Scenes from George Gershwin's "Porgy & Bess," featuring many wonderful artists such as:
Todd Duncan, Anne Brown, Camilla Williams, Avon Long, Helen Jepson, Lawrence Tibbett, Robert Merrill, Inez Matthews, Cynthia Clarey, Willard White, Leontyne Price, Renee Fleming, Kiri Te Kanawa, and Paul Robeson
A magnificent array of fifteen tenors of the French school. Included in this collection are:
Georges Thill, Paul Franz, Giuseppe Lugo, Jose Luccioni, Leon Escalais, Cesar Vezzani, Leon Campagnola,, Marius Corpait, Jose de Trevi, Charles Friant, Gaston Micheletti, Rene LaPelletrie, Rene Verdiere, Josef Rogatchewsky, and Emile Marcellin
Still more insane happenings on opera stages and in the studio. Perfect for opera parties or if you feel like taking time off from Pelleas et Melisande.
Scenes and arias from Verdi's "Luisa Miller" featuring many fine artists such as:
Sondra Radvanovsky, Montserrat Caballe, Aprile Millo, Antonietta Stella, Nelly Miricioiu, Richard Tucker, Jose Carreras, Giuseppe Anselmi, Alessandro Bonci, Luciano Pavarotti, Sherrill Milnes, Vladimir Chernov, Vladimir Galouzine, Piero Cappuccilli,& Giorgio Tozzi
Ten selections from the enormous output of this legendary artist.
Words have always failed me when I attempt to describe the depth of my admiration...idolization...for this remarkable tenor who left us all too soon, but whose legacy will remain with us all our lives.
A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO THE BELOVED RISE STEVENS,ONE OF THE GREAT ARTISTS IN MY MEMORY
(Photo: Rise posed with every single member of her music club at our last gathering out on the island at Westhampton Beach, New York..This was followed by everyone being thrown into the swimming pool.(Except me..I never learned to swim!)
A podcast in which we hear examples of Shakespeare's influence on (mostly) opera. We feature selections from:
Hamlet,Falstaff, Merry Wives of Windsor, Macbeth, Antony & Cleopatra, I Capuletti ed I Montecchi, The Otellos of Verdi & Rossini, The Romeo of Gounod, The Romeo of Berlioz, West Side Story & Kiss Me Kate.
The great Bellini opera "Norma" surely lends itself to performances by some of our most memorable artists. Here are some scenes which feature a number of them:
Maria Callas, Montserrat Caballe, Shirley Verrett, Lauren Flanigan, Marisa Galvany, Zinka Milanov, Gina Cigna, Rita Hunter, Beverly Sills, Renata Scotto, Joan Sutherland, Leyla Gencer, Lili Lehmann, Marilyn Horne, Ebe Stignani, Gino Penno,Kurt Baum, Carlos Cossutta, Lamberto Furlan, Carlo Bergonzii, Franco Corelli, Elena Nicolai, Roberto Francesconi, AND Olive Middleton (well, nobody's POIFEKT!)
A collection of artists of Dutch ancestry.Included are:
Jacques Urlus, Nan Merriman, Elizabeth Ohms, Elly Ameling, Maartje Offers, Jard Van Nes, Cora Canne Meijer, Gre Brouwenstijn (in photo), Christina Deutekom, and Jo Vincent
In the early part of the 20th century, many artists recorded mostly Wagnerian material, as performed at the Sopot (Poland) Forest Theatre Festival, known as the "Bayreuth of the North."
Tenors: Jacques Urlus, Richard Schubert, Albert Reiss, Fritz Soot
Bassos/Baritones: Georges Baklanoff, Desider Zandor, Robert Vom Scheidt, Heinrich Knote, Adolf Schoepplin
Sopranos: Frida Leider, Helene Wildbrunn, and Meta Seinemeyer.
Part one of an interesting and exciting podcast in which we can compare various sopranos singing the great "Pace" from Verdi's "La Forza del Destino." As usual,with this kind of program, I will not list the sopranos here, because I have designed the podcast so that you do not know the names until each group of three has been played.
An exciting comparison of various sopranos singing the great aria from Turandot, "In questa reggia." I am not going to list the sopranos here because some of you like to play guessing games. Each soprano will be named after each group of selections.
Remember: "Gli enigmi sono tre...Charlie รจ una!!"
A compilation of exciting cabalettas from various operas as sung by some of the great artists of the past:
Shirley Verrett, Montserrat Caballe, Virginia Zeani, Virginia Zeani, Elena Suliotis, Beverly Sills,Mado Robin Giulietta Simionato, Marilyn Horne, Christa Ludwig, Antonietta Stella, Joan Sutherland, Nicolai Gedda, Luciano Pavarotti, Alfredo Kraus, Franco Corelli, Piero Cappuccilli, Nicolai Ghiaurov,Sherrill Milnes, Carlo Bergonzi, and Richard Tucker
In tribute to this great artist, I present scenes from: Mefistofele, Boris, Coq D'or, Susannah, Faust, and Markheim.
If you are interested in Brian Morgan's fine new book, which is entitled, "Norman Treigle, Strange Child of Chaos, " it may be obtained from www.iuniverse.com or call the store at: 1-800-288-4677
Many selections from the Giordano opera,featuring:
Beniamino Gigli, Jussi Bjoerling, Daniele Barioni, Giacinto Prandelli, Ferruccio Tagliavini, Piero Pauli Giuseppe Di Stefano, Galliano Masini, Saturno Meletti, Giuseppe Giacomini, Diana Soviero, Renata Tebaldi, Mirella Freni, Magda Olivero, and Elena Nicolai
Exciting music from some of Verdi's early operas such as:
Attila, Aroldo, Stiffelio, Alzira, Il Corsaro,Oberto, I Lombardi,Gerusalemme,Un Giorno di Regno, I Masnadieri, I Due Foscari,Giovanna D'Arco, and La Battaglia Di Legnano.
Among the artists featured are:
Renata Tebaldi, Marisa Galvany, Leyla Gencer, Luisa Maragliano, Montserrat Caballe, Justino Diaz, Piero Cappuccili, Renato Bruson, Renato Cioni, Aprile Millo, Antonietta Stella, and Angeles Gulin
Songs and arias as performed live by the brilliantly talented young tenor, Rolando Villazon, who has endeared himself to so many operalovers, by nature of his brilliant voice, ans his totally captivating personality.
Giuseppe Verdi wrote some of his most remarkable music for baritone and soprano. This podcast features duets from eleven of his works, and features baritones such as:
Cornell MacNeil, Piero Cappuccili, Leonard Warren, Roberto Frontali, Gino Bechi, Sherrill Milnes, Antonio Boyer, Ettore Bastianini, and Gian-Giacomo Guelfi.
The sopranos include: Montserrat Caballe, Virginia Zeani, Zinka Milanov, Leyla Gencer, Renata Tebaldi, Renata Scotto, Maria Callas, Shirley Verrett, & Sondra Radnovsky
(Photo: Maria Guleghina and Renato Bruson in Nabucco)
Part one of a tribute to the very great Zinka Milanov, born on May 17th, 1906. She meant more to me than any other singer I ever heard live, and I continue to cherish her memory.
Highlights from one of the most exciting recordings of Verdi's opea. The cast includes Caterina Mancini, Gino Penno, Giuseppe Taddei, and Giacomo Vaghi, conducted by Fernando Previtali (1951)
A comparison of various renditions of Strauss' Four Last Songs, including the world premiere (1950) as sung by Kirsten Flagstad.
Since many people like to test themselves on a podcast like this, I am deliberately not listing the artists here. The artists' names will be provided after each group of three selections.
Many scenes and arias from Verdi's sometimes neglected masterpiece featuring the following artists:
Zinka Milanov, Antonietta Stella, Leyla Gencer, Josela Ligi, Christina Gallardo-Domas, Elizabeth Rethberg, Carlo Bergonzi, Richard Tucker, Giovanni Martinelli, Lawrence Tibbett, Leonard Warren, Giuseppe Valdengo, Jose Van Dam, Cesare Siepi, Leo Nucci, Frank Guarrera, Tito Gobbi, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Sesto Bruscantini, Franz Grundheber, Giuseppe Taddei,Andre Turp, and Gwynne Howell
You now have access to ARCHIVES as noted to the right of the page,by month. Therefore you can begin to download anything from the past that you might have missed.
OWING TO THE ORIGINAL GLITCH,MY NARRATION DID NOT COME THROUGH. YOU MIGHT PLAY A GUESSING GME OR SCROLL DOWN AND SEE THE SELECTIONS.
These are Italian operas sung in German and German operas sung in Italian: (1-9 in German.Rest in Italian)
1. Cavalleria Duet:Astrid Varnay,James Pease
2. Figaro Finale: Erich Kunz, Hilde Gueden, Elizabeth Grummer, Paul Schoeffler
3/4. Tosca act two scene: Hildegard Ranczak and Georg Hann and then Leonie Rysanek and Josef Metternich
5. Forza Duet:Gottlob Frick and Carla Martinis
6. Rigoletto Duet:Rita Streich and Josef Metternich
7. Turandot: Gertrude Grob-Prandl
8. Macbeth aria: Martha Moedl
9.Aida Nile Duet:Leonie Rysanak and George London
10. Rienzi aria:Francesco Vignas
11. Brangaene's Warning: Cloe Elmo
12. Parsifal Act Two Scene Maria Callas and Africo Baldelli
13/14. Renata Tebaldi in Tannhauser and in Lohengrin(w.Gino Penno)
15. Edward Johnson(Former Met General Manager) in Parsifal Finale.
Sorry for the problem.All will be resolved soon.
NOTE: On earlier podcasts,you will see a note at the end of the podcast that you click on so you can download it.
This is a podcast in which famous opera stars sing popular music. Since I have not revealed the names of the artists until AFTER the selections, as a kind of guessing game, I am not listing them here. Have fun !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One of the all-time greatest bassos, Cesare Siepi, is heard in arias and scenes from Salvator Rosa, Nozze di Figaro, Forza del Destino, Ernani, Vespri, Don Carlo,La Favorita, Italiana in Algeri, in a selection of Italian songs, and in his renditions of some of the songs of Cole Porter.
A selection of arias from various Handel operas: Rinaldo, Rodelinda, Alcina, Serse, Giulio Cesare, Judas Maccabeus, Joshua, Floriodante, Semele Acis and Galatea. Artists featured are:
Bryn Terfel, Richard Tucker, Ewa Podles, Marilyn Horne, David Daniels, Janet Baker, Samuel Ramey, Beverly Sills, Norman Treigle, Kathleen Ferrier, Kathleen Battle, Joan Sutherland, Fritz Wunderlich, and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Well,let us see how this works, and if it does, in the words of my friend Arnie, "I'll be bach."
Fifteen exciting interpretations of the great mezzo aria "O Don Fatale." I am not announcing the names of the artists until each group of three is played because I want you to play a guessing game;also you might want to use this post as a quiz at an opera party.
Exciting Scenes from the four Wagner Ring operas, featuring such artists as:
Birgit Nilsson, Wolfgng Windgassen, Herman Uhde, Martha Moedl,Gertrude Grob-Prandl, George London Gottlob Frick, Astrid Varnay, Gustav Neidlinger, Ludwig Weber, Regina Resnik, Lauritz Melchior, Rita Hunter, Marjorie Lawrence, Set Svanholm, Leonie Rysanek, Hans Hotter, Jon Vickers, Ramon Vinay, and Hans Beirer
Diana Soviero, considered one of the greatest "Verismo Divas" in recent years, following in the tradition of Claudia Muzio, Mafalda Favero, Virginia Zeani, and Magda Olivero, is heard in selections from:
Tosca,Adriana,Butterfly,Risurrezione,Fedora, Andrea Chenier, Pearl Fishers, Mefistofele, Gloria, The Leoncavallo Boheme, Romeo et Juliette, and La Traviata.
I had to crack up tonight because I had Diana listen to some of this podcast while we were on the phone...What was funny is that she kept saying, "Did I do that??" She is just such fun and hope to get your comments on the singing.
Selections by some of the famous bassos of past and present:
Nazareno de Angelis, Mark Reizen, Ivar Andresen, Gottlob Frick, Ludwig Weber, Tancredi Pasero, Alexander Kipnis, Adamo Didur, Ezio Pinza, Herbet Alsen,Cesare Siepi, Norman Treigle, Rene Pape, Samuel Ramey, and an oddity as sung by Capiton Zaporojetz
In memory of the remarkable American baritone,Leonard Warren, born this day in 1911, I present a selection of arias and scenes from Aida, Forza, Ernani, Macbeth, Pagliacci, Andrea Chenier, Barbiere,Tales of Hoffmann,Tannhauser,Faust,Rigoletto, and Simon Boccanegra.
I just wanted to stop a moment and think of someone who was the darling of all of us in the olden days at the Met. We were teens just turning on to opera, and Renata Tebaldi made our lives so very joyous; those of us who remember her on and off stage will never forget her. Her performances were truly "events." She remained every night and signed every single program,even in freezing weather. She "adopted" us so to speak and as the years passed,I never failed to wish her a happy birthday,until the very last year of her life. You know, I just cannot bring myself to remove her telephone number from my address/phone directory. I think it will stay there as long as I live! I hope this little tribute is not too saccharine and/or pretentious, and if you feel it is,just let me know..it is just that I wanted to remember her with all my love and affection.
P.S. This 1955 photo was taken at one of our huge affairs for her. She said to me, "Dammi il braccio,mio piccinO," and I responded, "Obbedisco,signorA," and happily someone snapped the photo.
I am repeating my Cavalleria podcast,since there had been a glitch in the original. Many exciting selections from Mascagni's great work featuring such artists as:
Regina Resnik, Zinka Milanov,Giannina Arangi-Lombardi, Astrid Varnay, Leonie Rysanek, Marisa Galvany, Lina Bruna-Rasa, Aase Nordmo-Loevberg, Eileen Farrell, Giulietta Simionato, Franco Corelli, Jussi Bjoerling, Alain Vanzo,Richard Tucker,Hans Hopf,Placido Domingo, Afro Poli, and Heddle Nash.
An exciting compilation of arias by tenors from an era in which the "squillo" (ring) in the voice was so common. The tenors included are:
Giovanni Zenatello, Jose Palet, Mario Gilion, Francisco Vinas, Isidoro Fagoaga, Antonio Cortis, Piero Pauli, Antonio Paoli, Mario Filippeschi, John O'Sullivan, Miguel Villabella, and Leonce Escalais (in photo)
An exciting selection of scenes and arias from many Mozart operas featuring many great artists:
Eleanor Steber, Ljuba Welitsch, June Bronhill, Herman Jadlowker, John McCormack, Beverly Sills, Leontyne Price, Mado Robin, Maria Galvany, Susan Graham, and Janet Baker
April 13!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I almost forgot...40 years ago today,the greatest singer I ever heard live, Zinka Milanov, retired with an Andrea Chenier. She did sing the final Chenier duet with Richard Tucker at the Met Gala closing of the old house on April 16, but Apr.13 was her official retirement date. On that occasion,the 87th time I saw her live,the voice was as clear and fresh as it was when I first saw her. Yes,the tears came,not only among us, but she could barely speak,and when I listen to her emotional (and very short) farewell speech,those memories return. On May 17th,we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of her birth,and the book should be out that month also. As much as I thrilled to her singing so often,she really contributed to my not having a great average in college,but I would do it the same way if I had the time machine running. When you are a teenage opera lover and someone "bigger-than-life' comes along..you never forget...and she was the one who helped to bring me so much joy for so long. God Bless You, my Zeeeenka...I bet today you are singing your "Pace" just as well as ever (with Rosa looking on with envy!!!!!!)
Meta Seinemeyer,who passed away at only age 33, was one of the truly magnificent sopranos of her era. What a pity she never lived to thrill even more audiences throughout the opera world.
The arias are from La Boheme, Andrea Chenier, Tosca, Der Freischutz, Manon Lescaut, and Tristan und Isolde.
A selection of 18 truly marvelous artists who performed at La Scala between 1880 and 1940:
De Lucia,Sobinov,Bonci,Vinas, De Angelis,Pasero,Spani, Masini, Anselmi,Boninsegna, Escalais,Zamboni,De Muro, Dalla Rizza,De Hidalgo, Pampanini,Cobelli, Sammarco
I think you will really have a great time with these 16 famous Violettas,especially the last one in the bunch. Remember, I am not posting the names here in case you wish to test yourself or some others.(Photo: Diana Soviero)
Bonus: a video of Anna Moffo singing the first act aria from "La traviata."
This is a collection of totally delusional divas and divos and a series of live outbursts by both artists and audience members! Perfect for opera gatherings, but be warned that you might need a generous supply of tranquilizers and anti-acids.
Ten famous tenors sing this great aria from La Boheme. They include:
Giuseppe Anselmi Carlo Bergonzi Antonio Cortis Giuseppe Di Stefano John McCormack Miguel Fleta Alfred Piccaver Aureliano Pertile Jussi Bjoerling Beniamino Gigli
BONUS: "Music Minus One" accompaniment to the aria -- so you can sing it ... (I hope!!!!)
These selections should afford you some idea of the incredible thrills that Franco Corelli produced for audiences wherever he performed. In memory of this great tenor,I offer this birthday tribute. (Photo:Calaf)
An exciting series of duets,mostly soprano/tenor,taken from live and commercial recordings. I think you will enjoy the selections,featuring some of the great artists of the past. (Photo:Beverly Sills and Placido Domingo in Roberto Devereux,1970)
Since Marian Anderson made her Met debut as Ulrica in 1955, several Afro-American artists have followed; in addition,several black artists of the past must be recognized for their fine singing:
Marian Anderson (photo),Leontyne Price,Paul Robeson, Dorothy Maynor,Grace Bumbry,Shirley Verrett,Florence Quivar,Angela Brown, Lawrence Brownlee
I present to you nine artists whom I have come to know personally.I first "met" them as I attended performances they gave and felt that they were among the finest singers I had ever heard,and over the years a certain friendship has grown between us.The artists are:
Aprile Millo,Elizabeth Carron,Frank Guarrera,Olivia Stapp, Diana Soviero (See Video of Juliette Scene),Lucine Amara,Samuel Ramey,Marisa Galvany, and Virginia Zeani (in photo)
Selections by Giulio Crimi, Bernardo De Muro, Aureliano Pertile (in photo as Cavaradossi) Giovanni Zenatello, Aroldo Lindi,Giuseppe Taccani,Roberto D'Allesio
One of the most beautiful natural tenor voices that I and my fellow standees (1957) ever heard. I want more of you out there to come to appreciate this ravishing voice.
I present this tribute to Zinka Milanov,my all-time favorite artist. She sings excerpts from La Gioconda,Ernani,Andrea Chenier,La Forza del Destino, and Norma. Enjoy!
I have always felt that Mme.Regina Resnik has been one of our greatest artists,not only in her varied opera career as soprano and mezzo-soprano,but also as teacher,producer,director,filmmaker,etc. I think this special tribute will thrill you and help you to understand the genius of this great artist in a program of many of her roles as mezzo and soprano.