Edita Gruberová
Edita Gruberová is one of the singers I wish I had discovered earlier in my life; every time I hear her, I’m amazed by her intonation, ornamentation, and clarity in … Continue readingEdita Gruberová
Category: Divi of the Day
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Each day we will feature one opera singer who has left her or his mark on the genre.
Olga Peretyatko sings Bellini’s I puritani
I’ve heard a lot of naysayers talk about Olga Peretyatko’s diction and intonation, but just listen to her in this recording of Bellini’s I puritani. What a gorgeous sound in … Continue readingOlga Peretyatko sings Bellini’s I puritani
Ferruccio Furlanetto
Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto has a powerful, unforgettable sound. I know him primarily through Mozart – as Figaro in a famous Met recording of Le Nozze di Figaro and as … Continue readingFerruccio Furlanetto
Diva of the Day: Dawn Upshaw
Diva Dawn Upshaw has a light and sparkly soprano sound, ideally suited to soubrette roles. It was in just such a role that I first heard her – as Susanna … Continue readingDiva of the Day: Dawn Upshaw
Sherrill Milnes
Sherrill Milnes was another name that kept popping up on the CD box sets I was buying. I first heard Milnes on the famous 1971 recording of Verdi’s Rigoletto with … Continue readingSherrill Milnes
Kathleen Battle
The opera world loves a good controversy, and Kathleen Battle certainly provided one! Born in 1948, Battle first appeared on the operatic stage as Rosina in Michigan Opera Theater’s 1975 … Continue readingKathleen Battle
Kiri Te Kanawa
I first noticed Kiri Te Kanawa because she kept appearing on opera CD box sets I bought – Le Nozze di Figaro, Rigoletto, Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, etc. She … Continue readingKiri Te Kanawa
Joan Sutherland
Joan Sutherland was the first operatic soprano I ever knew. My passion for opera began with a 1971 Decca recording of Verdi’s Rigoletto in which Joan played Gilda opposite Pavarotti’s … Continue readingJoan Sutherland
Tito Gobbi
Italian baritone Tito Gobbi was a prolific and versatile performer and stage director from his debut in 1935 to his retirement in 1979. He appeared in over 25 film versions … Continue readingTito Gobbi
Maria Callas
The quintessential diva, Maria Callas was renowned not just for her beautiful singing, but also for her superb acting. The short-lived Greek-American star was born in New York City in … Continue readingMaria Callas