The happiest of birthdays (Jan.22) to the superb tenor (and lovable guy) Joseph Calleja. Mr.Calleja, who hails from Malta, is fast becoming one of opera's most renowned artists and here are some examples of his great voice:

 The arias are from:  Mme.Butterfly, Adriana Lecouvreur, Don Sebastiano, La Belle Helene, Romeo et Juliette, I Lombardi, and La Traviata.

   I also must mention that yesterday we celebrated (well, I did, anyway) the birthdays of two other great stars, Placido Domingo and Carlo Handelmaniac(Or is it EGOmaniac?)

Now do not shoot me for the following:

    "Were I the impresario of an opera house years ago, and heard boy soprano Calleja, I would cast him in "Die Frau Ohne Schatten" so we could therefore call him the "Maltese Falcon."

                         With all my best to a great guy!     Charlie

Highlights from Mascagni's "Iriis," a much-neglected work.

Featured, from four separate recordings are:

Magda Olivero,Clara Petrella, Ilona Tokody, Giuseppe Di Stefano,Placido Domingo, and Giulio Neri.  (72 min.)

These are highlights from the English National Opera 1982 performance (live) of Donizetti's "Maria Stuarda," sung in English under Charles Mackerras. Featured is the phenomenal Dame Janet Baker and as cast that also includes:

Rosalind Plowright    ElizabettaDavid Rendall           LeicesterJohn Tomlinson        TalbotAlan Opie                  CecilAngela Bostock           Hannah Kennedy                       (55 min.)          

Several great singers sing sings by Francesco Paolo Tosti.In order they are:

Mattia Battistini, Augusto Dianni, Tom Burke, Alfred Piccaver, Charles Dalmores, Fernando de Lucia, Giuseppe Anselmi, John McCormack, Richard Tauber, Enrico Caruso, Dusolina Giannnini, Adelina Patti, Emma Eames, Rosa Ponselle, and Luisa Tetrazzini.  (57 min.)

Highlights from two performances of Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro."

First we have (in German) the 10/25/38 studio recording under Karl Boehm featuring:

Margarete Teschemacher  CountessMaria Cebotari (in photo)  SusannaPaul Schoeffler               FigaroMathieu Ahlersmeyer      CountAngela Kolniak                     Cherubino

This is followed by a live Salzburg  8/11/37 performance under Bruno Walter with:

Aulikki Rautawaara  Countess Esther Rethy        Susanna          Ezio Pinza    FigaroMariano Stabile   CountJarmila Novotna    Cherubino

            (73 min.)

Many collectors consider this 1938 Boheme recording as the definitive performance of the work. See what you think as Licia Albanese and Beniamino Gigli thrill us with their magnificent singing. Others in the cast are as follows:

Marcello         Afro PoliMusetta          Tatiana MenottiSchaunard       Aristide BaracchiColline             Duilio Baronti

       Conducted by Umberto Berretoni     (71 min.)

Next season the Met will feature the 100th anniversary of  the great Puccini work, "La fanciulla del West." My opera buddy's dad saw the 1910 premiere with Caruso, Destinn, and Amato. Imagine my friend's frustration when all his dad remembered was that "It was fine!" (He wanted to know exactly what Caruso did with every phrase)

 This blazing hot Scala performance with Gigliola Frazzoni,Franco Corelli, Tito Gobbi, and Enzo Sordello under Antonino Votto will thrill you (despite a few distorted moments in loud climaxes). ENJOY!                                    (73 min.)

Highlights from a superb performance of Mme.Butterfly from 1996, featuring my beloved Diana Soviero, Richard Leech, Juan Pons, and Wendy White, conducted by Julius Rudel.    (69 min.)

Not too bad a cast for this 1957 Scala Ballo under Gianandrea Gavazzeni,

Maria Callas, Giuseppe  Di Stefano, Ettore Bastianini, Giulietta Simionato, Eugenia Ratti.               (73 min.)

WHY was I not born in Milano??????????????

The amazing Magda Olivero in an Amsterdam concert, 1962. She sings arias from Manon Lescaut,Mefistofele, Tosca, Iris, Adriana Lecouvreur, and Risurrezione.    (32 min.)

Youtube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNniGHmTrNo