The Italian mezzo-soprano Fedora Barbieri (1920-2003) was never a great favorite of mine. That is, until I recently came across her rare 1953 recording entitled Fedora Barbieri Sings Old Italian Songs and Airs, accompanied by Dick Marzollo,

Few singers have more affected my life in a more fundamental way than the great Janet Baker. This episode seeks to pay humble tribute to that exceptional artist. I have sought long and hard to find repertoire and performances that my listeners might no...

Todays episode, a celebration of the delicious and versatile Italian mezzo-soprano Giulietta Simionato (1910-2010), kicks off a miniseries in celebration of the mezzo-soprano voice. The centerpiece o

Franz Schubert is the composer who speaks to me like no other. His insight into the human condition is profound: in particular, he explores that narrow strip of land where joy and sorrow meet, converse, and commiserate.

We need a laugh right now. At least I did, and that was the inspiration for todays episode. I have long cherished the art of truly terrible singing, and this episode acknowledges that fixation, as we

Today’s episode, spontaneously crafted over the course of a few hours, features live performances of three longer works that, each in its own way, has something very specific to offer us as we face the uncertainty of our immediate future. First,

The world is in chaos. We dont know from one day to the next, or one hour to the next, what is going to happen. I am currently halfway around the world from home and wondering what the coming weeks w

Episode 25 Freni on the Fringe (Mirella in Memoriam II) - Todays episode continues last weeks homage to the late, great Mirella Freni. This time around, I explore some her performances of operas a

Today, in the first of two consecutive episodes. I pay tribute to the great Mirella Freni, who died on February 7 and who would have celebrated her 85th birthday on February 27th. Celebrated for the freshness of her timbre,

Episode 23 Winters and McFerrin: A Tale of Two Baritones (Black History Month IV) - Today's episode, the fourth in a sequence honoring African American singers, this one pays tribute to two great ba