Another "name that voice." This soprano is heard in "L'altra notte" from Boito's Mefistofele. Can you name her?

Podcast link:  premiereopera.libsyn.com

Ed

Here is a beautiful rendition of Brahm's Lullaby, as sung by Zinka Milanov in this 1954 long out of print recording.

The big, Verdian voice of Milanov is reigned in, and this piece is sung in a soft, floating style. Milanov was supreme.

This and all past Podcasts are accessible at http://www.premiereopera.com

Link:premiereopera.libsyn.com

Best wishes,

Ed

In questa reggia as magnificently sung by Elinor Ross for the Philadelphia Grand Opera in 1968. This is surely one of the finest versions of this difficult aria I have ever heard. I was fortunate enough to be at this performance, and it was "white hot."

Her Calaf is a tenor by the name of Richard Tucker, who chimes in near the end with a powerful Bb (alright, A#) and then joins Ross for one of the mightiest high C's I have ever heard. The sound quality is not very good, but the voices come through loud and clear. There is a bit of a goof when almost none of the orchestra comes in near the end at one point, but this matters little. This is thrilling singing.

Link:  

premiereopera.libsyn.com

This and all podcasts are accessible at http://www.premiereopera.com

Best wishes,

Ed

Cuban-American soprano Eglise Gutierrez is heard in the entire first section of the Mad Scene from Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.

Her performance is both beautiful and breathtaking, and this young soprano is a truly wonderful singers. I am sure you will enjoy this.

This and all Podcasts are also available at http://www.premiereopera.com

Please check all of our Podcasts at this website.

Best wishes,

Ed

Here is almost two minutes of sheer beauty for a performance yesterday, May 3, of Gianni Schicchi. This is a short duet near the end of the opera, and tenor and soprano, husband and wife in real life, soar and hold on to a high C#. It was gorgeous, and thrilling.

This podcast features the great Franco Corelli singing the tenor aria Bianca al Par. Corelli was featured in a revival of this opera at La Scala in 1962. His singing here is absolutely prime Corelli and I'm sure you'll all enjoy this podcast.

Brilliant young American tenor Stephen Costello sings the entire last act scena from Donizetti's wonderful opera, Roberto Devereux, in this very recent performance. The voice is warm and burnished, especially for one so young, and he sings ardently and with much feeling and emotion. The voice is beautiful, and I feel sure you will enjoy this Podcast.

Link: premiereopera.libsyn.com

This and all Podcasts may also be accessed at our website, which is http://www.premiereopera.com

For me, here is the way the role of Edgardo should be sung. Tucker was about 60 here, but his voice knew no years.

Yes, I was spoiled by this, and no tenor since has come close, IMHO. Tucker simply rolls out the gold, as always, singing the most gorgeous of legatos in the Verrano a te section, and handling the high tessiture as if it was easy. He shades beautifully, and give a singing lesson for all those that care to listen.

Scotto is also wonderful, with her incisive voice and handling of the text as few sopranos ever did. They performaned together on Lucia on this occassion in Philadelphia, but also did five or six at the Met the previous season. All were wonderful. Those were the days, my friends!

We hear act one from the entrance of Edgardo until the end of the act.

This and all Podcasts can be enjoyed at http://www.premiereopera.com

Best wishes,

Ed

Here are soprano Sondra Radvanovsky and baritone Placido Domingo in the complete Leonora-di Luna duet from Trovatore, from a concert given on January 17, 2009.

Link:  premiereopera.libsyn.com

This and all Podcasts are available at http://www.premiereopera.com

Enjoy!

Best wishes,

Ed

Richard Tucker and Ljuba Wesitsch in a lovely scene from Die Fledermaus, recorded in 1950.

I think Tucker's voice sounds particularly lush here, and Welitsch sounds lovely.

This is from the recently released remastered copy done by Mark Obert-Thorn for Pristine Audio. If you wish to purchase the entire operetta, please go to their website at www.pristineclassical.com

Enjoy this delightful duet!

Ed