Put on your slicker, and get ready for Larry’s program of music of the sea.   Playlist Vaughn Williams: A Sea Symphony “Behold, the sea itself” London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra/Bernard Haitink Recorded in London in 1989 EMI 7243 5 86026 2 3 Weber: Oberon “Ozean, du Ungeheuer” Kirsten Flagstad with the Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy […]

Passionate, intense and melodic easily describe a Tchaikovsky aria, and never more so when sung by Fritz Wunderlich, Renee Fleming, Dimitri Hvorostovsky, and Eva Podles. Playlist Tchaikovsky: Oprichnik “Natalyia’s Aria” Renee Fleming with the Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre/Valery Gergiev Recorded in St. Petersburg in 2006 DECCA B0007 405-02 BK02 Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin “Lensky’s Aria” […]

To kick off the new year, larry presents a program featuring singers born 100 years ago. Barber: Vanessa “Do Not Utter A Word” Eleanor Steber with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra conducted by Dimitri Mitropoulos Recorded in 1958 RCA VICTOR 7899-2-RG Berlioz: Romeo et Juliet “Queen Mab Scherzo” Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Carlo Maria Giulinni […]

Larry brings out the funny hats and confetti a few days early to get you ready for New Year’s Eve. The festivities are in good hands with a truly stellar collection of artists including Fritz Wunderlich, Ljuba Welitsch, Piotr Beczala, Anneliese Rothenberger and Jussi Bjoerling. Champagne anyone?

The holiday season is upon us again. Today’s program runs the gamut from a Wassail Song by Vaughn Williams to a German selection by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf,  and a ride with Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.   Playlist  Vaughn Williams: “Wassail Song” The Finzi Singers, PaulSpicer, director Recorded in London in 1993 CHANDOS 9425 Herbert: Babes […]

A program highlighting what are arguably the greatest selections Callas had to offer. Playlist Puccini: Tosca “Vissi d’arte” Maria Callas with the Orchestra of La Scala, Milan conducted by Vittorio Gui Recorded in Rome in 1953 EMI CDCB 7 47176-2 Maria Callas speaks about the meaning of bel canto with Edward Downes Recorded during a […]

Larry Johnson (right) with Finnish baritone Bo Skovus (left) now appearing in Lyric Opera’s Die Fledermaus Die Fledermaus or The Bat by Johann Strauss wings its way to Chicago once again to hover over the stage of Lyric Opera.  Today’s program offers selections from this most sparkling of operettas with recordings by Thomas Hampson, Jerry […]

In “Perchance to Dream,” Larry invites you to sit back, relax, and close your eyes. Featuring performances by Birgit Nilsson, Jussi Bjoerling, Edith Mason, Jerry Hadley, and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. Wagner:   “Traume”   Birgit Nilsson with Leo Taubman, piano Recorded in New York in 1961 RCA VICTOR 09026-68167-2 Puccini:   La Rondine  “Chi il bel sogno di Doretta”   […]

Verdi’s beloved “La Traviata,” about a dying Parisian courtesan, is playing at Lyric Opera.  Larry highlights the production with recordings by Maria Callas, Anna Moffo, Robert Merrill, and Luisa Tetrazzini. Playlist: Verdi:   La Traviata   “Ah fors’e lui” and “Sempre libra” Luisa Tetrazzini with orchestra Recorded in London in 1911 EMI 7243 5 74217 2 Verdi:   […]

Larry presents a program of music from Parsifal on today’s edition of Arias and Songs.   Wagner   Parsifal  “Ich sah das Kind”   Jessye Norman with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra conducted by James Levine   Recorded in New York in 1991   DGG 437 501-2 Wagner   Parsifal   “Amfortas! Die Wunde!   Jonas Kaufmann with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra conducted […]