On Monday June 3, 2024, a new memorial plaque commemorating African American mezzo-soprano Vera Little (10 December 1928 24 October 2012) was unveiled at her former residence in Berlins Charlottenb

Today I revisit the life, career, and sumptuous voice of the great Polish soprano Teresa ylis-Gara, who died three years ago on 28 August 2021 at the age of 91. The soprano was for the most part shoc

Unless by some miracle you know him already, the Swedish baritone Hugo Hasslo (1911 1994), is almost certainly the greatest baritone you never heard of. I discovered him entirely by accident years a

This week, the sublime Julia Varady celebrated her 83rd birthday, and here at Countermelody that is an occasion well worth commemorating and celebrating. Im newly home in Berlin, but with a huge pile

Lately I have been doing a series of episodes on artists that in my opinion deserve a reassessment, a second glance, if you will. Edda Moser is almost universally regarded as the best Queen of the N

Claudia Muzio was known as the Duse of Song, a title that might be lost somewhat in time, since it refers to the great stage actress Eleanora Duse, felt to rank among the greatest actresses of all t

Betty Allen has been featured on countless omnibus Countermelody episodes, but its time for her to get her own episode! Born in Ohio on 17 March, 1927, she died at the age of 82 on 22 June 2009. Not

How can it even be that our beloved Janet Baker is turning 91 today? I have been so moved by all the tributes pouring in and I feel compelled to add my humble wishes to all the others. - Last year whi

I began work on this episode on the one-year anniversary of the death of Renata Scotto, perhaps the most beloved of my many dearly-loved divas. But I have been thinking about and planning it ever sinc

The beloved Irish soprano Heather Harper died at the age of 88 on 22 April 2019 in London. In music ranging from the Baroque through the modern eras, she displayed an easy mastery as did very few othe