Countermelody

Episode 442. Henry Wright Revisited

Last week I published an episode about Black Pop Singers who emigrated to Europe in the 1950s and 1960s. Most of these gentlemen settled in the German-speaking countries, where there was a ready marke...

2026-03-02

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Episode 441. A Cavalcade of Spirituals

As the last official entry in Countermelody’s Black History Month 2026 series, I bring you a potpourri episode that has long been a dream of mine: one dedicated entirely to the Spiritual, that distinc...

2026-02-28

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Episode 440. Black Baritone Expats

As the penultimate episode in my 2026 Black History Month series, I revisit the stories of African American performers who, for a variety of reasons, including seeking to improve their increase their ...

2026-02-24

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Episode 439. Grace Bumbry, Proud Soprano [Studio Edition]

As we hurtle toward the third anniversary (in May already!) of Grace Bumbry’s death, I have had her very much on my mind. It’s true that I consider her greatest achievement to have been as a Liedersän...

2026-02-20

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Episode 438. Leontyne Price Sings Richard Strauss Heroines

Last week the opera world joined in unanimous celebration as Leontyne Price celebrated her 99th birthday. Though I’m a trifle late to the party, I do have a Price episode today, and one with a twist, ...

2026-02-16

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Episode 437. Get to Know Faye Robinson

Today’s Black History Month episode serves also as a belated birthday tribute to the exceptional African American soprano Faye Robinson, who was born in Houston on 2 November 1943. Robinson has a voic...

2026-02-14

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Episode 436. Adelaide Hall, Sophisticated Lady

Adelaide Hall (1901 – 1993), entertainer extraordinaire, really had it all: voice, talent, beauty, dancing chops, charisma, joie de vivre and sophistication. She was the first Black performer to attai...

2026-02-10

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Episode 435. Tina and the Expats

I first published this episode two and a half years ago in June 2023, in commemoration of the death of the great Tina Turner. As always when I take on such an iconic figure, I try to give a different ...

2026-02-07

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Episode 434. Inez Matthews Sings Schubert (and More!)

To kick off Black History Month 2026 (which, contrary to the current US administration, is still a thing, and not just on Countermelody, either!), I present to you another Zwischenfach singer, the (me...

2026-02-03

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Episode 433. Lois Marshall Revisited

Yesterday, January 29th, was the 101st anniversary of the birth of the Canadian soprano (later mezzo) Lois Marshall. Marshall was in so many ways a unique and treasurable artist. Afflicted with polio ...

2026-01-31

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Episode 432. Dan Picks YET AGAIN!

One of the things about my podcast that brings me the greatest joy is when I can introduce my listeners to a wide range of singers that need to be better-known. Back when I was preparing birthday epis...

2026-01-27

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Episode 431. Hermann Prey singt Schubert Orchesterlieder

I’m sure many of you balked when you saw the title of this episode: “But Daniel: Schubert wrote no orchestral songs!” And of course you would be correct. And yet, what about when other composers orche...

2026-01-23

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Episode 430. Soukupová in Song

Here’s a rare sampling of Countermelody favorite, the refulgent Czech contralto Věra Soukupová, in song repertoire, accompanied by both piano and full orchestra. The featured works are two song cycles...

2026-01-19

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Episode 429. A Smattering of Sopranos

Today’s episode reveals and celebrates the opera queen in me: it’s a program entitled “A Smattering of Sopranos” that features twenty-five different singers who “happen to be” sopranos and whom have n...

2026-01-17

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Episode 428. Alfreda Hodgson Sings Brahms

The English contralto Alfreda Hodgson (07 June 1940 – 16 April 1992) has been featured numerous times on Countermelody and when I recently acquired a copy of her 1980 solo recital recording originally...

2026-01-12

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Episode 427. Representative Andrew Gray [AK] (Countermelody Conversations)

In the past I have featured interviews with wonderful guests (including Ira Siff, Janet Williams, Nicholas Tamagna, August Ventura, David Savran, and others), but they have been few and far between. T...

2026-01-10

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Episode 426. Teresa Stratas [Season Seven Premiere]

I wanted to start off the year (and the new season of the podcast) with something momentous, and who better to take us there than one of the great operatic artists of the twentieth century: Canadian s...

2026-01-06

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Episode 425. Mady Mesplé chante l’Opérette viennoise

For the final episode of 2025, and of Season Six of the podcast, I present pure frothy escapism from the delectable Mady Mesplé, the finest French coloratura of her generation. My original intention w...

2025-12-30

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Episode 424. The Happy Prince

A holiday gift for my beloved listeners. In the past year I have done Countermelody episodes featuring both soprano April Cantelo and mezzo-soprano Maureen Lehane. Cantelo in particular sang roles in ...

2025-12-28

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Episode 423. Christmas 2019 Redux: Hard/Try

Another episode of Christmas music! The first part is a continuation of the previous All-Tenor Holiday Extravaganza. We hear from Luther Saxon, Roland Hayes, James Melton, Brian Sullivan, Richard Croo...

2025-12-23

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Countermelody

Episodes (300 episodes)

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