Tag Archives: Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos

Episode 411. Orchestral Song [International Edition]

November 15, 2025Art Song, Behind the Iron Curtain, Canadian Singers, Forgotten Divas, Great Baritones, Great Tenors, Lieder, Listeners' Favorites, Mezzo Madness, Music for a World in Crisis Series, Needle Drop, Orchestral Songs, Rescue Mission, Twentieth Century MusicAlexander Zemlinsky, Aminollah Hossein, Andréa Guiot, Andrzej Markowski, Antonio Rubino, Ben Glassberg, Bernard Kruysen, Bohuslav Martinů, Canto a Sevilla, Cinco canciones negras, Combat del somni, Coral Island, Dagmar Pecková, Deità silvane, Dorothy Dorow, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Emanuel Lešehrad, Fartein Valen, Frederic Mompou, Gabriel Suovanen, Gerald Finley, Gottfried Keller, Günter von Kannen, Halina Łukomska, Hannu Lintu, Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz, Jean-Claude Hartemann, Jesus Lopez-Cobos, Jiří Bělohlávek, Joaquín Turina, José Muñoz San Román, Josep Janés, Julian Przyboś, Kaija Saariaho, Karol Stryja, Karol Szymanowski, Kazimierz Serocki, Laszlo Heltay, Lebendig begraben, Leif Segerstam, Lyrische Symphonie, Makota Ohka, Marianne Crebassa, Militiades Caridis, Oczy Powietrza, Othmar Schoeck, Ottorino Respighi, Pieśni muezina szalonego, Pilar Lorengar, Rabindranath Tagore, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Rafael Merello, Ralf Weikert, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Rie Hamada, Robert Tear, Ryszard Minkiewicz, Saadi Shirazi, Songs of the Lovesick Muezzin, Tōru Takemitsu, Victoria de los Angeles, Walt Whitman, Xavier Montsalvatge, Yuzo Toyama, Zoltan Peskocountermelody

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An old LP of Tōru Takemitsu’s Coral Island and a conversation with a new friend about American Exceptionalism inspired today’s episode, the “International Edition” of my ongoing series on Orchestral Song. Coral Island is still here, although I ended up using a later (and better) recording than the one in my collection. I also feature the work of composers Karol Szymanowski, Augustyn Bloch, Aminollah Hossein, Kaija Saariaho, Frederic Mompou, Ottorino Respighi, Fartein Valen, Bohuslav Martinů, and many others, performed by Gerald Finley, Andréa Guiot, Robert Tear, Dorothy Dorow, Halina Łukomska, Victoria de los Ángeles, Andrzej Hiolski, Bernard Kruysen, and Marianne Crebassa, for starters! I have been enjoying so much preparing these recent “potpourri” episodes, and this one is particularly chock full of surprises and discoveries!

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 author 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.

Episode 235. Anna Tonna Introduces Teresa Berganza (Listeners’ Favorites VI)

January 17, 2024Art Song, Bel canto, French Opera, In Memoriam, Lieder, Listeners' Favorites, Mezzo Madness, Mirella Freni, Music for a World in Crisis Series, Needle Drop, Opera in Translation, Operetta, Twentieth Century Music, Wolfgang Amadeus MozartAlexander Gibson, Alfonso X El Sabio, Ataúlfo Argenta, Benito Lauret, Carlo Maria Giulini, Carmen (Bizet), Cosi fan tutte, El Puñao de Rosas, Elisabeth Soderstrom, Ettore Gracis, Federico Moreno Torroba, Felix Lavilla, Franco Bonisolli, Frauenliebe und -leben, Frederic Mompou, Gabriel Bacquier, Georg Solti, Georges Bizet, Gioacchino Rossini, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Hans Rosbaud, István Kertész, Joaquín Turina, José Serrano, La Cenerentola, La Chulapona, La Clemenza di Tito, Las Hijas del Zebedeo, Le nozze di Figaro, Lola Rodríguez Aragón, Lorenzo da Ponte, Los Claveles, Luis Antonio García Navarro, Manuel de Falla, Maria Callas, Medea (Cherubini), Mirella Freni, Nicola Rescigno, Pilar Lorengar, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Ricardo Requejo, Robert Schumann, Ruperto Chapí, Siete canciones populares españolas, Stabat Mater (Pergolesi), Teresa Berganza, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Zarzuelacountermelody

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Today’s Listeners’ Favorites episode of Countermelody is introduced by my good friend (and Countermelody fan) the marvelous mezzo-soprano Anna Tonna. In her introduction Anna tells about her first exposure to the podcast and introduces us to one of her favorite episodes: the one I published in May 2022 a week after the beloved singer died at the age of 89. The episode pays tribute to her artistry through the exploration of her operatic roles, from Neris in Medea opposite Maria Callas, through her matchless Mozart and Rossini portrayals, through her fascinating and highly individualized portrait of the title heroine of Bizet’s Carmen. Special emphasis is given to her performance of Spanish music, from the zarzuelas of Ruperto Chapí and Federico Moreno Torroba, to art songs of Manuel de Falla and Fredric Mompou. Vocal guest stars include Mirella Freni, Pilar Lorengar, Lola Rodríguez Aragón, Franco Bonisolli, and the incendiary Callas herself, an early mentor and supporter of Berganza. I began the preparation for this episode with an incomplete appreciation of Berganza’s voice and artistry, but, knowing that she was one of Anna’s most treasured singers and role models, my goal was to see her through Anna’s eyes, and in the end, I was completely won over. This episode perfectly illustrates the podcast as a journey of mutual discovery for both me and my listeners.

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 support at whatever level you can afford.

Episode 145. Teresa Berganza In Memoriam

May 20, 2022Art Song, Bel canto, Full-Figured Baroque, In Memoriam, Lieder, Mezzo Madness, Mirella Freni, Music for a World in Crisis Series, Needle Drop, Operetta, Twentieth Century MusicAlexander Gibson, Alfonso X El Sabio, Ataúlfo Argenta, Benito Lauret, Carlo Maria Giulini, Carmen (Bizet), Cosi fan tutte, El Puñao de Rosas, Elisabeth Soderstrom, Ettore Gracis, Federico Moreno Torroba, Felix Lavilla, Franco Bonisolli, Frauenliebe und -leben, Frederic Mompou, Gabriel Bacquier, Georg Solti, Georges Bizet, Gioacchino Rossini, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Hans Rosbaud, István Kertész, Joaquín Turina, José Serrano, La Cenerentola, La Chulapona, La Clemenza di Tito, Las Hijas del Zebedeo, Le nozze di Figaro, Lola Rodríguez Aragón, Lorenzo da Ponte, Los Claveles, Luis Antonio García Navarro, Manuel de Falla, Maria Callas, Medea (Cherubini), Mirella Freni, Nicola Rescigno, Pilar Lorengar, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Ricardo Requejo, Robert Schumann, Ruperto Chapí, Siete canciones populares españolas, Stabat Mater (Pergolesi), Teresa Berganza, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Zarzuelacountermelody

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A week ago today the beloved and revered Spanish mezzo-soprano Teresa Berganza, died at the age of 89. This episode pays tribute to her artistry through the exploration of her operatic roles, from Neris in Medea opposite Maria Callas, through her matchless Mozart and Rossini portrayals, through her fascinating and highly individualized portrait of the title heroine of Bizet’s Carmen. Special emphasis is given to her performance of Spanish music, from the zarzuelas of Ruperto Chapí and Federico Moreno Torroba, to art songs of Manuel de Falla and Fredric Mompou. Vocal guest stars include Mirella Freni, Pilar Lorengar, Lola Rodríguez Aragón, Franco Bonisolli, and the incendiary Callas herself, an early mentor and supporter of Berganza. I began the preparation for this episode with an incomplete appreciation of Berganza’s voice and artistry, but she won me over and I am now, even if belatedly, a huge fan.

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 support at whatever level you can afford. Bonus episodes available exclusively to Patreon supporters are currently available and further bonus content including interviews and livestreams is planned for the upcoming season.