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."

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

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.

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

 

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

       Photo: Finale of Die Gotterdamerung

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

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.

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

 Exploring the art of some of the famous Russian artists
 of past and present;included are such names as:

Petrov, Koslovsky, Nelepp, Sobinov, Smirnov,
Dolukhanova, Nezhdanova, Lisitsian, Lemeshev
Sibiriakov, Guryakova, Aleksashkin, Gedda,
Borodina, and Hvorostovsky (photo).

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

   A series of scenes from Cilea's opera,including a little
    guessing game.Artists featured are:

Magda Olivero, Diana Soviero, Leyla Gencer, 
Placido Domingo, Mafalda Favero, Beniamino Gigli,
Dolora Zajick, Renata Tebaldi, Marcello Giordani,
Aprile Millo, Giacomo Aragall,
Franco Corelli, Giuseppe Taddei, Regina Resnik,
and some "surprise guests!!"

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

 A collection of various artists who have expressed great
emotion in their vocalism. They include:

Mafalda Favero, Claudia Muzio, Lotte Lehmann 
Martha Moedl, Maria Callas, Bidu Sayao, 
 Licia Albanese, Magda Olivero, Tito Gobbi,
Enrico Caruso, Virginia Zeani (photo as Aida), and Richard Tauber

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

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

Photo:Ezio Pinza as Don Giovanni  

 Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

  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.

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

   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.

 

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

  :

 A marvelous pot-pourri (if a bit lengthy) of material
 from Verdi's great opera,mostly live,but a few are
 from commercial recordings.Artists include:

Shirley Verrett, Elena Suliotis, Lauren Flanigan, Leyla Gencer ,
Julia Varady, Birgit Nilsson, Christa Ludwig,
Rita Hunter, Maria Callas, Leonard Warren, Enrico Caruso,
Enzo Mascherini, Piero Cappuccilli, Giorgio Tozzi, and Nicolai Ghiaurov

PHOTO: The late Elena Suliotis as Lady Macbeth

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

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) 

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

An analysis of the aria "Celeste Aida" as sung by various tenors,
including :
Tucker, Di Stefano, Martinelli, Baum,Caruso, 
Del Monaco,and Bjoerling

The comparison is designed to understand
   the concept of "covering" the tone 
and the term "passaggio" 

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

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     

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

Live excerpts from the Ring as performed in Vienna between
1933 and 1941. Artists featured are:

  Set Svanholm, Franz Voelker, Maria Jeritza, Friedrich Schorr,
  Gertrude Kappel, and Hilde Konetzni

        PHOTO:  Maria Jeritza

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

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!!!!!!)

With greatest affection,

Charlie

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.

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

 A comparison of twelve famous tenors singing this exciting aria:

          Roswaenge,Zenatello,Cortis,
        Filippeschi,O'Sullivan,Escalais,
               Pertile,Schmidt,Lazaro
                   Gigli, De Muro
                       Lauri-Volpi

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

        A pot-pourri of 15 artists who recorded for EMI:

Gedda,Alagna,Vanzo,Pavarotti,Kraus,Crespin,Cotrubas,
Sills,Dimitrova,Caballe ,Moser,Scotto,Bacquier,Van Dam,Baltsa
                                      

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

 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                    

Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive.

A pot-pourri of fifteen famous sopranos. They include:

Magda Olivero, Gianna Arangi-Lombardi, Mafalda Favero, Ninon Vallin, Bidu Sayao, Eva Turner, Ljuba Welitsch, Rosetta Pampanini, Germaine Lubin, Claudia Muzio, Elizabeth Grummer, Martha Moedl, Rosa Ponselle, Licia Albanese, and Gina Cigna (w.Cloe Elmo).

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."

  Many exciting renditions of material from the great work. I hope you enjoy the selections I have included.

               Melchior
               Voelker
               Flagstad
               Tebaldi

 

 

Listen to this glorious aria as sung by ten famous tenors:

         (I am not naming them here so that you might use the podcast as a quiz for yourself or others)

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)

The first in a series of selections by famous mezzos/contraltos:

Ernestine Schumann-Heink, Conchita Supervia(in photo), Sigrid Onegin,

Clara Butt, Zara Dolukhanova, Claudia Novikova, Kathleen Ferrier.

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Selections by Giulio Crimi, Bernardo De Muro, Aureliano Pertile (in photo as Cavaradossi) Giovanni Zenatello, Aroldo Lindi,Giuseppe Taccani,Roberto D'Allesio

 Extremely LOW-lights from Aida featuring sopranos Olive Middleton and Vassilka Petrova, as well as mezzo(?) Sylvia Sawyer.

  I think the guy in the photo would sound better!!!!!!!!!!!

The amazing Magda Olivero,( born  March 25,1910), a true "miracle" of  singing, in selections from concerts in Amsterdam from 1962,1968,and 1972.

   Recordings by seven baritones who excelled especially in the German Fach:

      Georg Hann,Michael Bohnen,Joel Berglund,Rudolf Bockelmann,

              Paul Schoeffler,Herman Prey, George London

   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.

 In loving memory of some of the great artists who have passed away recently. Let us all celebrate their careers.

       Theodore Uppmann,Enrico Di Giuseppe,Piero Cappuccilli,

       James King, Robert Merrill, Alfredo Silipigni/Jerome Lo Monaco 

                               and Birgit Nilsson