Tag Archives: Rudolf Schock

Episode 180. Anna Moffo Reappraised

January 20, 2023Art Song, Bel canto, Broadway, Crossover, French Opera, Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, Lieder, Music for a World in Crisis Series, Needle Drop, Operetta, Richard Strauss, Twentieth Century MusicAdolf von Schack, Afro Poli, Alexandre Dumas, Alfred Grünwald, Anna Moffo, Anton Coppola, Anton Guadagno, Antonio Amurri, Arleen Augér, Berislav Klobučar, Billy Smith, Carlo Bergonzi, Carlo Felice Cillario, Charles Gounod, Don Giovanni, Emmerich Kálmán, Erich Leinsdorf, Falstaff, Fernando Previtali, Francesco Maria Piave, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli, Franco Ferrara, Franz Lehár, Friedrich Schiller, Fritz Löhner-Beda, Gaetano Donizetti, George Gershwin, Georges Bizet, Georges Pretre, Gerald Moore, Giacomo Puccini, Gian Francesco Malipiero, Gianni Ferrio, Gino Gorini, Giovanna d’Arco, Giuditta (Lehár), Giulio Fioravanti, Giuseppe Adami, Giuseppe di Stefano, Giuseppe Giacosa, Gräfin Mariza, Hans Carste, Hans Rosbaud, Heinrich Hart, Henri Meilhac, Henri René, I Puritani, Ira Gershwin, Jacopone da Todi, James King, Jane Berbié, John Orrick, Jules Barbier, Jules Massenet, Julius Brammer, Kurt Eichhorn, La rondine, La sonnambula, La Traviata, Lehman Engel, Leopold Stokowski, Lorenzo da Ponte, Lorin Maazel, Lucia di Lammermoor, Ludovic Halévy, Luigi Illica, Madama Butterfly, Manon, Mario Lanfranchi, Mario Rossi, Michel Carré, Miti Truccato Pace, Oliviero de Fabritiis, Oscar Straus, Paul Knepler, Peter Maag, Philippe Gille Abbé Prévost, Piero Piccioni, Piero Umiliani, Prosper Mérimée, Renato Simoni, René Leibowitz, Richard Fredericks, Richard Hundley, Richard Strauss, Roméo et Juliette, Rudolf Friml, Rudolf Schock, Salvadore Cammarano, Sergio Franchi, Sergio Lorenzi, Skitch Henderson, Temistocle Solera, The Chocolate Soldier, Tosca, Tullio Serafin, Turandot, Victor Herbert, Victorien Sardou, Vincenzo Bellini, Walter Scott, Werner Schmidt-Boelcke, William Shakespeare, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozartcountermelody

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The Italian-American lyric coloratura soprano Anna Moffo (1932-2006) is, for many, one of the great singers of the past century. My first exposure to this artist was one of two, frankly, disastrous recordings released in the mid-1970s, in which the voice was a mere shadow of its former self, and in which her vocal defects and mannerisms had overtaken the intrinsic beauty of her voice. But there are so many exceptional qualities to Moffo as an artist, musician, and media star, that I felt compelled to do a frank reappraisal of her contribution to the lyric art. And am I glad that I did! I discovered an artist of great integrity who, in her best work, attained a similar level to any of the other great singers performing during that period. Unlike any other opera singer that I can think of, she conquered three distinct markets with equal success: first in Italy (where she rose to overnight stardom in the late 1950s and went on in the 1960s to become the star of her own eponymous television series); then in the United States throughout the 1960s; and finally, in the late 1960s and 70s, in Germany. But hers is also a cautionary tale of “too much, too soon” and the potentially destructive power of the media which has significance also in today’s opera world. Throughout the episode, live and studio examples of Moffo’s work, both bad and (mostly) good over the course of more than twenty years, are offered to support my discussion of her importance and influence as an artist, one that continues to this day. Vocal guest stars include tenors Carlo Bergonzi, Rudolf Schock, Giuseppe di Stefano, and Sergio Franchi, and musical collaborators include Tullio Serafin, Gerald Moore, Lorin Maazel, Hans Rosbaud, Fernando Previtali, Lehman Engel, Oliviero de Fabritiis, René Leibowitz, Kurt Eichhorn, Berislav Klobučar, and Franco Ferrara. For those who love Moffo, for those who hate her, and for those who find themselves somewhere in between, this episode is (dare I say it?) required listening.

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.

Episode 111. Verdi auf Deutsch I

October 17, 2021African American Singers, Behind the Iron Curtain, Giuseppe Verdi, Great Baritones, Mezzo Madness, Music for a World in Crisis Series, Needle Drop, Opera in Translation, Singers of ColorAida, Annelies Kupper, Anneliese Rothenberger, Anton de Ridder, Betty Allen, Bruno Bartoletti, Bruno Seidler-Winkler, Carl Besi, Clemens Krauss, Don Carlo, Elisabeth Grümmer, Erich Orthmann, Ferdinand Leitner, Friedel Beckmann, Frieder Weissmann, Friedrich Schiller, Fritz Wunderlich, Georg Hann, Georgina von Milinkovic, Giuseppe Patanè, Giuseppe Verdi, Gloria Davy, Gottlob Frick, Grace Bumbry, Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt, Helge Rosvaenge, Hilde Güden, Hildegard Hillebrecht, Horst Stein, Il Trovatore, Inge Borkh, James King, János Kulka, Jess Thomas, Josef Gostic, Josef Greindl, Karl Elmendorff, La forza del destino, La Traviata, Lawrence Winters, Leonora Lafayette, Luisa Miller, Margarete Teschemacher, Maria Cebotari, Maria Stader, Meta Seinemeyer, Nicolai Gedda, Otello, Otto Gerdes, Pilar Lorengar, Raymond Wolansky, Richard Kraus, Richard Tauber, Robert Burg, Rudolf Schock, Sabine Kalter, Sándor Kónya, Teresa Stratas, Un ballo in maschera, Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Wolfgang Windgassencountermelody

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Today’s is a mammoth episode on a mammoth topic: historical performances of Verdi’s operas in German translation. I trace the historical and ongoing popularity of Verdi’s works in Germany, and include discussions of the works of Friedrich Schiller as Verdian subject matter; the co-opting of Verdi’s genius by the Third Reich; and the numerous African American Verdi singers, including Gloria Davy, Lawrence Winters, Lenora Lafayette, Betty Allen, and Grace Bumbry, who based their careers (or significant portions thereof) in German-speaking European countries. I include duets and trios from eight different Verdi operas; recordings featured were made between the years 1923 and 1973 and feature such native German-speaking singers as Richard Tauber, Margarete Teschemacher, Maria Cebotari, Josef Greindl, Meta Seinemeyer, Inge Borkh, Fritz Wunderlich, Annelies Kupper, Elisabeth Grümmer, Wolfgang Windgassen, Gottlob Frick, and Hilde Güden, among many others. Non-German singers such as Teresa Stratas, Sándor Kónya, Pilar Lorengar, Jess Thomas, Raymond Wolansky, and James King are also highlighted. This episode is an exploration of the greatest operatic composer of all time, but in unexpected garb.

Episode 14. Christmas Potpourri II: Hard/Try

December 21, 2019African American Singers, Broadway, Full-Figured Baroque, Holiday Music, In Memoriam, Music for a World in Crisis Series, Pop Icons, Singers of ColorAdeste fideles, Adolphe Adam, After the Holidays, Alice Parker, August von Haxthausen, Augusta Holmès, Brian Sullivan, Cantique de Noël, Cesar Franck, Christmas for the Brokenhearted, Christmas Hymns and Carols Volume 2, Daniel Gundlach, David Shire, Dietrich Bocholtz-Asseburg, Edmund Sears, Eduard Ebel, Eduard Mörike, Eileen Farrell, Farrold Stephens, Firestone Christmas Albums, Fritz Wunderlich, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Henri Contet, Hermann Prey, Hugh Martin, Hugo Wolf, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, It Must Have Been Love, James Melton, Johannes David Falk, John McCormack, John Meyer, Joni Mitchell, Judy Garland, Le Noel de la Rue, Leise rieselt der Schnee, Leonard De Paur, Little Boy How Old Are You, Lotte Lehmann, Marc Heyral, Maria durch ein Dornwald ging, Mariä Wiegenlied, Marie Frederiksson, Mary Had a Baby, Max Reger, Meet Me in St. Louis, Mel Tormé, Minuit Chrétiens, Noël, Norman Shetler, O Come All Ye Faithful, O du fröhliche, O helga natt, O sanctissima, Panis angelicus, Per Gessle, Peter Schreier, Ralph Blane, René Kollo, Richard Maltby Jr., Richard Storrs Willis, Rita Gardner, River, Robert MacGimsey, Robert Shaw, Robert Shaw Chorale, Robert Wells, Roland Hayes, Roxette, Rudolf Schock, Schlafendes Jesuskind, Schlichte Weisen, Starting Here Starting Now, Still still still, Sweet Little Jesus Boy, tenor, The Christmas Song, The De Paur Chorus, The Leonard De Paur Chorus, Trois anges sont venus du ciel, Vinzenz Maria Süßcountermelody

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Another week of Christmas music! The first part of the episode is a continuation of last week’s All-Tenor Extravaganza. We hear from Farrold Stephens, Luther Saxon, Roland Hayes, James Melton, Brian Sullivan, Richard Crooks, Raoul Jobin, Jussi Björling, Richard Verreau, Fritz Wunderlich (with an assist from Hermann Prey), Rudolf Schock, René Kollo, John McCormack, Peter Schreier, and Mel Tormé (with an assist from Judy herself!) And for those who have ambivalent feelings about this holiday, the second half of the program foregrounds six of my most favoritest Depressing Christmas Pop Songs, sung by Eileen Farrell, Rita Gardner, Joni Mitchell, Edith Piaf, Judy Garland and (in memory of the recently deceased Marie Fredriksson), Roxette. A line from Judy’s song “After the Holidays” (by John Meyer) provides the inspiration to the episode title: “I know it’s hard, but try.”

Countermelody is a new podcast devoted to the glories of the human voice raised in song. Singer and vocal aficionado Daniel Gundlach explores great classical and opera singers of the past and present with the help of guests from the classical music field: singers, conductors, composers, coaches, agents, and voice teachers. 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 interaction between singers of all stripes, their instruments, and the connection they make to the words they sing. Please also visit the Countermelody website for updates, additional content, and to pledge your support. www.countermelodypodcast.com