19 Comments
User's avatar
Jacqueline Mitchell's avatar

Thank you for your weekly opera email. Enjoy your summer.

Daniel P Quinn's avatar

We agree on all your selections !!!

Daniel P Quinn's avatar

Heard Corelli w/Grace Bumbry as TOSCA when James Levine made his Met debut.

Bryan Moore's avatar

Just to thank you for your wonderful Emails which are always interesting and enjoyable.

Guy Stalnaker's avatar

Michelle, hope you have an excellent summer! I'm going to highlight one aria you've explored because WHAT AN ARIA! and what incredible performances by Alfredo Kraus, Alain Vanzo, and Lawrence Brownlee (wish there was the complete aria by Mathew Polanzani): Les pêcheurs de perles. WD 13, Act I: "Je crois entendre encore." I was captured by this aria in a performance by the Australian tenor David Hobson, which is also, thankfully, on YouTube so I can share it with you.

https://youtu.be/xKrxFWNVwTI?si=OWowbTUY_4Xr7GRa

I LOVE living in the recording age, and now the streaming age, so we have the chance to hear so many great singers and hear how each approaches the music (e.g., Hobson's is utterly forlorn and sad). There are many more version of this aria on YouTube and I will be exploring them.

Opera Daily's avatar

Wonderful, yes! thank you for sharing!

Avery Gordon's avatar

I'll miss you this summer! Especially I'll miss Franco Corelli in Tosca!

Dermot McCabe's avatar

I love every one of your selection. Cecilia Bartoli is such a joy to listen to and watch.

Ayten's avatar

Wonderful selection - thank you Michele

PJ Alexander's avatar

Saving this post for summer listening. And big Yes from all my communications work to your comments on 'listening' generally. Have a sweet summer, Michele.

Martha Eason's avatar

Fantastic! Glad I found you here on substack! I listened to the Rosenkav you posted just last night. One of the first operas I heard live at the met with Renée herself !