Today I present the male lead creator of Gershwins towering masterpiece, Porgy and Bess, the magnificent Todd Duncan (12 February 1903 28 February 1998), whose other creations included work by Kurt

As a belated 92nd birthday tribute to our beloved Elly Ameling, I offer another episode of the Elly and Johann Show which features her in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. If you twisted my arm, I m

Today on Countermelody the first of two (for now) episodes celebrating the creators of George Gershwins legendary (and controversial) opera Porgy and Bess. Today we explore the fascinating life (and

Today would have been the 91st birthday of our beloved Renata Scotto. On an episode last year celebrating the 100th birthday of Maria Callas, I remarked that Renatina possessed in profusion two qualit

This week a light-hearted (and therefore much-needed!) tribute to the marvelous Felicia Weathers, who, in the midst of her burgeoning operatic career in the late 1960s, made two LPs of Schlagermusik,

Ive been wanting to revisit the legacy of the great African American soprano Gloria Davy (born in Brooklyn on 29 March 1931 and died in Genve on 28 November 2012) for some time now. In the first yea

On February 10th, our beloved diva Leontyne Price celebrated her 98th birthday. Of course she is recognized for her performances of the operas of Verdi, but in my opinion, she was even more suited, un

Today I present the African American soprano Ellabelle Davis (1907-1960) who during the late 1940s and early 1950s was greatly celebrated as a concert singer and who appeared around the world, the To

Exactly two years ago I introduced my listeners to the magisterial African American dramatic baritone Eugene Holmes (1932 2007). Holmes first found world-wide recognition with he appeared in the fir

What better way to start off this Black History Month 2025 celebration than with a birthday tribute to beloved African American diva Martina Arroyo, who turned 88 yesterday, February 2?! Though she is