On And Off The Record

“We never know quite where she will lead us. She is an artist of becoming. Her phrases are charged with unstable energy, driven toward resolution and relief. We fly along behind her, touched and moved.” – Bernard Holland, The New … Continue reading→

“I love to play the piano, but I don’t want to be a pianist.” – Martha Argerich Thomas May once wrote that “an encounter with the searing artistry of Martha Argerich can resemble a religious conversion experience.” Alex Ross, writing … Continue reading→

“One of Broadway’s bona fide legends, Patti LuPone can turn in a dramatic performance that will leave your jaw agape, your emotions in turmoil and your devotion to her in full throttle.” – Randy Shulman Great Interpreters Goes Broadway! – … Continue reading→

“The best word to describe Paige’s performance is volcanic. When that golden voice opens, it pours out like rich lava, and the sound that envelops the entire concert hall is simply thrilling. She is also a spell-binding actress, who delves … Continue reading→

“Bernadette is flawless as far as I’m concerned.” – Stephen Sondheim Great Interpreters Goes Broadway! – Program 6: Bernadette Peters Broadcast on Fine Music Radio on 10 July 2015. A born performer, Peters made her Broadway debut in Most Happy … Continue reading→

“Hopefully, I brought people a certain joy. That will be a wonderful legacy”. – Julie Andrews Great Interpreters Goes Broadway! – Program 5: Julie Andrews Broadcast on Fine Music Radio on 3 July 2015. Arguably the most well-known and loved … Continue reading→

“Acting is really understanding other human beings and trusting humanity. When you have learned this, the audience will get any message you want to send them. And when you feel that message has been received, it’s a heavenly sensation.” – … Continue reading→

“The First Broad of the American theater.” – Nathan Lane Great Interpreters Goes Broadway! – Program 3: Elaine Stritch Broadcast on Fine Music Radio on 19 June 2015. With her gravel-edged belt, a voice like a car shifting gears without … Continue reading→

“I beat my brains out performing … and I like to hear the echo.” – Mary Martin Great Interpreters Goes Broadway! – Program 2: Mary Martin Broadcast on Fine Music Radio on 12 June 2015. With her radiant stage presence, … Continue reading→

“A voice like that comes along just once, and it echoes down Broadway to this day.” – Adam Feldman Great Interpreters Goes Broadway! – Program 1: Ethel Merman Broadcast on Fine Music Radio on 5 June 2015. No other performer … Continue reading→

“A mezzo in a class by herself.” – The New York Times Great Interpreters: Dolora Zajick Broadcast on Fine Music Radio on 3 January 2014. Widely regarded by her fans and by critics as THE Verdi mezzo soprano of our … Continue reading→

“I could not believe where this voice came from… She had this melting, big sound.” – Renata Scotto, soprano Great Interpreters:  Fiorenza Cossotto Broadcast on Fine Music Radio on 22 November 2013. Like her predecessors Ebe Stignani, Fedora Barbieri and Giulietta … Continue reading→

“Gobbi belonged to that special breed, who so combine singing and acting that they become inseparable – the complete art form demanded by opera at its sublime best.” – Michael Langdon, Opera Great Interpreters: Tito Gobbi Broadcast on Fine Music … Continue reading→

“I cry when I hear my records… Now I understand what happened during my performances. I feel the same thing. Not because I know I am Renata Tebaldi, but because I can be objective.” – Renata Tebaldi, soprano Great Interpreters: … Continue reading→

“All my life I have wanted to be a great artist. I am not one. I am a singer with a beautiful voice. But I have always done my best, wherever I have found myself, to serve my country, my … Continue reading→

“Radvanovsky’s singing was riveting. Hers is a bright beacon of a voice, focused and agile… Even in the many rousing choruses and ensemble numbers, her voice sailed into the house like a glowing laser beam.” – New York Times Great … Continue reading→

“I will go out of my way to catch a performance of theirs.” – James Harrington, American Record Guide, on Luis Magalhães and Nina Schumann’s debut CD release Rachmaninoff: Complete Works for Two Pianos Great Interpreters: Luis Magalhães Broadcast on … Continue reading→

  “A superior pianist.” – New York Times   Great Interpreters: Steven De Groote Broadcast “live” on Fine Music Radio on 30 November 2012. Also available on iTunes: Already an accomplished performer by his teens, South African pianist Steven De … Continue reading→

“The voice that made the world swoon.” – Raina Kabaivanska, soprano   Great Interpreters:  Giuseppe Di Stefano Broadcast “live” on Fine Music Radio on 24 October 2008. Also available on iTunes: Rightly regarded not only as one of the leading … Continue reading→

“Probably millions of words have been written about La Callas, and quite a few about the vulnerable, lonely, elusive creature who was Maria. There is little I can add. She shone for all too brief a while in the world … Continue reading→

“It is foolish to discuss her as a voice. She must be viewed totally – as a complex of music, drama, and movement. There is no one like her today. She was an aesthetic phenomenon.” – Antonino Votto   Programme … Continue reading→

“Beauty. Something beautiful. Intensity, expression, everything. She was a monstrous phenomenon. Almost a sickness – the kind of actress that has passed for all time.” – Luchino Visconti   Programme 2: The Great Years (1952-1955) Broadcast “live” on Fine Music … Continue reading→

“Callas’ art, fortunately, is inexhaustible, even if her recordings are not. She has given us a lifetime’s work to be grateful for, to learn from, and wonder at. The proof is tangible. It is in her recordings. We are in … Continue reading→

“It’s inexplicable – this passion, this intensity one has for an art form.” – Nina Schumann (2002) Great Interpreters: Nina Schumann Broadcast on Fine Music Radio on 10 August 2012. Also available on iTunes: Widely regarded as one of South … Continue reading→

“Don’t you dare retire! With that tiger still burning inside of you, you have lots to do. We are going to need people like you to pass on your talent, teach our young… they need people like you. I salute … Continue reading→

“There’s nobody like her, never was and probably never will be. In trying to describe Norman’s artistry, a critic inevitably finds himself falling into the lamest of clichés – ‘oceanic power’, ‘force of nature’, ‘larger than life presence’ and so … Continue reading→

“A goddess performing among us.” – Jay Harrison, The Herald Tribune, 1954   Great Interpreters:  Leontyne Price Broadcast “live” on Fine Music Radio on 14 March 2008. Also available on iTunes: Leontyne Price (b. 1927) was the outstanding lyric-dramatic soprano … Continue reading→

“Marilyn Horne may be the most influential singer in American history.” – Opera News, January 2002   Great Interpreters: Marilyn Horne Broadcast “live” on Fine Music Radio on 29 February 2008. Also available on iTunes: Known for her powerful voice, … Continue reading→

“I think a life in music is a life beautifully spent, and this is what I have devoted my life to.” – Luciano Pavarotti Great Interpreters:  Luciano Pavarotti Broadcast on Fine Music Radio on 14 February 2014. First broadcast “live” … Continue reading→

“Art taken to its subtlest peak.” – The London Times on Schwarzkopf’s interpretation of the songs of Hugo Wolf. Great Interpreters:  Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Broadcast “live” on Fine Music Radio on 27 July 2007. Also available on iTunes: Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf … Continue reading→

“Having a voice, experiencing the physical sensation of singing in your body, and feeling the spiritual rapport with the public: all this is a great blessing.” – Edita Gruberová   Great Interpreters:  Edita Gruberová Broadcast on Fine Music Radio on … Continue reading→