor                 Zauberflote aria

8. Lauritz Melchior                Tannhauser Rome Narrative

9. Aprile Millo                         Trovatore act four aria

10. Claudia Muzio                 "Ninna Nanna"

11.Gustave Neidlinger           Das Rheingold Curse

12. Anna Netrebko                 Rusalka aria

13. Olive Middleton                Trovatore Miserere (not for purists)

14.Magda Olivero                    Fedora Finale

15.Rosetta Pampanini           Iris aria

16. Alfredo Piccaver               Meistersinger act three aria

17. Vassilka Petrova              Trovatore (I think!)

18.Bruno Prevedi                   Butterfly Addio

19.Lina Bruna Rasa/Afro Poli   Cav Duet

20. Regina Resnik     (as soprano)   Voi lo sapete

21.Katya Ricciarelli           Zaira aria

(After Petrova is Podles Cenerentola aria/..aorry!)

(After no.17,i think I made an omission.)

With the usual annoying Met cuts in those days,here is a Lohengrin. Leinsdorf in 1940 with Melchior,Rethberg,Thorborg, List,Huehn

I saw her so many times and she was a superb artist, with a rich tone. Here are arias from Don Carlo,Gioconda,Tristan und Isolde, Das Rheingold, Walkure, Gotterdamerung, Samson and Delilah (with that famous long hair that got caught in Del Monaco's boot.) Also included in the Mahler Cycle,"Lied eined fahrenden Gesellen.)

From Florence, 1978, under George Pretre, here is the great Alfredo Kraus as Werhter, with Lucia Valentini-Terrani, Rolando Panerai, and Anastasia Tomaszewska Schepis (how long does it take her to sign an autograph?)

Please note my disc was flawed so act two finale is not on the podcast.

So it is not is Russian. I saw it in English (with George London, as in this cast) .This 1955 Vienna version under Berislav Klobucar is a GREAT show. Leonie Rysanek, Anton Dermota, and the blackest basso voice, Gottlob Frick, complete  this wonderful cast. With this kind of singing, I'll take it in hip-hop!!

From 1946 Geneva, under Nino Sanzogno, I bring you a true rarity; We never think of Mario Del Monaco,one of the greatest dramatic (and I do mean DRAMATIC!) in Ballo in Maschera. Well,here he is , with a cast featuring Giulietta Simionato, Carla Castellani, Piero Basini, Marisa Morel (Oscar). I am glad he could scale down that enormous voice for this music.

We loved that lady!!!!! Here Leyla Gencer (She told us it is pronounced "GENGER" ( Hard first G and second G like "ginger.) Here she sings all Mozart:Seraglio,Don Giovanni,Nozze di Figaro, and Idomeneo. What could she not do??????

June 11, 1864    Richard Strauss born!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

June 11, 1913       Rise Stevens born!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  The Gods were good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I knew Rise and we had our Rise club meetings at her home every year.

  She loved Lotte Lehmann....and imagine that they sang in Rosenkavalier together!

       My tears flow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Giuseppe di Stefano, affectionately known as "Pippo" had one of the most glorious tenor voices in opera history. Sadly, he made some poor choices, and the career did not last as long as it should have,but what a voice! Just that high C diminuendo in theFaust aria tells you he could do. Here are some arias as sung (mostly live) by this fabulous tenor.

Turandot,Tosca,Ballo,Faust,Mignon, Aida, Forza (with Bastianini),Boheme