Larry presents the magnificent voice of Jessye Norman in some of her greatest roles from Ariadne auf Naxos, Dido and Aeneas, Tannhäuser, and more. A must for her fans will be her rendition of ‘Amazing Grace.’

So many to choose from. We hear Spain’s El Cid sung by Plácido Domingo, Joan of Arc by Eileen Farrell, Mary Queen of Scots by Joyce DiDonato, and Mark Antony by Vanni‐Marcoux.

Our first stop is Covent Garden for an aria from one of its greatest stars, Nellie Melba. Rex Harrison observes how the English speak in My Fair Lady. Noël Coward sings “London Pride” and we enjoy the melodic wit of Gilbert & Sullivan.

A combustible combination as René Pape singing “Wotan’s Farewell” and “Fire Music” from Die Walküre. Régine Crespin witnesses the burning of Troy in Les Troyens. Larissa Diadkova sees her mother burned at the stake in Il trovatore.

There is nothing like a Sicilian curse! Carlo Bergonzi gets one he won’t forget from Fiorenza Cossotto in Cavalleria rusticana. Victoria de los Ángeles and Giuseppe Di Stefano are heard in songs. Also, there will be an offer you can’t refuse as we pay our respects to The Godfather.

Beethoven’s Ode to Joy from his Symphony No. 9 is the centerpiece of this program. Herbert Von Karajan conducts. Also heard will be the finale of Verdi’s Falstaff with Bryn Terfel, and of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice with Shirley Verrett and Anna Moffo.

Are you familiar with Donizetti’s Rita? How about Meyerbeer’s Emma di Resburgo? Rubinstein’s Néron? Hear these and more operatic rarities sung by Juan Diego Flórez, Joyce DiDonato, Enrico Caruso, Diana Damrau, and Jonas Kaufmann.

Larry recalls this superb American mezzo‐soprano in some her greatest Verdi roles including Macbeth, Don Carlo, and Un ballo in maschera. There is also a La Gioconda duet with Montserrat Caballé and a cradle song by Montsalvatge.

Venture into a twilight world with Natalie Dessay singing the “Shadow Song” from Meyerbeer’s Dinorah. Peter Pears delves into the Foggy, Foggy Dew and Fred Astaire enjoys A Foggy Day in London Town. All alone, Judy Garland offers a heartfelt “Me and My Shadow.”

Close personal and professional relationships are explored. We recall those of Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge; Galina Vishnevskaya and Mstislav Rostropovich; Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears; and Roberto Alagna and his brothers.