Yesterday was the birthday of Countermelody favorite, the ravishing Scottish soprano Margaret Marshall. What better way to kick off Season Six of the podcast than with this tribute to Margaret. The more I listen to her, the more clearly I see her direct link with other great singers of the past, primarily Gundula Janowitz, Margaret Price, and Lisa Della Casa. The same coolness of timbre on the surface that barely conceals the beating heart underneath. The same impeccable musicianship and vocal flexibility (in fact, she more or less exceeds all three of her predecessors in that regard!) And the same affinity with the music of Mozart. I am not always the most passionate fan of Mozart, but lately I have been in just the mood for his music. So as I was doing my own private celebration of Margaret’s birthday earlier this week, listening to favorites among her many recordings, I kept finding myself choosing her singing music of Mozart. I have put together today’s program using selections from Mozart’s early church music and oratorios; Lieder; concert arias; and opera arias. These selections cover twenty of the glory years of her career, from 1975 through 1995, and consistently display those qualities described above that made her one of the finest Mozart singers of the late twentieth century. Raise a glass to the Scottish songbird as you revel in these marvelous studio and live performances!

Countermelody is a podcast devoted to the glory and the power of the human voice raised in song. Singer and vocal aficionado Daniel Gundlach explores great singers of the past and present focusing in particular on those who are less well-remembered today than they should be. Daniel’s lifetime in music as a professional countertenor, pianist, vocal coach, voice teacher, and journalist yields an exciting array of anecdotes, impressions, and “inside stories.” At Countermelody’s core is the celebration of great singers of all stripes, their instruments, and the connection they make to the words they sing. By clicking on the following link (https://linktr.ee/CountermelodyPodcast) you can find the dedicated Countermelody website which contains additional content including artist photos and episode setlists. The link will also take you to Countermelody’s Patreon page, where you can pledge your monthly or yearly support at whatever level you can afford.