Thu, 26 November 2009  JUST APPEARED!!!!!!!!!!! A live 1978 "Sola,Perduta" from Manon Lescaut, featuring my beloved Virginia Zeani!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Category: general -- posted at: 4:48 AM Comments[0] |
Thu, 12 November 2009  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKChjB7-aAc&NR=1
.....because they want only "pretty singing' and Muti hates high notes.....Charlie Category: general -- posted at: 6:04 PM Comments[0] |
Sat, 24 October 2009  Hi all, Just a reminder that I am uploading and also taking clips from Youtube .so many wonderful video clips.If you click on "Favorites" you will be presented with a wide variety of material, in addition to what is there that I personally uploaded. Have fun!!! Category: general -- posted at: 5:50 PM Comments[0] |
Sun, 6 September 2009  Dear friends, Since lately I have added to my various sites, I thought I would summarize the links: http://www.youtube.com/mrfriendofopera (the newest site for great videos I upload from my own collection and also favorites from Youtube) http://handelmania.libsyn.com My podcast site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vissidarte My site for discussion but mostly for a huge number of audiofiles from my collection. Handelmania on Google. Google no longer allows uploading, but if you type in "Handelmania" on Google, there are the remaining 80 plus videos for you to watch. What was life like before computers?????? Charlie Category: general -- posted at: 8:12 PM Comments[0] |
Sat, 15 August 2009  Joseph Calleja, one of the finest tenors in the world of opera, and a great dude!!!!! PICTURES ARE NOT PODCASTS UNLESS YOU SEE THE USUAL BUTTON AT LEFT!!!!! Category: general -- posted at: 10:43 PM Comments[0] |
Sat, 15 August 2009  Piotr Beczala, My dear friend Maria, the greatest Placido fan in the world (except for Marta), and yours truly. Category: general -- posted at: 10:32 PM Comments[0] |
Sat, 15 August 2009  We are all hoping that dear Rolando Villazon returns to us soon. He is one of the most affectionate dudes I have ever met, and he is slightly more hyper than even me. Category: general -- posted at: 6:41 PM Comments[0] |
Sat, 15 August 2009  Irina Rindzuner and Elinor Ross with Charlie after a Puccini concert in 2008. (Unfortunately the role is no longer in my extensive repertory.) Category: general -- posted at: 6:34 PM Comments[0] |
Fri, 10 July 2009  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjvjU4QmVK0
Go to the above link to watch and listen to Stephen Costello, one of opera's finest young artists, as Romeo. Stephen will be the recipient of this year's Richard Tucker award, and will be singing in the Tucker Gala in November. Those of us who have followed his career,including his Met Edgardo, will attest to the fact that he is one of the brightest lights on the opera scene. ENJOY!!!!! Charlie Category: general -- posted at: 11:00 AM Comments[1] |
Thu, 9 July 2009 These photos are too big to place here...Go to this site and you will get a feeling for what I saw in the old Met...especially those gorgeous Zinka photos from her last performances......Nothing will replace these treasured memories... http://images.google.com/images?sa=4&imgc=&imgsz=&q=color+opera+source%3Alife Category: general -- posted at: 1:53 AM Comments[0] |
Mon, 6 July 2009  From a poster on RMO: Sorry to report that Ms DiDonato slipped over on the raked stage last Elsewhere in the cast, JDF turned in another stunning display of It was a fantastic evening - really funny and the musical standards were THEY ARE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So many singers are up there sick or injured, and we never know...That is the miracle of these great artists and what they do for us!!!! GO HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Category: general -- posted at: 10:20 PM Comments[0] |
Wed, 24 June 2009  MAMMA MIA!!!!!!!!!!!!! Virginia just told me this was released!!! I am so thrilled they added the great Zeani to their fabulous library of great artists. Go to Amazon.com..Only 14.99....TRUST ME! You will love it!! Charlie Category: general -- posted at: 11:27 PM Comments[1] |
Wed, 24 June 2009  Composer Italo Montemezzi himself conducts this brilliant performance of his rarely-heard "L'Amore dei Tre Re." The legendary Ezio Pinza sings Archibaldo, and we hear Grace Moore as Fiora, Richard Bonelli as Manfredo, and Charles Kullman as Avito. Comments[2] |
Fri, 5 June 2009  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qQqsyPPRhM Can you imagine that at 99 Magda Olivero can still sing?? This is a brief scene from Francesca da Rimini. I am so touched..... Cent'anni,Magda!!!! Category: general -- posted at: 9:25 PM Comments[1] |
Sun, 31 May 2009  Hi all, From time to time, I glance at the stats and just feel so rewarded at your responses and interest in these podcasts. I guess it is the "teacher in me" that makes me feel so glad that I am spreading the word as to what is out there..the great artists of past and present who make our lives so treasurable by virtue of their remarkable talent. Love Charlie Category: general -- posted at: 12:10 PM Comments[2] |
Mon, 9 March 2009  The second volume of "Casta Diva," featuring: Beverly Sills, Gina Cigna, Montserrat Caballe, Joan Sutherland, (74 min.) Comments[2] |
Sat, 7 March 2009  A tribute to one of the greatest all-time tenors, Alfredo Kraus (1927-1999).The live selections are from the following operas: Lucia,Traviata,Barbiere,Werther, Manon, Rigoletto, La Favorita, Comments[2] |
Sat, 31 January 2009  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xczMXSw2Lqc Do you like the idea of my sending you to some sites to sample some of the great clips tht exist? Let me know,because it is a nice feature, and you get to become jealous of what I saw live!!!! Charlie P.S. He once almost deafened me for life when he came out the stage door and said, "Hello,boys!" Imagine what it was like to rehearse with him (without earplugs.) Category: general -- posted at: 10:36 AM Comments[3] |
Sun, 18 January 2009  http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Handelmania&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f# A reminder of my video site for those who have not visited it. As ever Charlie Category: general -- posted at: 2:40 AM Comments[0] |
Sat, 29 November 2008  Hi all, My best Charlie Category: general -- posted at: 8:24 AM Comments[1] |
Sun, 9 November 2008 
Just to remind some new members of my videos on Google (Handelmania) My best Charlie Category: general -- posted at: 12:35 AM Comments[0] |
Mon, 2 June 2008  ONE ZINKA MOMENT?????? You KEEEEDING???? We usually would make the famous "Enzo adorato" B flat in Gioconda our favorite..In fact, do we know of ANY ONE SINGER who was "known for a single note?" As the supreme authority(???) on this forum on the Milanov career, a career I can readily "hear in my head," I will give you the gospel according to me. (This is a follow-up to a thread on Opera-l on "Milanov Moments.") BURROUGHS...Where's the book already???????????????????????? So,my friends, let me give you my impressions of a lady whose career "shaped my opera life." First of all, I agree nthat her recordings usually do not do her total justice, unless you have every Met broadcast. She screams the C's in the Aida and Tosca on RCA, and in the 40's I found too much vibrato in the tone. She had a more secure top then, but despite the problematic C's in the 50's and 60's (they did improve to some extent after she worked with her brother, Bozidar Kunc), the pure voice was something I will treasure forever. As a sixteen year old, I wore out the end of side three of the RCA LP set of the Trovatore because of the phenomenal "D'amor sull'ali rosee";however, the RCA "Orthophonic Sound' technique gave a kind of echo effect that even as a youngster I felt was not giving me a true picture of the voice. My question to the first Milanov nutcases I met on the standee line waiting for a Forza in 1953 was, "How does she sound live as compared to the records?" Within a few minutes of the curtain rise at the Forza, I found the answer! That voice was absolutely glorious, as she started the "Me pellegrina," and by the incredible "Pace," I was in Milanov heaven...and so it goes from there, 85 performances later, I never changed my mind (even despite some screamy Ballos). So now here are 5 of my 1000 Milanov "moments"' in addition to THE moment..the Gioconda B flat ppp: 1. Ernani:Final trio w.Del Monaco and Siepi,where she starts with that "Ferma" as she comes onstage and then sings in the most noble and powerful manner, with rich mixed low notes that are as thrilling as the high notes. 2. The double attack on the pianissimo on "Ora soave' during the Act 2 Chenier duet. 3. Chenier again:The high A flat (or A if the duet is in key) on "abbracciami, aMANTE" as the final duet was sung with fairly good tenors like Tucker,Bergonzi,Tucker, and DelMonaco. 4. The way she always swelled on the B flat "Maledizione' at the end of the "Pace."It was her "trick" of not hitting the note dead on forte, but giving it a swell that knocked you off your seats..I mean stands. 5. The section at the end of act three scene one Gioconda beginning, "O made mia..nel isola fatale,." with that glorious high b flat and then the lush low on "per lui che l'aaaaaama." So you see, I think I have a fairly good idea of why no other singer in my life ever could thrill me like Zinka, and remember, she would agree with me in her utter modesty (!!!) Thanks, Zinka, and i hope they let you kick your train wherever you are...... (See,I once had hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Category: general -- posted at: 9:40 PM Comments[1] |
Sun, 6 April 2008  Some of you may have heard this clip, but it is so bizarre I
Comments[4] |
Fri, 14 March 2008  I am too ancient to remember exactly what most singers sounded like to my virgin ears when I first heard them live. Remember, we had very few recordings..no "pirates" and were extremely limited, so when a fabulous voice was heard for the very first time, in some cases there was an indelible impression. For me, the totally "unknown' voices were those of Antonietta Stella (Aida), Daniele Barioni (Tosca), Diana Soviero (Boheme). Also, although we had heard only a few early Tebaldi recordings, and NO ONE was prepared for what that voice sounded like live. More recently, I was captivated by soprano Irina Rindzuner (in photo) as Santuzza in the City Opera Cavalleria. As she began the "Innegiamo" my ears perked up and i said to myself.."Mamma mia!!!" (Go to her Fanciullas at Da Capo in April.). Can you recall your first impression of some of the great voices and give us some details? Also, can you recall the exact opposite (i.e. a voice you adored on recordings and in person with which you were much less impressed (Jan Peerce for me.) Best Charlie Comments[7] |
Sat, 9 February 2008  I have raved for two years over my dear friend Ta'u Pupu'a and recent important auditions have borne out my initial feelings about his talent. I invite you to hear his recent Maurizio (three clips) on his site and i think you will agree that a bright future exists for him. This young man, and former football pro, has been singing opera for less than two years and his accomplishments in this short period have been quite amazing. I guess my first impressions were correct, as we are hearing great praise from many quarters. Bravo to him!!!!! As ever Charlie, unpaid agent supreme Comments[6] |
Mon, 4 February 2008  A compilation of scenes from the great Puccini opera, Comments[0] |
Sat, 27 October 2007 Comments[1] |
Mon, 15 October 2007  After the delightful City Opera performance of Handel's "Agrippina" on Sunday,I must repeat my usual pun that I am fast becoming more of a "Handel-man." I am growing to appreciate the importance and infuence in music history of this composer, having now seen Rinaldo, Alcina, Julius Caesar,etc. and the Agrippina, which featured four debuts, was a fine experience for me as I am beginning to "branch out' more and more in my musical tastes. One regret my friends and I have at this moment is that our new City Opera director wishes to present ONLY 20th century works next season, leaving us bereft of this kind of music. Nelly Miricioiu (the hardest name for me to learn to spell) is a favorite on so many live tapes, and we were interested in how this 55 year old diva, the "poor man's Leyla Gencer" would fare in this music. I do not think it fair to judge her on a role that does not really show off what I preceive to be her true talents, in the Donizetti and Rossini,etc.material. The voice is rather non-descript, and she could have "been anyone." She did well,looks fine on stage, and save for some "muddy" coluratura in the first aria, nothing was in any way objectionable,. I just did not find the role and her singing anything special, especially next to some of the other debutantes. Some of the glottalized attacks(still no Leyla) were effective and the top of the voice is clear and bright, but I just do not feel the role goes anywhere. Despite some early "noise" in the tone, Jennifer Rivera proved to be absolutely delightful in the comic role of Nerone. The bedroom scene (one bed) reminded one of a Marx Brothers comedy, but on the R-rated side, and if you accept the fact that cigarettes and pistols were not really in vogue 2000 years ago, her work was a true delight, and the lovely lyric mezzo is quite beautful, with amazing agility in her big aria in act two. David Walker was tuly magnificent as Ottone. As much as I love David Daniels, Walker has a more substantial tone, with some chest tones reminiscent of some our our best sopranos, and he is a true delight on stage. His voice is truly seamless and what a wonderful era we are experiencing with the likes of Daniels, Walker, Mehta, Scholl, and others. However,there might be some confusion among some audience members, as a lady next to me wanted to know if Rivera was a real man or a real woman. (What would she do with Octavian is Rosenkavalier?) In fact the "sexual identity problem" can be a bit confusing, with counter-tenors, sopranistas, male sopranos (what is the difference?) and mezzos in trouser roles in vogue these days more than ever, especially in Handel operas. In this vein, David Korn, a counter-tenor, debuting as Nasciso (with a cheering section upstairs) did well vocally as was adorable on stage,although the voice seemed to lack volume. We shall see what the future brings. Soprano Heidi Stober's voice is rather edgy, although she appeared to improve after possible debut jitters. The best part of her voice is the top, which is quite brilliant. However,the best of the debuts was a magnificent baritone from Zaire, Joao Fernandes, who is a really superb artist and his voice (as Claudio) was positively ravishing. I was a bit confused, since Derek Jacobi never showed an upper naked body quite that sexy. Baritone Marco Nistico,even in the smallish role of Pallante, was just fine, but another 'find" for me was the bass-baritone Jeffrey Tucker as Lesbo, who was hilarious on stage with a gorgeous and rich voice. I am growing to accept the fact that playing Russian Roulette, grabbing cigarettes all night (Rivera is a RIOT!), and acting more like Brad Pitt in bed than the historical Claudius work very well. It was a delighful day and I am so glad i was there. I think you will enjoy it as much as the audience did..but if our new director thinks he will sell out the upper gallery (pretty empty as usual), he better think again about his choice of repertory, as they never sell out Bohemes and Toscas. Glad to be a Handel Man. Charlie Comments[4] |
Sat, 13 October 2007  Quite a superb new tenor from Turkey. How many tenors http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Bulent+Bezduz&search=Search Comments[9] |
Sat, 13 October 2007  Who is that lady with Charlie??????????????? It is like this: At a party in 1955, she grabbed my hand and said, "Dammi il braccio mio piccino"(Boheme quote with a gender change). I then said, Category: general -- posted at: 3:38 PM Comments[0] |
Tue, 21 August 2007  I had a problem with my 80 Videos on HANDELMANIA (Google) but they are up there now...... so go to: http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=handelmania&num=50&so=0&start=50 and all is well...ENJOY!!! Charlie Comments[3] |
Sat, 25 November 2006  The last time Zinka Milanov was ever on the Met stage. (P.S. She got mad when I asked her to sign this..it VAS NOT a "posed' picture!) Comments[6] |
Sat, 13 May 2006 Finale of Act One of the Menotti opera, featuring Catherine Malfitano, Sandra Walker, and the late Enrico di Giuseppe. Category: general -- posted at: 4:58 PM Comments[0] |
Thu, 4 May 2006  This is a podcast in which famous opera stars sing (Photo: The Very Great Karita Mattila) Comments[6] |
Thu, 20 April 2006 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. 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. Category: general -- posted at: 1:10 AM Comments[6] |
Thu, 13 April 2006  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 Category: general -- posted at: 3:36 PM Comments[1] |
Tue, 11 April 2006  A selection of 18 truly marvelous artists who performed at La Scala between 1880 and 1940: De Lucia,Sobinov,Bonci,Vinas, Download this episode from the April Podcast Archive. Category: general -- posted at: 9:55 AM Comments[14] |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
