Countermelody
Latest Episodes
Episode 22. Gloria Davy (Black History Month III)
Today we examine the fascinating and somewhat frustrating career of Gloria Davy (1931-2012). Yet another African American singer who found greater opportunity abroad than in the United States, Davy has the distinction of being the first Black singer to...
Episode 21. Charles Holland (Black History Month II)
Todays episode, the second in my Black History Month series, is a tribute to the extraordinary African American tenor Charles Holland (1909-1987) whose career spanned more than four decades. Early ap
Episode 20. Muriel Smith (Black History Month I)
This week kicks off my series of Black History Month episodes, in which I pay homage to some less well-remembered African American singers who nonetheless made an enormous impact in the world of music. This week I am honored to bring to you the great m...
Episode 20. Muriel Smith (Black History Month I)
This week kicks off my series of Black History Month episodes, in which I pay homage to some less well-remembered African American singers who nonetheless made an enormous impact in the world of music. This week I am honored to bring to you the great m...
Episode 19. Jennie Tourel Sings Rossini and Poulenc
The wondrous Russian-French mezzo-soprano Jennie Tourel (1900-1973) had a storied career that lasted more than four decades and encompassed both opera and song. In the latter, she was particularly celebrated for her work in the Russian and French reper...
Episode 18. Elisabeth Söderström Sings Everything
Elisabeth Sderstrm, the elegant, vibrant, vulnerable, musically scrupulous, dramatically committed, Swedish soprano (7 May 1927 20 November 2009) is celebrated in this episode with an airing of he
Episode 17. O Sole Mio – Peter Schreier
The highly-regarded German tenor Peter Schreier, who died in Dresden on Christmas Day after a lingering illness at the age of 84, was particularly celebrated worldwide for his deeply musical performances of Bach, Mozart, and German Lieder.
Episode 16. Souvenirs – Elly Ameling and Dalton Baldwin
We begin 2020 with a new series of episodes. For the next eight weeks, I will present selections dubbed exclusively from LPs, few if any of which have ever been re-released on CD and which remain barely available on any listening platform for today's a...
Episode 15. Hail and Farewell
We set our sights on the New Year, at the same time giving a backward glance, in mostly reverse chronological order, to those singers and other musicians, whose contributions have immeasurably enhanced our lives.
Episode 14. Christmas Potpourri II: Hard/Try
Another week of Christmas music! The first part of the episode is a continuation of last week's All-Tenor Extravaganza. We hear from Farrold Stephens, Luther Saxon, Roland Hayes, James Melton, Brian Sullivan, Richard Crooks, Raoul Jobin,