Tue, 31 March 2015
Category:general
-- posted at: 6:59pm EDT
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Tue, 31 March 2015
Yes, I know there are subtle and calm moments in opera to be treasured, but what is wrong about being lifted out of your seat,as I was 40 times by Franco?? Nothing today compares to this kind of singing!!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 1:03pm EDT
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Mon, 30 March 2015
You all know that there are so many singers,that sometimes it takes time to recognize what they have contributed. When I joined Facebook, and also at a friend’s recommendation, I discovered the Mar.31 birthday diva, Nelly Miricioiu. She,like Leyla Gencer and a precious few other divas, lets it “all hang out,” and I once asked Zeani if the AIR in Romania causes some divas (Cotrubas,Zeani,etc.) to possess a special quality that is rare. She also is the sweetest lady,and we love her, as evidenced by the Facebook posts.
Category:general
-- posted at: 3:49pm EDT
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Sat, 28 March 2015
OFFICIALLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DEAR SAM!!!!!! When Sam one saw Norman Treigle early on....did he dream he would someday "inherit" some of the great man's famous roles...and the Olin Blitch scene here is RIVETING and represents an incredibly great artist..Love to dear Sam on his bithday..and my best to his lovely family....
We go back 45 years to our Anna Bolena,and we sang in Barbiere,Hoffmann,etc. LOVE to dear Sam,one of opera's greatest artists!!!!!!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 11:03am EDT
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Wed, 25 March 2015
Close to 90 here!!!!!! Magda just thrills the opera world with what she has accomplished!!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 9:16am EDT
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Wed, 25 March 2015
First year I cannot "call" her on her birthday...but she will NEVER be far from me. Imagine that breath control and all the depth of emotion...a lesson to all! Buon compleanno 105 al miracolo!!!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 8:47am EDT
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Tue, 24 March 2015
At the "Loris,ove sei" near the end,I got thrills and chills..Happy birthday,dear Magda....Keep coaching those divas!!!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 11:16pm EDT
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Tue, 24 March 2015
Remember tomorrow!!! Baby Magda at 65 made her Met debut in 1975..We cried all night...I have used this clip constantly to illustrate vocal control,breath support, emotional delivery,LOVE of singing,etc....Ovation is cut...it went on forever. No room in bathroom stalls to change tapes.... Listen to the end..Rimuuuuuuuneri cosi....Most divas cannot SWELL there.
Category:general
-- posted at: 4:51pm EDT
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Mon, 23 March 2015
NON SCORDARE....Light your candles (even a Jewish one like mine) for Mar.25 Magda's birthday (would have been 105.)
Category:general
-- posted at: 5:58pm EDT
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Mon, 23 March 2015
Over the years,I always told Zajick (born Mar.23 1952) that she was a unique throwback to the kind of “belt-it-out” voices we rarely have. I guess she realized I had fairly good taste, and invited me to do a mini-master class for her students…She has always been a “force of nature” and she feels there is nothing so rare as having a big voice..in an era where much of it is “pleasant.” Brava to her!!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 3:28pm EDT
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Sun, 22 March 2015
Handelman has done crazy "scream tapes," but NEVER has a leading Met singer (a good one),RUIN a performance with a horrendous B natural GESCHREI as Manon dies. Grigolo did a fine job, but suddenly he lets out this scream..Imagine what Callas,Milanov,Melba,etc..would do..He would become a CASTRATO instantly....
How did they allow this??????????????
Category:general
-- posted at: 4:45pm EDT
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Sun, 22 March 2015
In 1956...WHY did teenage Charlie run to NY after Queens College classes to freeeeeze on the standee line?? Here is why....Best example of how the 50 yr.old Zinka did sound..Go from "FERMA" and tell me why I went nuts.... Mario also tries some ppp's...and this perf.(I saw all 5 of them) also with Warren, marks the HEIGHT of my great opera days.
Category:general
-- posted at: 11:26am EDT
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Sun, 22 March 2015
Category:general
-- posted at: 9:23am EDT
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Sat, 21 March 2015
Adelaide Negri,Argentinian soprano, is never boring, but she is what we call "variable." Look, she did sing 87,409 roles and so we cannot dismiss her. You judge this yourself....
Category:general
-- posted at: 5:12pm EDT
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Fri, 20 March 2015
This is really what the great Dane was about!! NO one could touch him!!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 12:31pm EDT
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Fri, 20 March 2015
How did little Charlie discover opera. This 1948 film Luxury Liner!!!!! Melchior's top is squeezed, and not the best Italian,but Aida remains my all-time favorite opera. I was 12.....and looking back, I express, on Melchior's birthday day my thanks.....although I might have been more normal...Maybe I should have stuck to Frank Sinatra!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 12:28pm EDT
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Fri, 20 March 2015
I may not be a believer in Astrology, but on March 20, 1890, something special must have been "in the air," because BOTH Beniamino Gigli AND Lauritz Melchior were born. So two of the greatest tenors in opera history share this day.
Category:general
-- posted at: 12:09pm EDT
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Thu, 19 March 2015
March 19 is always a special day for me,because it marks the birthdays of my darling Diana Soviero AND mia madre!!!! Mom could dance in her youth, but Diana had more chest voice. Love to two people who made my life so happy!!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 11:07am EDT
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Tue, 17 March 2015
This great lady was a miracle!!!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 12:41pm EDT
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Tue, 17 March 2015
Darling soprano Irina Lungu posted this..Really funny!!!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 12:37pm EDT
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Sat, 14 March 2015
OK.....I give up!!!! Baum had a fabulous high C,and fine reliable technique, even though (because of Zinka) we had to hear that ugly voice so much....OK,Kurt, I am sure you two made up!!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 8:03pm EDT
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Sat, 14 March 2015
When Antonietta Stella stepped on the Met stage as Aida in 1956...I said,"Zinka WHO??" Imagine that!!!!> What a luscious,glamorous voice..Nar.15, 1929 is her birthday.....Imagine a season with Milanov,Stella,Tebaldi,De Los Angeles,Steber,etc...I am SPOILED!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 7:58pm EDT
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Thu, 12 March 2015
I just had to put another Jack Swanson clip here. When I find a new young singer, I am so thrilled!!!! This is a great talent (with an interpolated B flat). Honestly, this guy will go far, as soon as he turns 12.(kidding).
Category:general
-- posted at: 4:34pm EDT
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Wed, 11 March 2015
I found ANOTHER TENOR. Mr.Swanson will surely go far and I invite you to search Youtube for more of his superb singing. Luciano would be proud!!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 5:09pm EDT
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Tue, 10 March 2015
Nothing like a "subtle" tenor, born Mar.11, 1900. I have a feeling Riccardo Muti might not appreciate this!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 6:35pm EDT
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Fri, 6 March 2015
How lucky we are to have one of the very few divas who recalls the kind of exciting,emotional artistry of artists like Zeani,Scotto,Callas,Olivero,Soviero,and my ex-girlfriend, Maria Jeritza! Mme.Miricioiu could teach a good number of "generic" divas how to color the tone, make special use of the text ,exhibit inner emotions, and of course you know how I love low notes (they can be "mixed chest") and those authoritative slight glottal attacks.
Here is the lovely lady, a Facebook STAR, just last year,in the Lady Macbeth aria.
Category:general
-- posted at: 11:43pm EDT
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Fri, 6 March 2015
Hi all, I have put videos up lately, because I had some back problems and could not sit too long at the computer to do the usual podcasts, but things are better, and I will resume as soon as possible.
Love Charlie
Category:general
-- posted at: 9:39pm EDT
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Thu, 5 March 2015
The man was one of my all-time favorites. Listen to the "feeling" in the voice, and I am so sad that he left us so soon. BUY THE BOOK!!!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 11:47am EDT
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Thu, 5 March 2015
He left us so soon. Treigle was a veritable DYNAMO on stage, with a huge voice, and a stage personality that was RIVETING!!!!! I will never forget him!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 11:41am EDT
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Tue, 3 March 2015
Mar.3, 1890 is the birthday of Ruby Helder, female TENOR!!!! This is so interesting and a rarity.
Category:general
-- posted at: 6:22pm EDT
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Mon, 2 March 2015
Superb tenor replacing Jonas Kaufmann this week.Jonas has the flu, but I have seen Lee in Don Carlo and he is WONDERFUL!!!!! We are lucky to have so many great tenors...except NO RADAMESES!!!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 7:04pm EDT
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