To celebrate Arias & Songs first anniversary Larry will offer some  recordings suggested by listeners since the show’s debut.

Some melodies just deserve to be heard twice.  In this program Larry will play a vocal recording of an aria or song but preceded by a non vocal version as well.   Playlist Tchaikovsky: “None But the Lonely Heart” Mischa Maisky, cello with Pavel Gililov, piano Recorded at Schloss Elmau in 2005 DGG B0005831-02 Tchaikovsky: […]

This Italian soprano renowned for her Butterfly, the last important living artist to sing under the baton of Arturo Toscanini and friend of WFMT’s Andy Karzas celebrates her 100th birthday on July 22nd.  Larry will offer a loving tribute to Licia Albanese as she becomes a centenarian as well as a nod to Andy Karzas.   […]

This program is all about Paris as Bastille Day has inspired this musical journey to the City of Light.  Josephine Baker, Edith Piaf and Maurice Chevalier among others can be heard as Larry indulges you in nostalgia and romance. Vive la France!   Playlist Louiguy:   “La Vie en Rose”   Richard Hayman and his Orchestra   Recorded in 1990   NAXOS […]

Among the selections from Austria’s master of melody will be an unusual version of Erl Konig as arranged by Berlioz, the Marche Militaire for piano four hands as well the famed Schubert lied, Die Forelle and more.   Playlist Schubert-Goethe:    “Der Musensohn”    Christa Ludwig with Geoffrey Parsons, piano     Recorded in Vienna November, 1961    EMI 7243 5 […]

Could there be a more light hearted excursion into the world of operetta than a half hour with Victor Herbert?  From hit shows of a century ago there will be selections from Naughty Marietta and The Red Mill among others sung by a variety of artists including Beverly Sills, Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, and more!   […]

This week, a program of Mozart arias with performances from Bryn Terfel, Cecilia Bartoli, Alfredo Kraus, Natalie Dessay, and Roberta Peters. Playlist Mozart:  Marriage of Figaro  “Non piu andrai”  Bryn Terfel with the English Baroque Soloists conducted by John Eliot Gardiner  Recorded in London in 1994  DGG 447 578-2 Mozart:  Don Giovanni  “Batti, Batti […]

Larry presents a program of performances by Rise Stevens on this week’s Arias and Songs. Playlist Thomas:  Mignon  “Legeres Hirodelles”  Rise Stevens and Ezio Pinza with Metropolitan Opera Orchestra conducted by Wilfred Pelltier  MET broadcast of 1/27/45   SONY 88697 96192 2 Strauss:  Die Fledermaus  “Chacun a son gout”  Rise Stevens with orchestra conducted by […]

Larry presents a program “for the birds” on this week’s edition of Arias and Songs. Playlist Leoncavallo:  Pagliacci  “Qual fiamma. . . Stridono lassu”  Maria Callas with the Orchestra of La Scala, Milan conducted by Tulio Serafin  Recorded in Milan in 1954  EMI 7243 5 65746-2 5 Coates:  “Bird Songs at Eventide”  Ben Heppner […]

The last of Larry’s 2-part program commemorating Wagner’s 200th birthday. Playlist Wagner:  Tannhauser  “Dich teure Halle”  Birgit Nilsson with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera Houses, Covent Garden conducted by Edward Downes  Recorded in London in 1961  DECCA 473 294-2 Wagner:  Der Fliegende Hollander  “Steuerman!”  Chorus of the Staatskapelle, Dresden conducted by Silvio Varviso   […]