Handelmania's Podcast

The great Gigli w.Elizabeth Barbato in Forza. He was 61. I saw his 1955 farewell. Had he lived to 80, he would still have had it!!!!!

  Diana Soviero's Met debut with Alfredo Kraus in Romeo et Juliette.The "Poison aria" is superb.(Also on YouTube). I know her since 1977.Still feel she is as great as any soprano in my experience.

Carteri and Taddei in act 3 are so moving!! Ferruccio Tagliavini is Rodolfo.

Close to Ruffo!!  I thought Warren had a big voice.MacNeilwas awesome!!!!!!!

  My buddy,Marisa Galvany (one of many fake names) as Medea.

Bing gave her one!     Idiot!   Wonderful lady!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZwSAHyGoo8

Hard to find right words for the glorious Victoria's voice!!!!! Here is "Dove sono?"

Joseph Calleja wants people to  call him "Joe." That is the kind of guy he is. When he met me, he said I was more famous than he is.   TRUE?????????????????

If you are not feeling well, do NOT listen to Sirach von Bodengraven! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!   I am finding old audio stuff for you. Are you thrilled??????

Great fun guy, Brian Hymel, in French arias. He is such a wonderful person, and has a beautiful family. BUY IT! I get no commission on the full CD.

Callas, Corelli, Nicolai from Trieste.Note Corelli attack before Callas D!!!!!!!!!    Nothing like this today!!!

Here are early recordings of my dear friend Diana Soviero.Friends since 1977. I hope you like them.

She did it ALL!!!! Not a long career, but 1949-1955 in my view was awesome!

Saffo aria sung by one of my favorite singers, Eugenia Burzio. OLD STYLE!!!!!!  

  I was waiting once at the Met stage   door after a Macbeth. Out comes this big guy who looked at me and asked, "Are you Charlie Handelman?" I said "Yes." He gave me a big hug and  said,"You are more famous than me!"  What a fun guy!!!!!!!!!!  Joe and I have discussed a kind of "old-fashioned vibrato," which to  me is  "affectionate."

VERY few opera singers can sing popular music. Farrell did it pretty well and many male singers do it well, but the DIVAS have trouble. I guess the breaks in the voice make it more difficult...but Dorothy Kirsten mastered the crossover, compared to the ludicrous Fleming or L.Price.

Corelli had more vibrato young (DelMonaco called him a "goat) but these commercial discs still tel us of the man's greatness. I saw him 40 times.Yes,he could be a pain...but generally speaking,he raised the roof!!!!!!!!!! I have friends who knew him well,and they tell me how sweet he was and so concerned about his artistry.

When she showed up, Caballe was one of the greatest singers of the century!  Her birthplace was Barcelona, as we  at this tragic time send our deepest feelings for their people.

HUGEST voice from a baritone. Great man...In Ernani, the audience sometimes started to yell at the G  before the A flat, so stupendous the sound!

  An Oddity!!!!!!  Beverly as Aida!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!