Jackie and Pat and Debbie and Flicka – DivaChat

This is a fun, free-wheeling conversation among four amazing opera divas: Marilyn Horne, Patricia Racette, Deborah Voigt, and Frederica von Stade. Among many topics, they discuss how they got their start; who their main influences are; and what they're up to now. Full of fun chat, interesting background, and some opera inside jokes (Flora Amici)! And Jackie schools Debbie on fach. Check it out. 

The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), in collaboration with San Francisco Opera, presents "Sunday with the Divas," Moderated by Stephen Rubin. Recorded February 25, 2018 at the Nourse Theater, San Francisco.

Mozart Monday: Sesto as Vitellia – Frederica von Stade

Frederica von Stade seems so nice it's hard to imagine her being Vitellia; but then again, she could show us a gentler side of the character. She certainly makes a good musical case for one angle I’ve suggested now and then: Vitellia as a hurt little girl. 

Gratuitousness Updated: meanwhile, I finally caught up with my indexing. I thought I was way behind, but I didn't post many (any) random clips in 2016, so catching up didn't take long. I think I now have all the aria/duet clips cataloged (clearly I am someone with too much spare time!) The next step is to go back and un-index stuff that's been deleted from YT (or update links). That may take longer!

The 12 Days Of Christmas – Frederica von Stade & Kathleen Battle

This clip is from the wonderful 1991 Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert. Frederica von Stade and Kathleen Battle joined forces with the New York Choral Society, the American Boy Choir, and  the Orchestra of St. Luke's, all under the direction of Andre Previn. Wynton Marsalis and his quartet also appeared on their own and with the sopranos in various combinations. I have had this program on CD for years, and I enjoy the variety of straight up classical, pop-ish arrangements, and jazz. All of the principal artists do a great job in each style.