Singing and other Sins was broadcast on Hawaii Public Radio until 9 April 2022. You can read more about the history of the program and its name. Previous programs are not being broadcast, but you can listen to many of them in the archive below.
The archive contains shows from 2011 (and earlier) to 2022.
Listen to as little or as much of a program as you like. If you have requests, comments, or suggestions, please let us know.
For Rilke fans you’ll find that there are many art songs to his words in this program from 2006.
Also from the past, here’s a quiz program that will test your knowledge of art song composers and singers.
Here are a few other suggestions of my favorite programs: Beethoven Lite: 11 May 2019 The scowling Beethoven is not heard on this edition of Singing and other Sins. Rather, his light-hearted Lieder, folk songs, and instrumental works. You’ll hear Hermann Prey, Lotte Lehmann, and many other singers and pianists with special Beethoven talents.
Liszt/Petrarch: 25 November 2012. Liszt was inspired by Petrarch’s sonnets to write songs, then pianos pieces based on the songs, and finally a revision for low voice of the original songs. We’ll hear all of these! The tenor is John Aler, the baritone is Thomas Quastoff.
For those who don’t like art song, there are plenty of introductory programs such as: Alma’s Songs/Art Songs for People Who Don’t Like Art Songs: 12 January 2019. Gary’s good friend Alma McGoldrick has known him for over 35 years, loves opera, symphonic music, etc., but has never come to enjoy art songs. Gary assembled the songs on this program to prove to her that, deep down, she really does love art song.
Jump ahead to:
2022
Farewell Program: 9 April 2022. After guiding first Great Songs, then Singing and other Sins, since 1988, I decided to stop producing art song programs for HPR. In this final program I trace my radio history, from 1972 WBAI in New York City, to HPR in 1988. You’ll hear excerpts from my interviews with Lotte Lehmann, Hermann Prey, and Ned Rorem. There are songs performed by two winners of the Art Song Contest that Great Songs sponsored: Jordan Shanahan and Quinn Kelsey. Both of these baritones are making their mark on international opera stages.
On this farewell programs I include many songs of goodbye. It has been a joy for me to share art song with listeners, whether in New York City or throughout the Hawaiian Islands.
Ukraine Potpourri: 2 April 2022. Sadly Ukraine continues to be in the news. This program offers many aspects of Ukraine’s music. You’ll hear Vladimir Horowitz and Emanuel Ax, both born in what is now Ukraine, as well as Prokofiev and other composers born there. There’s a section of folk music of Ukraine with the support of vigorous choral groups.
André Schuen: 26 March 2022. As part of our interest in providing programs that present recent releases, you can hear portions of baritone Schuen’s two Avi CDs offering Lieder by Schubert and Schumann.
Ukrainian Composer Yakiv Stepovyi: 17 March 2022; originally broadcast 5 October 2019. One of the best-known composers of Ukraine, Stepovyi (1883-1921) wrote beautiful songs. Though not influenced by folk songs, his music is tonal and easily enjoyed on first hearing. You’ll hear solo, duet, and trio songs with such renowned singers as Pavlo Hunka, Isabel Bayrakdarian, and Michael Colvin.
Ernest Chausson: 12 March 2022. Though his mélodie tend to be laid-back and even melancholy, there’s a lot of beauty to enjoy. I begin the program with the orchestra version of Chausson’s Poéme de l’amour et de la mer. Individual songs follow, performed by Ann Murray, Christine Schäfer, Nathalie Stutzmann, and Gérard Souzay.
Ukrainian Composer Kyrylo Stetsenko: 5 March 2022; originally broadcast: 5 October 2019. With our focus on the war there, this is a chance to enjoy one of the best-known composers of Ukraine, Kyrylo Stetsenko (1882-1922), who wrote beautiful songs. Though not influenced by folk songs, his music is tonal and easily enjoyed on first hearing. You’ll hear these songs performed by such renowned singers as Pavlo Hunka, Benjamin Butterfield, and Russell Braun. The foremost Ukrainian poets inspired Stetsenko’s songs, so you’ll hear their language. You’ll even hear the Ukraine national anthem, composed by Stetsenko.
My Lotte Lehmann Memories: 26 February 2022. A personal memoire, in sound, of my Lotte Lehmann life. I first met her in 1961 when I was 20 and she 73. Besides being one of the few geniuses that I’ve known, Mme Lehmann became a kind of “grandmother” figure to me, writing me encouraging letters as I traveled the world as a bassist. And, after a lot research following her passing in 1976, I’ve become somewhat of a Lehmann expert. I hope you’ll understand all this better after hearing this program.
Art Songs of Ukraine: 19 February 2022: originally 4 March 2017. Ukraine is very much in the news, so it’s appropriate that we offer the songs of Ukraine (from the Ukrainian Art Song Project), beginning with their most famous composer, Mikola Lysenko.
Bernstein’s SongFest 2nd Half: 12 February 2022: originally 6 July 2014. This set was commissioned for the country’s bi-centennial, but wasn’t finished until 1977. The comparisons continue on this second half of the SongFest and ends with Bernstein conducting his Chichester Psalms.
Bernstein’s SongFest First Half: 5 February 2022: originally 29 June 2014. This wonderful set of songs deserves to be heard more often. I offer comparison recordings including one conducted by the composer himself.
Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson: 29 January 2022. You’ll hear mezzo-soprano Hunt Lieberson live in recital performing Lieder of Brahms, Debussy, Mozart, and Mahler: his Rückert songs. Her pianists are either Peter Serkin or Roger Vignoles.
Shostakovich: 22 January 2022: originally: 22 September 2013. By popular request, I play the two amazing recordings of the Blok songs of Shostakovich. One with Joan Rogers and the other with its dedicatee, Galina Vishnevskaya. Blok Translations
Solo Pianists As Accompanists Part Two: 15 January 2022: Most solo pianists seem happy to remain in that position, but there are those who occasionally record with an art song singer. This is the second of two programs to share these artists’ pursuits, including a sample of both genres. You’ll hear: Garrick Ohlsson, Stephen Hough, Alicia de Larrocha, Alexis Weissenberg, Leif Ove Andsnes, and Christoph Eschenbach.
Fun German Songs: 8 January 2022: Many people assume Germans and their Lieder to be serious, without fun. You’ll hear many silly, crazy, and funny songs that include composers such as Haydn, Beethoven, Loewe, Brahms, and Hugo Wolf.
Composers’ Choice: 1 January 2022: I asked composers to send their favorite art song (of theirs) and here’s what went into the program: Larry Alan Smith’s “Lia” from his set called Epigrams; Lori Laitman’s “Orange Afternoon Lover”, from her cycle Against Still Life; Tom Cipullo’s “Of a Certain Age” from his cycle called The Garden; Arthur Keegan-Bole chose his setting of Thomas Hardy’s “The Walk”; Ricky Ian Gordon chose his “Lullaby,” from a set called Way Back to Paradise; Libby Larson sent us her song called “Boy’s Lips”; Donald Womack chose the song called “You” from his 23 Chinese Proverbs; Juliana Hall sent “Sonnet” from her set called Night Dances; Bill Bolcom chose “Amor”; Jake Heggie’s chosen song was “The Gossips” from his set called Camille Claudel: Into the Fire; Paula Kimper chose “Looking Back”; Garth Baxter sent “Nights without Sleep”; Bob McCauley sent “The Steps” from his A Seven of Sonnets; Larry Desner chose “She Walks in Beauty.”
2021
Christmas Carols Sung by the Greats: 25 December 2021: I’ve designed this program to not only feature wonderful singers, but to also engage the listener by having them guess each soloist. I divulge their names after they carol is over. Naming a few here, won’t spoil the game, because one doesn’t know the order: Joan Sutherland, Kiri Te Kanawa, Placido Domingo, Marilyn Horne, Leontyne Price, etc., etc.
Bach Christmas Oratorio: 18 December 2021: The whole oratorio takes too long, so I combined selections from the first three cantatas, which include many of the most appreciated music of the work. I used Harnoncourt’s recording with the Arnold Schoenberg Choir, and soloists: Christine Schäfer, Bernarda Fink, Werner Güra, and Gerald Finley.
Solo Pianists As Accompanists Number One: 11 December 2021: Most solo pianists seem happy to remain in that position, but there are those who occasionally record with an art song singer. This is the first of two programs to share these artists’ pursuits, including a sample of both genres. Here are the pianists on this program: Richter, Browning, Cortot, Ashkenazy, Brendel, Lupu, and Shelley.
Bartok: 4 December 2021: Based on a program from 2012, this one continues to offer both the folk and art songs of Bartok.
Edita Gruberova Memorial: 27 November 2021: Best known as a coloratura opera soprano, luckily for us Lieder-Lovers, Gruberova also recorded many art songs. You’ll hear all eight of Dvorak’s Love Songs (in her native Slovakian), as well as Lieder by Brahms, Schubert, and Strauss.
Thanksgiving 2021: 20 November 2021: This program combines a contemporary composition of songs of translated Indian words that I contrast with Christian art songs, choral works, etc.
Nathalie Stutzmann: 13 November 2021: We celebrate Stutzmann’s appointment as the next music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with her recordings of mélodie of Debussy and Lieder of Brahms, Schubert, and Schumann.
Schubert/Rott: 6 November 2021: Using the Hans Zimmerman “creative exploration” of Schubert’s Winterreise as comparison, you can hear a set of songs that the contemporary composer Enjott Schneider developed from the Romantic Lieder of Hans Rott.
Halloween 2021: 30 October 2021: Death in its many manifestations seems to be the focus of this program. Many 21st Century composers contributed their art songs to the creepy episode: “Ah, are you digging on my grave,” words by Thomas Hardy, music by Ellen Mandel; Charles Norman Mason set words of Gerard Manley Hopkins: “I Feel the Fell of Dark”; “The Conquerer Worm” by Benjamin C.S. Boyle, to a poem by Edgar Allen Poe; Scott Gendel’s “Mad Song”; “Night without Sleep” to poetry of Paul Henry Ford, composed by Paul Bowles; Steven Stucky’s “Buffalo Bill” to a poem by e. e. cummings; “The Self-Unseeing,” a Thomas Hardy poem set by Michael Murray; Bill Bolcom’s “Black Max”; “this one Lavender Disaster,” words of Mike Alexander, music of Robert McCauley; Edgar Allan Poe’s, “Spirits of the Dead” set by Eric Schwartz; “And death shall have no dominion,” poetry by Dylan Thomas and music by Stephen Louis Bayne.
Brahms/Strauss: 23 October 2021: A chance to hear the last great works of two important composers of art song: Brahms’ Four Serious Songs, performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Gerald Moore in a live 1958 Salzburg Festival. and Strauss’ Four Last Songs, in a classic 1954 recording of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Otto Ackermann.
Diary of One Who Vanished: 16 October 2021: A Great Songs program of 2002 provides the introduction and complete recording of this masterpiece of a cycle by Janacek. You’ll hear tenor Ian Bostridge in the complete cycle and then Nicolai Gedda in the last half of the cycle. The latter tenor is more operatic in approach, but both are excellent.
Canadians Gauvin and Hamelin: 9 October 2021: Soprano Karina Gauvin and pianist Marc André Hamelin team up to present an all mélodie recital. Fauré, Debussy, Ravel, Poulenc and Honegger are their composers.
Schwanengesang: 2 October 2021: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau sings Schubert’s “cycle” with Gerald Moore. I provide brief introdutory comments.
Final Ravel and Fauré Song Cycles: 25 September 2021: Two great song cycles were composed by these French masters shortly before their deaths. By an historic coincidence two excellent baritones (Panzera and Singher) recorded their interpretations, so you can hear those as well as modern recordings of L’horizon chimerique and Don Quichotte á Dulcinée.
Kindertotenlieder: 18 September 2021: Though a morbid thought today, in Mahler’s time and even more so in the time of Rückert, the poet of this cycle, the death of children was commonplace. In any case, the music is beautiful and we hear it sung by the sensitive baritone Thomas Hampson and in the iconic recording with Bruno Walter by Kathleen Ferrier.
Conductors as Accompanists: 11 September 2021: Some conductors drop their batons to sit at the piano and accompany singers in art songs. You’ll hear historic combinations of Lehmann and Ferrier with Bruno Walter at the piano. Furtwängler accompanies Schwarzkopf, Arthur Nikisch with Elena Gerhardt, etc.
Strauss Accompanies Strauss: 4 September 2021: Luckily for history, Richard Strauss was recorded as the pianist as far back as 1920 and with many excellent singers: Heinrich Schlusnus, Peter Anders, Julius Patzak, Anton Dermota, and Hilde Konetzni. These are compared with modern recordings of the same songs.
Duets 2021: 28 August 2021: Duets from the master Lieder composers: Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn, and Brahms sung by Julia Varady, Peter Schreier, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Hermann Prey, Felicity Lott, Ann Murray, Christine Schäfer, John Mark Ainsley, Lynne Dawson, Michael Schade, Hidenori Komatsu, Kurt Moll, Juliane Banse, Brigitte Fassbaender, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Pierrette Alarie, and Leopold Simoneau.
HiddenTreasures: 21 August 2021: You’ll enjoy Spanish style songs by Rossini, Tom Cipullo’s contemporary sound, and Hans Gál’s Romantic Brahms-like Lieder. Excellent singers and recordings offer you the best possible listening experience.
Bryn Terfel: 14 August 2021: You’ll hear Bryn Terfel sing folk and Welsh songs, Schubert, and Schumann Lieder and of course, English songs such as John Ireland, Arthur Summervell, and Ralph Vaughan Williams. There’s also duets with Cecilia Bartolli in Marriage of Figaro and Barber of Seville.
Transcriptions 2021: 7 August 2021: On this program you’ll discover the many ways that songs of Schubert and Saint Säens can be arranged. There’s versions for horn, oboe, or even four horns that compete with the originals.
Comfort in Death & Mourning: 31 July 2021: I have arranged this program to cover what seems to me a consoling look at the inevitable end of our lives. The beginning of this edition of Singing and other Sins, includes Copland’s songs based on Emily Dickinson’s poems, such as “Going to Heaven.” You’ll also hear Richard Hundley’s “Come ready and see me.” “Abendempfindung” by Mozart, fits in well. “Auf dem Kirchhofe” or at the Churchyard by Brahms is sensitively sung by Christa Ludwig. The Sanctus from the Berlioz Requiem and the Ravel version of Kaddish offer a religious segment. “O Tod, wie bitter bist du” /O death, how bitter you are by Brahms is played toward the end. Please let me know your reaction to this sensitive topic.
My Favorite Recordings: 24 July 2021: These are personal favorite recordings, that for me, bring together the combination of pianist, singer, poet, and composer to produce what I deem “just right.” Some of the examples include: Elgar’s “Where corals lie” with Janet Baker, Schubert’s “Die Liebe hat gelogen” with Karl Erb; Phidylé by Duparc with Gérard Souzay and Dalton Baldwin; Kathleen Ferrier singing Mahler’s “Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen,” or Kathleen Battle with Christopher Parkening in Dowland’s “Come again sweet love.”
Ave Maria: 17 July 2021: The Catholic prayer has been set as art songs, choral works, and even appears in Verdi’s Otello. We’ll sample many of these genres and enjoy some beautiful singing. The composers include Schubert, Gounod, Joaquin, Dvorák, Cornelius, Mendelssohn, Bruckner, and Rachmaninov.
Bastille Day 2021: 10 July 2021: Blair Boone-Migura joins Gary Hickling to present a celebration of the French national day using mélodie based on the poetry of Victor Hugo. You’ll hear Blair read Hugo’s poetry, and enjoy the many settings of songs such as “O, quand je dors,” “S’il est un charmant gazon,” and “Comment, disaient-ils.” The singers include Elly Ameling, Gérard Souzay, Thomas Hampson, John Mark Ainsley, Ann Murray, Felicity Lott, Janice Taylor, and John Aler.
Independence Day 2021: 3 July 2021: A chance to celebrate the 4th of July (one day early) without bombs bursting in air. No, this program will offer all the comforts of the American home, hearth, family, and nature in 21st Century art songs by American composers. There’s one 20th Century work, that’s Barber’s “Knoxville summer of 1915” which served as my inspiration for the program. Here are the other composers: Paula Kimper, David Heuzer, Gregory Hall, Lori Laitman, Robert Fleischer, Philip Schroeder, and Kenton Coe.
History of the Lied: 26 June 2021: A brief sampling of Lieder from Bach to Strauss in one hour. I chose the voice of Lotte Lehmann as the demonstration, but made one huge mistake. See if you can discover which major Lieder composer I left out.
Carl Loewe: 19 June 2021: An introduction to the scary, funny, and enchanting ballads of this composer, who was called the “Schubert of the North.” Loewe was born about the same time as Schubert (and lived a whole lot longer), and was famous for singing his own ballads while accompanying himself at the piano. We’ll hear a broad range of his songs; you won’t be disappointed.
Italian Songs: 12 June 2021: From Baroque through Romantic and into the 20th century, you’ll hear some beautiful songs with singers who range from Cecila Bartoli to Placido Domingo.
Die schöne Müllerin: 5 June 2021: The Beautiful Miller-maid by Schubert is heard without interruption. Sanford Sylvan, baritone and David Breitman, pianoforte (an instrument that sounds a lot like the keyboard of Schubert’s time), perform the cycle with joy and agility.
Songs for Curiousity: 29 May 2021: You are to guess what the singers have in common, besides being carbon-based organisms. Here are some of the names: Elisabeth Schumann, Heinrich Schlusnus, Lotte Lehmann, Frida Leider, Tito Schipa, Friedrich Schorr, Mariano Stabile, Maggie Teyte, Oda Slobadskaya, and Elisabeth Oems. Good luck!
Herman Prey Program Number Two: 22 May 2021: See the information below. On this second program Prey discusses how important it was for him to hear playbacks of his recordings. It was his best teacher! He also discusses his longing for singable contemporary opera and art song. You’ll hear him sing Lieder by Brahms, Schubert, Beethoven and Strauss. There’s also an excerpt from a Lortzing operetta.
Hermann Prey Program Number One: 15 May 2021: In 1973 while living and working in Munich I interviewed Prey. He’d just about finished the huge project of recording the history of the Lied. On this first program that’s the main topic of discussion. This leads to many examples of his singing of Lieder from the Middle Ages until modern songs with the composers accompanying. Along the way, you hear Prey sing Rossini, Mozart, Schubert, and many more favorites.
Mélodie Exotique: 8 May 2021: Many fine French composers were fascinated by the Near and Far East. They found poetry that fit their interests and it is those songs that comprise this program. Fauré, Debussy, Berlioz, Delage, Paladilhe, Ravel, and Bizet are the composers for this program.
Christa Ludwig Memorial: 1 May 2021: We recognize the passing of one of the great voices of the recent past with examples of her singing opera, Lieder, and cantata. We have included many excerpts from our 85th birthday interview with Mme Ludwig, that will provide background and a lot of her laughter.
Nature Songs: 24 April 2021: In celebration of Earth Day, I’ve assembled appropriate American songs including by Copland, Laitman, Barber, Cipullo, Bowles, and many more. Songs you know and some you may not, but all with the theme of the outdoors.
Name the Composer 2021: 17 April 2021: This is your chance to sharpen your listings. I provide hints, you guess the name of the mystery composer.
Lullabies for Jessica: 10 April 2021: My grand niece gives birth this month and I figured that with three kids under the age of three, she might need all the cradle songs possible. All of these are sung by Montserrat Figueras and range from Rennaisance to modern songs. The accompaniments are authentic to whatever era lullaby she sings.
Easter Songs: 3 April 2021: A huge range of Good Friday and Easter songs or choruses can be enjoyed on this program. Schubert, Wolf, Barber, Poulenc, and Mahler, are just some of the composers represented.
A Passover Seder 2021: 27 March 2021: A musical Passover Seder featuring tenor Jan Peerce. A chorus of children as well as a professional chorus and a narrator make this a satisfying experience for those of any faith or culture.
Christa Ludwig Sings Romantic Songs: 20 March 2021: Part of the Recordings of the Century, you’ll hear Ludwig in many of the songs that she’s famous for singing: Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder, Mahler’s Rückert songs, and more.
Borrowed From His Own Lieder: 13 March 2021: replay of 3 August 2019: Gary offers the chance to hear how composers have used their art songs in other works, whether opera, symphonic, chamber music or solo piano. The examples range from Mahler to Liszt.
Recently Composed American Songs: 6 March 2021: Enjoyable art songs by Erik Franklin, Lori Laitman, Julianna Hall, Rachel Fogarty, and Paula Kimper include a duet, solo and solo accompanied examples. These songs are performed by talented singers with excellent pianists.
Lotte Lehmann Birthday: 27 February 2021: You’ll hear Lehmann sing followed by one of her students in the same song. Many of them also speak about studying with her. You’ll hear Marilyn Horne, Grace Bumbry, Benita Valente, Mildred Miller, and others.
Roland Hayes: 20 February 2021: This wonderful tenor sang first in 20th century acoustic recordings and throughout his long life was able to make recordings until the 1960s. Son of emancipated enslaved parents, Hayes studied in the U.S., but made his name in Europe before returning to tour the States for years. You’ll hear live and studio recordings of German, French, and English art songs, as well as his own arrangements of spirituals. There’s a portion in which he speaks of his devotion to singing these last mentioned songs.
Valentines Day: 13 February 2021: replay of 14 February 2016. Though there are songs in English, the heart of the program is Fauré’s La bonne Chanson in two versions: with Gérard Souzay and Suzanne Danco. Translations
Liszt/Petrarch: 6 February 2021: replay of 25 November 2012. Liszt was inspired by Petrarch’s sonnets to write songs, then pianos pieces based on the songs, and finally a revision for low voice of the original songs. We’ll hear all of these! The tenor is John Aler, the baritone is Thomas Quastoff.
Thomas Hampson: 30 January 2021: replay from Great Songs of July 2008. Amy Healey joined Gary in a program of Hampson’s recordings as well as an interview with the baritone recorded earlier in that year. You’ll hear a discussion about the original score to Dichterliebe and listen to a comparison between the edited version and the original of the first song.
Sandrine Piau Recent Release: 23 January 2021; Called “Si j’ai aimé” the soprano is joined by a chamber orchestra that performs the original orchestration for fin de ciecle songs by Saint-Saëns, Bordes, Berlioz, Massenet, Dubois, Vierne, and Guilmant. Her voice is ravishing to the ear and the gentle accompaniments suit both her voice and the composers’ intentions.
Debbie Kelsey Memorial: 16 January 2021; This tribute to soprano Auntie Debbie centers on the recordings of Hawaiian ballads that she made in 1991. Since she’s the mother to Quinn and Blythe, you’ll also hear them sing.
Alma’s Songs/Art Songs for People Who Don’t Like Art Songs: 9 January 2021: replay of 12 January 2019. Gary’s good friend Alma McGoldrick has known him for over 35 years, loves opera, symphonic music, etc., but has never come to enjoy art songs. He assembled the songs on this program to prove to her that, deep down, she really does love art song.
Mystery Composer: 2 January 2021: replay of 21 October 2017. All I’ll say is that there’s a lot of beautiful music, especially art songs, written by this Russian composer.
2020
Sibelius: 26 December 2020: replay of 9 December 2017. Host Gary Hickling celebrates the birthday of Jean Sibelius with his art songs: originals with piano accompaniment compared with the orchestrated versions. You’ll hear the greatest singers perform these art songs: Björling, von Otter, Gedda, Nilsson, etc.
Christmas Spirit: 19 December 2020: replay of the 23 December 2017. Host Gary Hickling provides authentic Christmas Medieval and Renaissance music. Some of its contemplative music you’ll find celebratory.
Beethoven Lite: 12 December 20202: replay of the 11 May 2019 program. The scowling Beethoven is not heard on this edition of Singing and other Sins. Rather, his light-hearted Lieder, folk songs, and instrumental works. You’ll hear Hermann Prey, Lotte Lehmann, and many other singers and pianists with special Beethoven talents.
21st Century Song: 5 December 2020: replay of 2012 program featuring only songs and instrumentals of our own century. The listener also has a chance to hear comparison recordings when they’re available
Native Singer or ?: 28 November 2020: replay of 2012 program in which I play each song twice allowing the audience to guess which singer is performing in his or her native language.
Veronique Gens: 21 November 2020; a recent release recording of this soprano’s tribute to the Golden Age of French mélodie composers Hahn, Duparc, and Chausson. Her pianist is Susan Manoff. I speak as little as possible, only opening and closing the program so that the audience can absorb as much as possible of this beautiful recording.
Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson: 14 November 2020; replay of a 2015 program featuring this wonderful mezzo-soprano performing the set of sensuous Op. 57 Lieder by Brahms. You’ll also hear numerous other singers in the comparisons of each song.
Autumn: 7 November 2020; replay of a Great Songs program from 2004 with Joan Canfield, cohost. You’ll hear many art songs appropriate to the season, including one of the Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss.
All-American Halloween: 31 October 2020; Rossa Crean’s “All Hallow’s Eve”; Lori Laitman’s “Come to the Devil’s Fire”; Mary Howe’s “When I Died in Berners Street”; Juliana Hall’s “Theme in Yellow,” and “Some Things Are Dark”; Robert Strobel’s “From Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein”; Ian Guthrie’s “Tsunami,” and “Song of the Wood.” Some conveniently creepy Charles Ives’ songs round out the pumpkin.
Werner Güra, Tenor: 24 October 2020; replay of a program from 2012. Werner Güra is an easy-to-listen-to tenor, who sings Schubert, etc. with fortepiano accompaniment so that it has a feeling of authenticity.
Flicka sings French Art Song: 17 October 2020; replay of a program from 2012. Fredericka von Stade, aka Flicka, visited the Islands in 2012 and consented to an extended interview with me in which she speaks about retirement as well as vocal issues. You’ll hear her sing mélodie with Martin Katz, piano.
Meyerbeer Songs: 10 October 2020; replay of a program from 2012. Though best known for grand opera, Meyerbeer wrote art songs to poetry in Italian, French, and German. Dr. Lesley Wright, professor at the Music Department of UH Manoa, provides a fascinating interview on the subject. The singers who you’ll hear performing are outstanding.
Mystery Singer: 3 October 2020; replay of a program from 2012. This singer is still living, but not performing. You’ll hear her sing in German, French, and English. I offer her name at the end of the program. You’ll also hear comparison singers perform the songs she sings.
Mischa Maisky Transcriptions: 26 September 2020; replay of a program from 2012. You’ll hear cellist Maisky’s transcriptions of a huge range of art songs along with the original art song with voice.
Haydn’s Arianna a Naxos: 19 September 2020; replay of a program from 2012. Haydn’s cantata for soprano and keyboard, a beautiful rarity. You’ll hear various versions of it beginning with a live performance by Jessye Norman accompanied by Geoffrey Parsons. In between, you’ll hear instrumental works of Haydn.
Gershwin B’day: 12 September 2020; replay of a program from 30 September 2012. You’ll hear both classical and popular versions of Gershwin songs.
Goethe B’day: 5 September 2020; replay of a program from 2012. Songs inspired by Goethe’s poetry.
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau Memorial Singing Strauss: 29 August 2020; replay of a program from 2012. DFD sings Strauss Lieder followed by sopranos singing the same song in an orchestrated version. Translations
Debussy Mélodie: 22 August 2020; replay of a program from 2012. Many of the songs are heard twice, often in an orchestration. There’s also some instrumental Debussy. Translations
Copland’s Dickinson Songs 15 August 2020; replay of a program from 18 November 2012. Both his original piano version and his orchestration of some of the songs are presented. Original Poetry
Benjamin Britten Recent Release 8 August 2020, replay of a previous program.
Samuel Barber Songs 1 August 2020, replay of a previous program.
Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel 25 July 2020, replay of 11 November 2012. The songs of this composer, with comparison interpretations. Also, I offer you the chance to decide between two songs: which was by Felix and which by Fanny?
Delius 18 July 2020, replay of 29 January 2012. Gary samples songs that Delius wrote in French and English with comparisons that include his orchestrated songs.
Bastille Day: 11 July 2020, replay of 14 July 2017 Host Blair Boone-Migura celebrates the national day of France with mélodie, chanson, and even some pop music.
Independence Day 2020: 4 July 2020 Celebrate the 4th of July with music of 1776. You’ll hear fife and drum, band, choral, and art song. The last-mentioned written by Francis Hopkinson, who also wrote political satire, poetry, and was an inventor, jurist, member of the Continental Congress, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and our first Secretary of the Navy.
Pop and Art Song: 27 June 2020 This program offers you the chance to guess the singer who performs both a popular song and an art song. I give hints.
Jan DeGaetani Program2: 20 June 2020 There was no way that I could present this mezzo-soprano in just one program. On this one you’ll enjoy her singing of German Lieder by Schubert (including the fastest Musensohn ever!), Schumann, Brahms, and Wolf. Her Cole Porter is equally good.
House Of Life: 13 June 2020 This early Vaughan Williams cycle is unjustly neglected. You’ll hear it twice: baritone, Benjamin Luxon and tenor, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, both accompanied by David Willison.
Mady Mesplé Memorial: 6 June 2020 Mme Mesplé passed away on 30 May 2020 and on this program, we offer examples of her amazing opera performances in which she soars effortlessly into the coloratura heights of the Bell Song from Lakmé and the Jewell Song from Faust. From her equally impressive mélodie recordings we feature songs by Hahn, Satie, and Poulenc.
Opera vs Recital: 30 May 2020 This program features opera singers singing an aria followed by an art song. We’ll hear how well they can perform in the different genres. You’ll hear Nicolai Gedda, Christa Ludwig, Renée Fleming, Leontyne Price, Fritz Wunderlich, Kirsten Flagstad, and others.
Memorial Day 2020: 23 May 2030 Gary plays Rorem’s War Scenes in the classic 1969 and modern recordings at the beginning and end of the program. In between, there’s Michael Rickelton’s Battle Songs and much more.
Comfort Songs: 16 May 2020. These past months have brought us annoyance and upset. This program offers songs of comfort, serenity & joy. We’ll hear songs of Schubert, Schumann, Debussy, Strauss, and more, all meant to calm our minds and hearts.
Mothers Day: 9 May 2020 This Mothers Day program celebrates Mothers and Grandmothers with songs by Dvorak, Ives, Ellen Mandel, Copland, Heggie, Sibelius, Stenhammar, Robert Schumann, Garth Baxter, Grieg, Stanley Walden, and Lori Laitman.
Cinco De Mayo: 2 May 2020 Gary shares Mexican songs: La Golondrina, Estrellita, Muñequita Linda, and other favorites, as well as some rarities by Chavez, and Revueltas.
Schubert Variations: 25 April 2020 Schubert used his own Lieder as a source for variation movements for his instrumental works. You’ll hear both the songs that inspired them, as well as the instrumental pieces that resulted. Such works as his Death and the Maiden string quartet, the Wanderer Fantasie, the Trout Quintet, and others, are included.
Wanderlust : 18 April 2020. The joyous art songs of wandering, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors are the focus of this episode. The composers include Schumann, Wolf, Vaughan Williams, Duparc, and John Ireland. The great voices of Christa Ludwig, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Sarah Walker, Christopher Maltman, Werner Güra, Jonathan Lemalue, and Bryn Terfel will delight your ears.
Religious Art Songs: 11 April 2020 Sampling spiritual songs by Beethoven, Schubert, Dvorak, Brahms, and Mahler. The singers include Hermann Prey, Bryn Terfel, Christa Ludwig, Bernarda Fink, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Dagmar Peckova, Werner Güra, and Jennie Tourel.
Baroque Songs: 4 April 2020 This program offers you Baroque songs by Handel, Scarlatti, Dowland, etc. sung by Cecilia Bartoli, Tito Schipa, Jessye Norman, Anne Sofie von Otter, Emma Kirkby, and Roland Hayes. You’ve never heard Bach’s “Sheep May Safely Graze” as upbeat as this.
April Fools Songs: 28 March 2020. Though this edition of SaoS was prepared to celebrate April Fools’ Day, these light-hearted, silly, and sometimes funny art songs feel appropriate for our virus days. You’ll hear songs of Paul Bowles, Lee Hoiby, Samuel Barber, Jake Heggie, Bill Bolcom, John Musto, and Philip Wharton.
Jan De Gaetani (First Program): 21 March 2020. In all the years since we began broadcasting art song in Hawaii, we’d never devoted a whole program to the mezzo-soprano who almost exclusively sang art song, Jan de Gaetani. There was so much to choose from that we’ll do a second program soon. On this one, you’ll hear her sing Dowland, Chausson, Debussy, Ravel, Ives, Foster, Bolcom, Crumb, and more.
Nightingale Songs: 14 March 2020 Nightingale songs set by Brahms, Debussy, Grieg, Granados, Hahn, Rimsky-Karsakov, Schubert, and more. There’s a lot to like!
Multiple Songs of One Poem: 7 March 2020 You’ll hear how many composers have set Frost’s “Stopping by Woods,” Millay’s “What Lips my Lips Have Kissed,” Dickinson’s “To Make a Prairie,” “Wild Nights,” and Hughes’ “Black Pierrot.”
Lotte Lehmann Recently Released 6CD Box: 29 February 2020 A slightly late Lehmann birthday tribute (born 27 February) and a chance to hear the Marston Records treatment of her recordings made from 1927–1933. She was in her prime, the microphone had been invented, and now we can hear these recordings without the surface noise. The concentration was on the Lieder recordings, but Gary included a few pop numbers and lighter songs.
Contemporary American Art Song: 22 February 2020 This program offered the audience a chance to hear songs written in our own time. The composers included Peter Askim, Robert Strobel, Johnathan Newmark, and Juliana Hall. Song cycles and individual songs all sung in English are included.
Tonal Schoenberg Songs: 15 February 2020 Most listeners associate Schoenberg’s name with atonality or serial composition techniques. Though that’s a correct assumption, he did write tonal works also, and Gary assembled one cabaret song and many of his tonal art songs for this program.
Dalton Baldwin Memorial –Three: 8 February 2020 Blair concludes his three tributes to one of the most important supporters of art song, Dalton Baldwin.
Dalton Baldwin Memorial –Two: 1 February 2020 Blair offers the second of three memorial tributes to his mentor, personal friend, and internationally renowned piano accompanist, Dalton Baldwin.
Dalton Baldwin Memorial– One: 25 January 2020 Blair presents the first of three memorial tributes to the late, great piano collaborator, Dalton Baldwin.
Kids Songs: 18 January 2020 Kids from 8 to 80 will enjoy these songs written with children in mind. They include everything from Mozart to Bernstein and are sung by the best voices Gary could locate. Have fun!
Renée Fleming: 11 January 2020 Fleming may be best known as an opera singer, but she tours as a recitalist and has made good recordings of art song. We’ll hear her in Schubert, Dvorak, Strauss, Ravel, Previn, and Hillborg.
Peter Schreier Memorial: 4 January 2020 Tenor Schreier passed away on Christmas Day, 2019 at the age of 84. He left a rich recorded legacy of his fine performances in Lieder, opera, operetta, and sacred music. We sample his lifetime of achievement on this memorial tribute program.
2019
2019 SaoS Programs in Review: 28 December 2019 Songs from 2019 programs of both Blair and Gary that were especially important. There were memorials for André Previn, Dominick Argento, Sanford Sylvan, Jessye Norman, and programs celebrating Bastille Day, etc.
Spanish Christmas: 21 December 2019 Spanish songs of the season from ancient to modern times. And probably not one of them a carol that you’ve been hearing over and over these past weeks.
Crazy In Love: 14 December 2019 The thrill of love in songs by Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Bartok, Elgar, Fauré, Debussy, Gounod, Schumann, Strauss, and American composers Thomson, Larry Allen Smith, George Walker, Lee Hoiby, John Musto, Lori Laitman, and Leonard Bernstein.
Who Sings In Their Mother Tongue?: 7 December 2019 It’s always fun to hear the same art song twice, once in which the singer’s words are his mother tongue and second, not. It sharpens our ears for language and we are able to hear these beautiful songs twice. What does the foreign speaker/singer bring to the performance?
Wanderlust: 23 November 2019. The joyous art songs of wandering, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors are the focus of this episode. The composers include Schumann, Wolf, Vaughan Williams, Duparc, and John Ireland. The great voices of Christa Ludwig, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Sarah Walker, Christopher Maltman, Werner Güra, Jonathan Lemalue, and Bryn Terfel will delight your ears.
Jessye Norman Memorial: 16 November 2019 Live performances of Norman in Lieder to remember this great artist. You’ll hear her sing Brahms, Strauss, Wagner, and Schubert art songs with the added spontaneity and excitement of live recordings.
Ivor Gurney Poet/Composer Veterans Day: 9 November 2019 Gassed and wounded in World War I, Ivor Gurney wrote poetry and songs. Considered a “War Poet,” Gurney’s legacy in sensitive pastoral songs seems perfect for this holiday.
Recent Releases: 2 November 2019 You’ll hear portions of two recently released CDs. First, from Joyce DiDonato’s Into the Fire you’ll hear the song cycle of that name by Jake Heggie accompanied by the Brentano string quartet. The second recording is Thomas Meglioranza’s Die schöne Müllerin by Schubert. There’s not enough time for the whole cycle, but we’ll hear the opening songs. The pianist is Reiko Uchida.
Religious Art Songs: 19 October 2019 Sampling spiritual songs by Beethoven, Schubert, Dvorak, Brahms, and Mahler. The singers include Hermann Prey, Bryn Terfel, Christa Ludwig, Bernarda Fink, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Dagmar Peckova, Werner Güra, and Jennie Tourel. There were listener comments that suggested a revised version. It will be broadcast in 2020.
Ukrainian Composer Yakiv Stepovyi: 5 October 2019 One of the best-known composers of Ukraine, Stepovyi (1883-1921) wrote beautiful songs. Though not influenced by folk songs, his music is tonal and easily enjoyed on first hearing. You’ll hear solo, duet, and trio songs with such renowned singers as Pavlo Hunka, Isabel Bayrakdarian, and Michael Colvin.
Clara Schumann Lieder: 28 September 2019 Though in the shadow of her husband Robert, Clara was, beyond a virtuoso pianist, also a composer. We’ll hear some of her instrumental works but focus on her art songs performed by such singers as Barbara Bonney, Bo Skovhus, and Stella Doufexis.
Paulo Tosti Salon Songs: 21 September 2019. Though Italian born, Tosti (1846-1916) gained most of his fame as a light song composer from his years in London. We’ll hear his songs performed by the likes of Domingo, Gheorghiu, Hepner, Hvorostovsky, Caruso, and Battistini.
Ernst Bacon Art Songs: 14 September 2019 Though he wrote in a variety of media, the American composer Ernst Bacon (1898-1990) is best remembered in his over 200 art songs which we sample, sometimes in multiple interpretations.
John McCormack Electrics: 7 September 2019 We sample Marston Records’ recent release of 16 CDs of immaculately transferred vintage recordings of one of the most beautiful tenor voices of all time. You’ll hear everything from light Irish tunes to serious Lieder.
Japanese Western Art Song Second Program: 17 August 2019 This is the second half of the program listed below.
Japanese Western Art Song First Program: 10 August 2019 From a 1992 Great Songs program, we’ll hear Gary interview baritone/professor Katsuumi Niwa about the history of Western Japanese Art Song. With Gary is Noriko Kawaura helping with translation and pronunciation. There’s a lot more than just “Sakura, sakura.” This is the first of two such programs.
Borrowed From His Own Lieder: 3 August 2019 Gary offers the chance to hear how composers have used their art songs in other works, whether opera, symphonic, chamber music or solo piano. The examples range from Mahler to Liszt.
Mark Markham Second Program: 27 July 2019 The continuation of Blair’s interview of Markham, with many more examples of his pianism, both solo and as accompanist.
Mark Markham First Program: 20 July 2019 Blair interviews the pianist, Mark Markham, best known for his many years as Jessye Norman’s accompanist. You’ll hear many live recordings of Markham and Norman in a wide range of art songs and other genres. This is the first of two such programs.
Bastille Day- Fetes Galantes: 13 July 2019 Blair celebrates Bastille Day with the various outdoor party songs that seem just right for such a day.
Classic Recordings of American Art Songs: 6 July 2019 To help celebrate Independence Day you can hear classic recordings of some of the best American art songs ever written. Donald Gramm sings the Blue Mountain Ballads of Paul Bowles; Leontyne Price sings Barber’s Hermit Songs with the composer at the piano; Ned Rorem accompanies some of his own art songs; Jan de Gaetani performs Steven Foster, Eliott Carter, and Aaron Copland songs.
To Orchestrate Art Songs or Not?: 8 June 2019 Though this program may not answer the question, it will provide you the chance to hear piano-accompanied art songs back to back with their orchestrated versions. From Schubert to Shostakovich, including Richard Strauss, Hugo Wolf, Alban Berg, and Hector Berlioz, comparisons of original and orchestrated versions of beautiful art songs.
Hoiby Revised Program: 1 June 2019 Earlier in the year we broadcast an all art song Lee Hoiby program. His art songs are the most performed of his works, but we received suggestions that instrumental works of this fine American composer were missing. That resulted in this revised edition: though the committed performances of Hoiby’s art songs by the likes of Leontyne Price, Patrick Stewart, and others are still presented, there are examples of Hoiby’s chamber music and a movement from one of his piano concertos.
Goerne: 25 May 2019 You’ll hear excerpts from early and recent recordings Goerne has made of Winterreise, his interview with Blair and Gary, and other Goerne recordings.
Gerhaher vs Goerne: 18 May 2019 In further anticipation of Goerne’s May 31st recital here in Honolulu, we’re offering the audience the chance to compare the two greatest Lieder baritones of our time: Christian Gerhaher and Matthias Goerne. You’ll hear them juxtaposed in the same Robert Schumann songs, as well as in non-back to back repertoire. You will hear the differences and see who you like best; maybe you’ll enjoy them equally!
Beethoven Lite: 11 May 2019 The scowling Beethoven is not heard on this edition of Singing and other Sins. Rather, his light-hearted Lieder, folk songs, and instrumental works. You’ll hear Hermann Prey, Lotte Lehmann, and many other singers and pianists with special Beethoven talents.
Blair’s Favorite German Lieder: 4 May 2019 This is your chance to hear a broad spectrum of Lieder or German art songs from Beethoven through Richard Strauss. Along the way, you’ll enjoy Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Korngold, and Marx.
Fiançailles pour rire: 27 April 2019 The world of Poulenc’s settings of Louise de Vilmorin’s poems, including “Betrothal for Laughs” or Fiançailles pour rire, is Blair’s offering this week. Besides some excellent mélodie specialists, you’ll hear wonderful examples of Poulenc’s piano works.
Michel Legrand’s Songs: 20 April 2019 Blair opens the world of light French songs of the late M. Legrand; you’ll hear classical singers such as Jessye Norman performing songs you know.
André Previn Memorial: 6 April 2019 Though Previn might not be famous for his art song compositions, he did write some beautiful ones, and that’s the focus of this tribute. You’ll also hear a major instrumental work (with Previn conducting his own composition), his jazz piano playing, and his piano accompaniment to his own song cycle, Sally Chissom Remembers Billy the Kid.
Sanford Sylvan Memorial: 23 March 2019 To mark the recent passing of the American baritone, Gary recorded this tribute that allows the listener to enjoy the broad range of Sylvan’s art, from Fauré, Barber, to Copland.
Beebe Freitas Memorial #2: 16 March 2019 Gary provides the tribute to this greatly beloved Honolulu pianist, on the second anniversary of her passing. She speaks and demonstrates and there are plenty of examples of her playing for many fine local singers.
Chausson: 9 March 2019 Blair offers a wide variety of the Chasusson’s mélodie, including Les Papillons, Nocturne, Chanson perpetuelle, and Le temps des lilas, sung by some of the greatest interpreters of the genre, including Susan Graham, Jessye Norman, and Gérard Souzay.
Lotte Lehmann Sings Non-German Songs: 23 February 2019 Gary presents Lehmann, certainly best known for her performances of Lieder, performing English, Italian, and French art songs. You’ll hear everything from the most sophisticated Renaldo Hahn mélodie to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.”
Gandre Interview: 16 February 2019 Blair interviews Dr. James Gandre, President of the Manhattan School of Music. They discuss many of the conservatory’s policies and what can be done to improve the art song recital’s fate. You’ll also hear Gandre’s favorite art songs.
Belle Epoque: 26 January 2019 Blair has put together a program of early Debussy, Fauré, and prime Duparc and Hahn, to provide an enjoyable look at this period of French mélodie.
Marian Anderson Sings Lieder: 19 January 2019 Gary offers well-improved recordings of Anderson singing Lieder. We often hear her sing Spirituals and opera arias, but her wonderful way with Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms is overlooked.
Alma’s Songs/Art Songs for People who Don’t Like Art Songs: 12 January 2019 Gary’s good friend Alma McGoldrick has known him for over 35 years, loves opera, symphonic music, etc., but has never come to enjoy art songs. He assembled the songs on this program to prove to her that, deep down, she really does love art song.
2018
L’enfance Du Christ: 22 December 2018 This masterpiece by Berlioz is not as well known as it should be. We offer excerpts because the whole work is too long for Singing and other Sins. The cast features Veronique Gens as Mary.
Sibelius 2018: 15 December 2018 Lesser-known Sibelius art songs as well as his instrumental works are featured on this program. The art songs are usually offered in both his original piano-accompanied version as well as his own orchestrations.
Alto Rhapsody: 4 August 2013 For some strange reason this earlier program was never archived. Here’s your chance to hear various wonderful mezzos and contraltos singing the amazing work of Brahms.
Carl Loewe: 1 December 2018 A contemporary of Schubert, Loewe’s fame rests on his ballad songs and the way he could illustrate the story in the piano part. In this edition Gary tried an experiment: in three of the four ballads he spoke the story under the singing of the first interpretation. In the final ballad he just told the story before playing the two versions. Please let him know which of the two approaches works best for the non-German speaking listener. Contact Gary
Thomas Hampson’s Latest Recording: 17 November 2018 Hampson sings Songs of Chicago to the art songs of composers either from Chicago, or who are identified with the city.
November 2018 New Art Songs: 10 November 2018 And the composers are: Oliver Caplan, Dan Lazarescou, Ryan Homsey, Victoria Malawey, Donald Skirvin, Mark Rimple, Tianyi Wang. Countertenor Drew Minter sings songs of Mark Rimple.
Irwin Gage Memorial: 3 November 2018 A memorial tribute to the great collaborative pianist who died in April 2018. This program offers a special: you can hear Gage play a Lied’s piano part without the singer followed by him accompanying singers such as Brigitte Fasbaender, Gundula Janowitz, etc.
Dominick Argento’s 91st B’day: 27 October 2018 Blair and Gary interview Mr. Argento and intersperse his art songs with the narrative. Mr. Argento’s favorite instrumental work as well as selections from his iconic Casa Guidi with Frederica von Stade are included.
Schubert Variations: 20 October 2018 Schubert used his own Lieder as a source for variation movements for his instrumental works. You’ll hear both the songs that inspired them, as well as the instrumental pieces that resulted. From such works as his Death and the Maiden string quartet, the Wanderer Fantasie, the Trout Quintet, and others, you’ll hear many beautiful works.
George Walker Memorial: 6 October 2018 We offer a repeat of a previous George Walker program as a memorial to this American composer and pianist. You’ll hear him in both capacities and he also speaks to Gary by phone. Dr. Walker’s range of expression in his art songs is impressive.
The Trueman Contest of 2018: 29 September 2018 Blair presents the winners recital of his Art Song Preservation Society vocal contest.
High Holy Days 2018: 8 September 2018 Gary marks the Jewish High Holy Day with Songs of the Sephardim, mostly in Ladino. When, in 1492, the Jews were expelled from Spain, they took their traditions, music, and their language to many other countries. There the various aspects of the cultures mixed and the result is a wide variety of music of the Renaissance period which has recently been authentically recorded.
Labor Day: 1 September 2018 We celebrate 30 years of art song on HPR with a Labor Day program. Art song composers Lori Laitman, Dominick Argento, Larry Alan Smith, and Peter Askim sent in recordings of their voice describing the labor of writing an art song. Each composer’s choices of their own art songs follow their speaking segment.
Bernstein Centennial: 25 August 2018 You’ll hear some of Bernstein’s art songs and he’ll teach us a bit about the genre in a rehearsal/talk on Das Lied von der Erde. We also sample the solo songs from his SongFest.
Goethe: 18 August 2018 Gary presents a repeat of a 1992 Great Songs memorial to William Scherer. Bill and Gary worked together on many Goethe programs and on this one you’ll hear Bill bring his special insights to the settings of Goethe by Schubert, Zelter, and others.
Duets: 4 August 2018 Join Blair for his presentation of an art song recital featuring American baritone, Robert Brandt, German tenor, Nils Neubert, internationally established pianists and authors, Thomas Grubb and Frank Daykin. You’ll hear solo songs, duets and 4- hand piano pieces by a range of composers that include Fauré, Debussy, Poulenc, Ravel, Brahms, and Finzi.
Baudelaire: 28 July 2018 Blair shares with you art songs set to poems by Charles Baudelaire. You’ll hear songs by Duparc, Debussy, Caplet, and Chabrier set to texts by Baudelaire.
Animals in Art Song: 7 July 2018 Blair and Gary share a program of animal-related songs. Gary’s are in English and silly; Blair’s are in French and sophisticated.
Independence Day 2018: 30 June 2018 Gary presents an Independence Day program which features living American composers using American poets as their lyrics. The composers include: Robert Strobel, Glen Roven, Jon Pescevich, Lita Grier, and Carlo Vincent Frizzo.
Barbara Bonney: 9 June 2018 Gary replays a 2006 Great Songs program offering the range of Bonney’s art song performances. His co-host was Amy Healey.
Michel Sénéshal Memorial: 2 June 2018 Blair recalls his association with the character tenor and plays his Poulenc recordings.
Memorial Day 2018: 26 May 2018 Gary plays the classic 1969 and modern recordings of Rorem’s War Scenes at the beginning and end of the program. In between there’s Michael Rickelton’s Battle Songs and much more.
Maggie Teyte: 19 May 2018 Blair provides a retrospective of Teyte performing treasures from the French song repertoire for which she is so well known: Fauré. Hahn, Duparc, and Debussy.
Kyrylo Stetsenko Ukraine II: 12 May 2018 Gary broadcasts the second program featuring art songs of Ukraine. Stetsenko wrote many beautiful songs and we have good recordings that present them at their best. By the way, on 7 March 2017 we aired the first in this series, showcasing the songs of Mykola Lysenko. You can scroll down this page to find that program.
Cinco De Mayo: 5 May 2018 Gary shares Mexican songs: La Golondrina, Estrellita, Muñequita Linda, and other favorites, as well as some rarities by Chavez, and Revueltas.
Richard Hundley Memorial: 28 April 2018 Gary offers this tribute to the great American art song specialist Richard Hundley who recently passed. The program includes historic live performances by Anna Moffo, John Reardon and Frederica von Stade. You’ll also hear many modern recordings of Hundley’s gems.
Art Song Contest Winners Recital (Second Half): 21 April 2018 Blair presents the remaining three winners of the SaoS International Art Song Vocal Competition. You’ll hear the talented voices of soprano Min Jim Kim, soprano, Laure Meloy, and Baritone, Christian Bester.
Recent Releases: 14 April 2018 Gary offers recent releases of art song by Granville Bantock, Viktor Ullman, Yrjö Kilpinen, John Jacob Niles, and Thomas Hampson’s latest CD.
ASPS Sings French Mélodie: 7 April 2018 Blair presents many of the finalists of his Art Song Preservation Society singers in a program of French song.
Jewish Folk Poems of Shostakovich: 31 March 2018 Celebrate Passover with the original setting that included the composer at the piano and then hear his orchestrated version of these Jewish Folk Poems.
Current Art Song: 24 March 2018 We’re happy and proud to present art songs written in our own time. The composers are (in the order of the program): Michael Rickelton, Paul SanGregory, Paul Schroeder, Veronika Krausas, Jonathan Newmark, Paul Salerni, Larry Bell, Jennifer Margaret Barker, Robert Strobel, Barbara Rettagliati, Juliana Hall, Ulf Grahn. We would like to present more art song by these composers, so go to “contact” and choose your top two or three favorites.
Dreams: 17 March 2018 Blair focuses on art songs, (Lieder, mélodie) with poetry that centers around dreams. You’ll hear great music by Fauré, Schubert, Wagner, Grieg, Liszt, and Sibelius to name a few.
Ravel: 10 March 2018 Blair celebrates the great French composer’s birth with recordings by great singers like Jennie Tourel, Gérard Souzay, Cecilia Bartoli, and Régine Crespin.
Beebe Freitas Memorial Tribute: 3 March 2018 From a 1992 program that Beebe provided for Great Songs (the name of the program then) she demonstrates the art of the accompanist. She talks about her life as a pianist and actually talks while playing the piano! You’ll also hear her playing for winners of the local art song contest in live recitals.
African-American Males: 24 February 2018 Blair’s second program celebrating Black History Month features the tenors, basses, and even counter-tenors that include Vincent Cole, William Warfield, Derik Lee Ragin, and Paul Robeson.
Recent Releases: 17 February 2018 Gary offers art songs by the Icelandic composer Jon Leifs, George Cumb, David Di Chiera, and Reneé Fleming’s recording of The Strand Settings by Anders Hillborg.
Black History Month: Divas: 10 February 2018 Blair celebrates Black History Month with the first of two programs, this one featuring the great females such as Marian Anderson, Grace Bumbry, Kathleen Battle, and Jessye Norman.
Art Song Contest Winners Recital: 3 February 2018 Since we had six winners this year, you’ll hear three of them on this recital and the final three on a later program. The three mini-recitals on this program are sung by Natalie Mann, Jie Yin, and Anna Tonna.
Hvorostovsky Memorial: 27 January 2018 Blair pays tribute to the late, great baritone, Dmitri Hvorostovsky. You’ll hear Tchaikovsky, Purcell, and Mahler, as sung by Hvorostovsky.
Native Singer or ?: 20 January 2018 Gary plays art songs twice, once by a native singer of the poem and the other “not.” You guess which is which.
Borodin: 13 January 2018 Gary plays Borodin art songs twice with different singers so that you get to know the tunes and hear different interpretations.
Poulenc: 6 January 2018 Blair celebrates Poulenc’s b’day with two melody experts: Michel Seneschal and Mady Mesplé.
2017
Christmas Spirit: 23 December 2017 Host Gary Hickling provides authentic Christmas Medieval and Renaissance music. Some of its contemplative music you’ll find celebratory.
International Art Song Contest Semi-Finalists: 16 December 2017 Host Gary Hickling announces the semi-finalists and the winners, with their wonderful recordings as evidence. Here are the names of the Semi-Finalists and (Winners): Anna Tonna (Winner); Véronique Fallout; Ryan Brock; Minji Kim (Winner); Jie Yin (Winner); Laure Meloy (Winner); David John Davani; Richard Mix; Christian Bester (Winner); Winnie Nieh; Kelsi Folsom; Natalie Mann (Winner); Samantha Dearborn. Usually we choose three winners, but the level was so high that six were selected. They’ll be invited to send mini-recitals that will be heard on a future broadcast.
Sibelius: 9 December 2017 Host Gary Hickling celebrates the birthday of Jean Sibelius with his art songs: originals with piano accompaniment compared with the orchestrated versions. You’ll hear the greatest singers perform these art songs: Björling, von Otter, Gedda, Nilsson, etc.
Dmitri Hvorostovsky Memorial 2 December 2017 Gary Hickling, host, presents the late baritone in Pushkin-inspired art songs from a range of Russian composers. He also tells the basic outlines of Hvorostovsky’s life.
Thanksgiving: 25 November 2017 Host Gary Hickling offers American Indian-inspired art songs as well as songs of rural America.
Les Six: 18 Nov 2017 Host Blair Boone-Migura discusses French composers, Georges Auric, Louis Durey, Arthur Honegger, Darius Milhaud, Francis Poulenc, and Germaine Tailleferre who informally formed the group Les Six under the guidance of composer Erik Satie and filmmaker Jean Cocteau.
Charles Reid 11 Nov 2017 Host Blair Boone-Migura spends the hour sharing recordings of American tenor, Charles Reid. Blair formed a friendship with the young tenor at the university they attended together in Houston, Texas, and like many, Blair recognized immediately that Reid was destined for a career in song and opera.
John Aler Tribute: 28 Oct 2017 Host Blair Boone-Migura spends the hour playing many memorable recordings by American tenor, John Aler. The program features a range of composers like Franz Liszt, George Frederick Handel, Camille Saint-Saens and Gioachino Rossini.
Mary Trueman: 14 October 2017 Host Blair Boone-Migura reflects back on the life and teachings of song specialist, Mary Trueman (Sept 1915 – Oct 2008), a sensitive pianist and insightful vocal pedagogue whose literary and language training made her a supremely effective teacher. Born in the UK, Trueman’s deep knowledge of French & German literature and song repertoire influenced many singers in her classes at Rice University in Houston where she taught, some of who’ve gone on to have impressive careers in music. Blair will present recordings of some of her talented students and singers who have been impacted by her legacy as well as recordings of some of the golden voices that inspired Trueman most.
Mystery Composer: 21 October 2017
New Art Song: 7 October 2017 Recently composed art song. Gary Hickling presents some compositions that have yet to be made commercially available. Some unusual instrumental accompaniments, excellent singing and playing and of course, first rate art song compositions from our own time.
Fritz Wunderlich: 23 September 2017 Host Blair Boone-Migura spends the hour playing some of the most memorable recordings left behind by famed tenor, Fritz Wunderlich. The program features repertoire from a range of composers including Beethoven, Mozart, Strauss, and Schumann among others.
Jessye Norman: 16 September 2017 Host Blair Boone-Migura presents a second SaoS program on Norman in honor of her 72nd birthday featuring the legendary soprano at her best in performances of Gounod, Berg, Mahler, Strauss, Ravel, Poulenc, and Tchaikovsky.
Summer Nights: 2 September 2017 Host Blair Boone-Migura celebrates the end of summer by exploring several interpretations of Hector Berlioz’s Les Nuits d’Eté. Featured performers include: Régine Crespin, Nicolai Gedda, Felicity Lott, and Jessye Norman.
Goethe’s Birthday: 26 August 2017 Poetry by this master has inspired many Lieder. We’ll hear the poems spoken by actors and several sung versions of each work. The poems include Prometheus, Der Schatzgräber, Das Veilchen, and Wanderers Nachtlied. The composers include Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, and Wolf.
Brandt & Grubb NYC Recital: 12 August 2017 Host Blair Boone-Migura presents excerpts from a recent NYC recital featuring American baritone, Robert Brandt & pianist, Thomas Grubb. Brandt is the winner of the Pierre Bernac Prize in French song as part of the Mary Trueman Art Song Vocal Competition, and Grubb is a pianist best known for his book Singing in French: A Manual of French Diction & French Vocal Repertoire. He was a protégé of French baritone Pierre Bernac, and has accompanied famed singers like Renée Fleming, Dawn Upshaw, and Elly Ameling. The recital sponsored by The Art Song Preservation Society includes works by Fauré, Debussy, Poulenc, Rorem, Barber, and Ives.
Hamaoui & Muraco NYC Recital: 19 August 2017 Host Blair Boone-Migura presents excerpts from a recent recital in NYC with French-American soprano, Sandra Hamaoui & pianist, Thomas Muraco. Hamaoui is the winner of the Mary Trueman Art Song Vocal Competition , and Muraco is a pianist known for his technical virtuosity. He has partnered with many prominent singers throughout the years like Ben Heppner, Denyce Graves and Arleen Auger. The recital sponsored by The Art Song Preservation Society includes works by Debussy, Poulenc, Rachmaninoff, and Rorem.
Gerald Moore 2017 Part 2: 5 August 2017 Host Blair Boone-Migura continues to celebrate one of the most prolific collaborative pianists, Gerald Moore. Excerpts from Moore’s book and record, The Unashamed Accompanist, will be featured along with recordings from a range of singers from Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau to Christa Ludwig.
Gerald Moore 2017 Part 1: 21 July 2017 Host Blair Boone-Migura celebrates one of the most prolific collaborative pianists, Gerald Moore. Excerpts from Moore’s book and record, The Unashamed Accompanist, will be featured along with recordings from a range of singers from Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau to Elisabeth Schumann.
Bastille Day: 14 July 2017 Host Blair Boone-Migura celebrates the national day of France with mélodie, chanson, and even some pop music.
Streisand: 24 June 2017 Barbra Streisand Sings Art Song: In a career that spans six decades, the American singer, songwriter, actress, and filmmaker even ventured into the realm of art song with her album Classical Barbra recorded in 1973. Host Blair Boone-Migura compares some of Streisand’s interpretations of Fauré, Debussy, Wolf, and others with more traditional performances by Elly Ameling, Benita Valente, Renée Fleming, and Jessye Norman.
McCormack/Pears: 17 June 2017 A Tale of Two Tenors: Host Blair Boone-Migura celebrates the June birthdays of two remarkable tenors, Irishman, John McCormack and Englishman, Peter Pears. Blair pays tribute to the two tenors with samples from their many art song performances of Schubert, Schumann, Britten, Rachmaninoff, and more.
Brahms: 20 May 2017 The beauty of Brahms. Host Blair Boone-Migura, looks at some of the most beloved Lieder by the master of the melodic line, Johannes Brahms. Featured are treasures from his catalog of songs including, Wiegenlied, Wie Melodien zieht es mir, Die Mainacht, and many more, as well as excerpts from some of Brahms’s solo piano works.
Dichterliebe: 13 May 2017 Blair Boone-Migura compares two excellent singers’ recordings of Schumann’s Dichterliebe. Tenor, Fritz Wunderlich and baritone, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau are the two great voices, but there’s an added dimension. Blair has chosen different recordings of DFD: the pianists include Brendel, Horowitz, Moore, and Eschenbach.
Debussy: Ariettes Oubliées: 29 April 2017 Host Blair Boone-Migura speaks French and has made a specialty of studying mélodies, so it’s a natural fit for him to share his love of these mature Debussy songs. You’ll hear each song twice: once by a French native and the second time by a non-French singer. A lot of beauty!
Four Last Songs: 15 April 2017 Host Blair Boone-Migura samples various recordings of the Richard Strauss Four Last Songs and is thus able to play each of them twice. His choices are wonderful and historic.
Röschmann/Uchida: 8 April 2017 This combination of opera soprano and solo pianist made for a Grammy award and rightly so. Everything was performed with unanimity and understanding of the relationship between the text and the music.
A. E. Housman: 25 March 2017 Housman’s Shropshire Lad was a successful group of poems relating to the English countryside, as well as to love and death. The book, as well as other individual poems by Housman were set by many early 20th century English composers. We hear multiple versions of single poems.
Thomas Muraco: 18 March 2017 Muraco, conductor, pianist, vocal coach, speaks about the singers with whom he’s worked in an interview with Host Blair Boone-Migura. You’ll hear Muraco at the piano in live recordings with singers such as Ben Hepner, Maureen Forrester, John Cheek, and others.
Bartoli: 11 March 2017 Cecilia Bartoli, mezzo soprano, possesses a wonderful voice which can be as flexible or expressive as she wants. On this program we sample both her art songs and opera arias.
Art Songs of Ukraine: 4 March 2017 For the first time in either Great Songs or SaoS, we offer the songs of Ukraine (from the Ukrainian Art Song Project), beginning with their most famous composer, Mikola Lysenko.
Lotte Lehmann Studio vs Live: 25 February 2017 We celebrate Lehmann’s birthday by listening to studio recordings compared with the same song performed on the recital stage. You be the judge. Does one sound more spontaneous or immediate?
February Gals: 18 February 2017 Host BlairBoone-Migura produced a program that features mezzo sopranos and sopranos of the past and recent past that were all born in February. And what a list of wonderful singers of great art songs: Anderson, Ameling, Price, Freni, Lehmann, and many more!
Björling: One of the Great Voices: 5 February 2017 Blair and Gary discovered that they both loved the voice of Jussi Björling so they developed this joint program. You’ll hear him sing Lieder, a Swedish song, and a few surprises.
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau vs Mattias Goerne: 22 January 2017 Goerne studied with DF-D so it makes for an interesting program to listen to these two baritones singing the same Lied.
Pierre Bernac Two: 15 January 2017 Host Blair Boone-Migura celebrates the birthdays of Francis Poulenc, one of his favorite singers, Pierre Bernac, and Bernac’s disciple and melody expert, Thomas Grubb, all born in January. He interviews Mr. Grubb on his influential book, his famous pupils, misunderstandings about singing in French and more. Besides recordings of Poulenc songs with the composer himself at the piano and Bernac singing, you’ll hear this duo in other composers’ works. Mr. Grubb has graciously provided a recommended reading list for listeners interested in further exploration of the French vocal repertoire.
Pierre Bernac One: 8 January 2017 Host Blair Boone-Migura celebrates the birthdays of Francis Poulenc, his favorite singer, Pierre Bernac, and Bernac’s disciple and melody expert, Thomas Grubb, all born in January. He interviews Mr. Grubb on his studies with Bernac and many other facets of the world of mélodie. You’ll hear recordings of Poulenc songs with the composer himself at the piano and Bernac singing.
2016
Emily Dickinson Poems as Song: 11 December 2016 Celebrating Dickinson’s birthday and standing as the most often set American poet. Gary offers three or four different composers’ versions of the poems.
Bohuslav Martinu: 4 December 2016 We celebrate his birthday with a broad sampling of his songs, as well as instrumental music.
Bach Solo Songs: 27 November 2016 Devotional songs, as well as their counterparts in chorus, and classic Bach instrumentals.
Swedish Songs: 20 November 2016 Many of the great Romantic composers of Sweden sung by Björling, Bonney, von Otter, Hagegård, and even Lotte Lehmann.
Symphonic Voices: 13 November 2016 A chance to hear “songs” inbeded in a symphony orchestra’s sound. Everything from Mahler to Shostakovich.
Allerseelen/All Souls’ Day: 6 November 2016 Host Blair Boone-Migura presents a program of solace for the loved ones we’ve lost. Play List Translation
Rorem: 23 October 2016 Host Blair Boone-Migura joins Gary in a telephone interview with the great American composer, pianist, and author Ned Rorem to celebrate his 93rd birthday. We play recordings of favorite Rorem songs, chamber music, and other instrumental works.
Henri Duparc II: 9 October 2016 Blair Boone-Migura hosts the second of his two programs of the beautiful songs of Duparc. This program features the French Romantic composer’s impressive mature works. Translations
Henri Duparc I: 2 October 2016 Blair Boone-Migura hosts the first of two programs featuring the mélodies of this enigmatic and under appreciated composer. Duparc’s world will sweep you away! Translations
Marni Nixon Memorial: 25 September 2016 Marni died in July 2016 and this program tries to demonstrate that she was more than the “ghostess with the mostess.” You’ll hear samples of her performances of cabaret, American Song Book, classical, and art song. You’ll hear her speak and even sing the serial technique music of Boulez.
Jessye Norman: 11 September 2016 Host Blair Boone-Migura plays recordings of the great diva and recalls meeting with her and hearing her in recital. Play List
Schubert Songs for Labor Day: 4 September 2016 Lieder about jobs such as a fisherman (and woman), gravedigger, monk, and nun. Translations
Goethe/Wolf: 28 August 2016 Concentrating on Wolf’s setting of Wilhelm Meister poems in celebration of Goethe’s birthday. Translations
Debussy’s Mature Mélodie: 21 August 2016 Celebrating Debussy’s birthday and enjoying both of his late cycles and instrumental music. Translations
John Ireland: 14 July 2016 This English composer is unjustly neglected and with so many fine recordings of his songs available, Gary toys to play each of these beautiful songs twice, so that you can get to know their contours.
Art Songs with Obligato Instrument(s): 31 July 2016 We begin with the most obvious: Schubert’s Shepherd on the Rock with clarinet and sample Romantic and modern examples of this beautiful genre.
Hermann Prey Sings Schubert’s Schwanengesang: 24 July 2016 You will enjoy this 1963 recording in the “super digital” transfer. Translations
Gender Identity: 17 July 2016 Can you guess the gender of a composer by listening to his/her work?
Summer Songs from All Over: 10 July 2016
Recent American ArtSong: 3 July 2016
Lullabies: 26 June 2016
Charles Gounod: 19 June 2016 Translations
Richard Strauss Unknown Lieder: 12 June 2016 Translations
Robert Schumann’s Dichterliebe: 5 June 2016 A newly re-released CD of baritone Gérard Souzay with pianist Dalton Baldwin perform songs of Schumann. Translations
Walt Whitman: 29 May 2016 Songs inspired by the poetry of Walt Whitman.
Introduction to Art Song: 22 May 2016 For the person who doesn’t know enough art song to know if she/he likes it, this program offers a variety of ways to find out: songs with guitar, songs to tunes we know, songs in English, songs performed by beautiful voices, etc. Playlist
Easter: 27 March 2016 Easter-appropriate art songs and choral music. Translations
Brigitte Fassbaender: 20 March 2016 Sampling the new 8 CD box set from EMI.
Peter Schreier: 13 March 2016 Sampling the new 8+ CD box set from Berlin Classics.
Christa Ludwig: 6 March 2016 Sampling the new 5 CD box set from Warner Classics.
Lotte Lehmann B’day: 28 February 2016 You can hear arias and art songs (Lieder) along with excerpts from my iBook: Lotte Lehmann & Her Legacy.
Comfort in Loss: 21 February 2016 There are many art songs and choral works that can help us during the time of mourning. Translations
Valentines Day: 14 February 2016 Translations
Elly Ameling B’day: 7 February 2016
Winter Songs: 31 January 2016 Those songs that make you snuggle up in a warm blanket.
2015
Mystery Singer: 27 December 2015 See if you can guess the name of the singer.
HPR’s International Art Song Contest Winners 2015: 20 December 2015 Three Winners perform mini-recitals of art songs. The Winners are: Ina Kancheva with pianist Ludmil Angelov; Jennifer Piazza-Pick with pianist Cheryl Cellon Lindquist; Franco Pomponi with pianist Michael Fennelly. Translations
Sibelius Two: 13 December 2015 The second of two programs celebrating the birthday of Jan Sibelius. Not really art song, these are vocal works (usually of sagas etc) with full rich orchestra accompaniment.
Sibelius One: 6 December 2015 The first of two programs celebrating the birthday of Jan Sibelius. Not really art song, these are vocal works (usually of sagas etc) with full rich orchestra accompaniment.
Wm Blake Poetry as Art Songs 2015: 29 November 2015
Benjamin Britten Canticles 2015: 22 November 2015
Apolinaire 2015: 8 November 2015 This poet inspired many composers, but mostly Poulenc. Translations
Othmar Schoeck 2015: 1 November 2015 This Swiss composer wrote hundreds of beautiful songs. Translations
Ned Rorem 2015: 25 October 2015 Celebrating Rorem’s 92nd b’day: phone interview and classic recording of his songs.
Art Song Contest Semi-Finalists 2015: 18 October 2015
Neapolitan Songs: 4 October 2015
Goethe’s Birthday with Schubert Lieder: 30 August 2015 Translations
Debussy Mélodie: 23 August 2015 Translations
Bastile Day French Light Songs: 15 July 2015
American Parlor Songs: 5 July 2015
Janacek Songs: 28 June 2015
Korngold’s Songs: 31 May 2015
Michael Tippett Songs: 24 May 2015
French Opera and French Song: 17 May 2015
Brahms Folk Songs: 3 May 2015
Valentines of Robert Schumann: 15 February 2015. The positive love songs of Schumann often with the instrumental transcriptions they inspired. Translations
Guitar-Accompanied Art Songs: 8 February 2015. Classical and modern song with guitar accompaniment.
Winterreise 2015: 1 February 2015. A comparison of the much written-about Winterreises of 2014: Jonas Kaufmann with Helmut Deutsch and Gerald Finley with Julius Drake. Translations
Mozart Songs: 25 January 2015. Gary plays each song twice, usually with a male voice and a female. Translations
Spirituals: 11 January 2015. Some of the most beautiful recordings of spirituals from throughout the 20th century: Roland Hayes, Marion Anderson, Leontyne Price, etc.
Stoner Art Songs: 4 January 2015. Not just “Jabberwocky,” but spacey songs by Brahms, Schubert, and even Mussorgsky.
2014
Guess the Composers: 28 December 2014. Gary plays ten composers and give hints as to who they are. Some of the hints are facts, others about the art song. You identify the composer.
Mildred Miller 90th B’day I : 14 December 2014. The first of two programs honoring the great American mezzo soprano, Mildred Miller. On this first one she sings the classic Bruno Walter/New York Philharmonic version of Mahler’s Lied von der Erde. Translation
Mildred Miller 90th B’day II: 21 December 2014. The interview with Ms. Miller continues and she sings Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen and the Brahms Alto Rhapsody with Bruno Walter conducting. Then excerpts from Robert Schumann’s Op. 39 Liederkreis with John Wustman, piano.
Heinrich Heine’s Poems as Songs: 7 December 2014. More songs (Lieder) have been written to the words of Heine than any other poet! By far. On this program Gary samples some of them and provides recordings of various settings of the same words. Translation
21st Century Art Songs (First): 2 November 2014. The first of five programs celebrating the art songs of our time.
21st Century Art Songs (Second): 9 November 2014. The second of five programs celebrating the art songs of our time.
21st Century Art Songs (Third): 16 November 2014. The third of five programs celebrating the art songs of our time.
21st Century Art Songs (Fourth): 23 November 2014. The fourth of five programs celebrating the art songs of our time.
21st Century Art Songs – Dickinson (Fifth): 30 November 2014. The fifth of five programs celebrating the art songs of our time, with an emphasis on those written to Dickinson poems.
Bizet 2014: 26 October 2014. Celebrating his b’day with mélodie as well as a few other sins.
Countertenors : 21 September 2014. A survey of countertenors at work, from Baroque to Pop and everything in between.
Rorem: 19 October 2014. Songs and instrumental works to celebrate the composer’s 91st birthday. He was kind enough to allow a phone interview, which also is available as part of this program.
Scottish: 12 October 2014. Scotland was in the news so much that it seemed appropriate to play Scottish folk songs, art song, instrumental music (of course, Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy) and even some authentic Kaeltic singing.
Yom Kippur: 5 October 2014. With a little help from Cantor Cohen, Gary was able to assemble this program which features various versions of Kol Nidrei as well as some cantors of the past intoning various prayers.
Folk Songs as Art Songs: 7 September 2014. This theme works in both directions: some composers have arranged folk songs as art songs. Brahms, Bartok and Britten were prime examples. From the other direction, we know of art songs by Schubert and Brahms et al which, though they began as art songs, become folk songs.
Milhaud’s Birthday: 13 August 2014. Drawing on both his French and Jewish heritage, Darius Milhaud wrote many splendid songs. Whenever possible you’ll hear comparison recordings to allow you to get to know the elusive tunes. Translations
Mystery Singer: 14 September 2014. Name the Singer: This is a living soprano, who has concentrated her career in the performance and recording of art songs. Can you recognize the voice? Translations
Songs About Music: 20 July 2014. Poets have always found music a tempting subject and their words have inspired composers from Schubert to Bernstein. As usual, Gary offers comparison interpretations.
Poulenc 13 July 2014. We celebrated Bastille Day (a bit early) with this great French composer’s songs both in the classic recordings with the composer at the piano, as well as modern comparisons. Translations
Brahms 4 May 2014. We celebrate the birthday of Johannes Brahms with the complete Magelone Lieder, his only song cycle. Four singers and their pianists were chosen to best fit the “speaker” of the song: Britgitte Fassbaender, mezzo soprano, with Elisabeth Leonskaja, piano; Hans Peter Blochwitz, tenor and Eric Schneider, piano; Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone, with Sviatoslav Richter, piano, and finally a vintage recording of Hans Hotter, bass-baritone, with Michael Raucheisen, piano. Translations
Verlaine in Song. 3 August 2014. The poet Paul Verlaine inspired many composers to write mélodie to his words. You’ll hear the same poems set by composers such as Fauré, Chausson, Debussy, Delius, Hahn, and Ravel. Translations
Who Is Native? 10 Aug 2014. Can you tell? The question is: which of the singers is singing in their native tongue? Gary plays various art songs twice and you guess who is singing in a foreign langue. Translations
Debussy 17 Aug 2014. Celebrate Debussy’s Birthday: His many mélodie have been recorded by the best singers. We’ll hear comparison recordings of these wonderful works. Translations
Fauré 12 May 2014. Honoring his birthday with a special presentation of “The Good Song” (La Bonne chanson) in comparison recordings featuring the one recently recorded by Thomas Meglioranza with Reiko Uchida. Translations
Strauss 150th B’day 8 June 2014. Comparing the piano accompanied songs as sung by Fischer-Dieskau with the same songs in orchestrated versions with various sopranos. Translations
Bernstein’s SongFest First Half 29 June 2014. This wonderful set of songs deserves to be heard more often. I offer comparison recordings including one conducted by the composer himself.
Bernstein’s SongFest 2nd Half 6 July 2014. This set was commissioned for the country’s bi-centennial, but wasn’t finished until 1977. The comparisons continue on this second half of the SongFest and ends with excerpts from Bernstein’s Arias and Barcarroles.
Hugo Wolf 16 March 2014. We celebrate this great Lieder composer with the usual comparisons.
Shakespeare’s Birthday 27 April 2014. In celebrating Shakespeare we hear his words in song settings from his own time to 20th century songs.
Lori Laitman 6 April 2014. This living American composer writes approachable songs that appeal to many singers, pianists and of course, audience members.
Prokofiev 20 April 2014. Gary features the set of Five Poems of Anna Akhmatova (in comparison recordings), as well as his children’s songs. Translations
Wagner B’day 2014 18 May 2014 Enjoy two different performances of the Wesendonck Lieder, one with piano and one with orchestra. Translations
Bolcom 25 May 2014. This living American composer has dedicated a lot of his writing to art song and I sample some of his best.
Glinka B’day 1 June 2014. Glinka’s songs as well as some instrumental music. Translations
Grieg 15 June 2014. The great Scandinavians such as Björling, Flagstad, Gedda, Melchior etc. perform the beautiful songs of Grieg. Translations
Schubert Comparisons 2 February 2014. We celebrate Winter and Schubert’s birthday week, with songs from his Winterreise. The trick here is to see if you can tell which of the three comparison singers is NOT singing in his/her native language. Translations
Berg 9 February 2014. The program actually fell on Alban Berg’s birthday, so we had to offer this edition featuring both his youthful songs as well as the mature Altenburg Lieder. Translations
Song Transcriptions 5 January 2014. Another way to be introduced to art song is hearing the song first in an instrumental transcription.
2013
Christa Ludwig: PartOne 8 December 2013. Maya Hoover joins me to celebrate Kammersängerin Ludwig’s 85th year. Besides excerpts from our phone interview, you’ll hear Ludwig sing in many genres.
Christa Ludwig: PartTwo 15 December 2013. see above.
Introduction To Art Song 2013 The first program of the new year usually features songs that we already know, but don’t know they’re “art songs.”
Schoenberg 15 September 2013. We celebrate his b’day with two (comparison) performances of his Book of the Hanging Gardens. Translations
Hahn: 11 August 2013. You can sample the beautiful songs of Renaldo Hahn and even hear him accompany himself as he sings one of them! Translations
Rorem 2013: Part One 20 October 2013. Celebrating the 90th b’day of Ned Rorem with his song cycle for four voices called Evidence of things not Seen. You’ll hear an interview with Mr. Rorem, especially recorded for this program. Evidence
Rorem 2013: Part Two 27 October 2013. Evidence of things not Seen is so long that it takes two programs. More of Rorem’s interview, as well. Evidence
25th Anniversary: Part Two 29 September 2013. There were so many “favorite” songs that it took two programs!
Shostakovich 22 September 2013. By popular request, in celebration of the birthday of Shostakovich, I replay the two amazing recordings of his Blok songs. One with Joan Rogers and the other with its dedicatee, Galina Vishnevskaya. Blok
25th Anniversary: Part One 1 September 2013. Gary chose his favorite recordings of his favorite songs to celebrate the silver anniversary of Great Songs and Singing and other Sins.
Dvorak Gary commemorates the birthday of Dvorak with two versions (one with mezzo soprano and the other with tenor) of his Biblical Songs. Translations
Goethe 25 August 2013. On this yearly program celebrating Goethe’s birthday Gary chose to concentrate on the poems from Wilhelm Meister. Translations
Foster 7 July 2013. When Stephen Foster songs a sung by the masters, they become elevated to the status of art song. So we noted Independence Day, which is also Foster’s birthday!
Chabrier B’day 13 January 2013. There are so many wonderful mélodie from the pen of this composer, it was difficult to make the selections. The usual comparisons are offered.
Introduction To Art Song 2013 6 January 2013. The first program of the year is usually devoted to introducing an audience to the world of art song.
Fauré 15 July 2013. Gary used the songs (mélodie) of Gabriel Fauré as a perfect way to celebrate “Quatorze Juillet.”
Spring Songs: 23 March 2013.
2012
Song Transcriptions 22 July 2012. Songs for many other media than voice compared with their originals.
Flicka 3 June 2012. Frederica von Stade sings French songs with Martin Katz at the piano. When she visited Honolulu she consented to an interview that you’ll hear on this program.
Meyerbeer Songs 20 May 2012. Best known for his grand operas, Meyerbeer did also write songs. University of Hawaii professor Dr. Wright is my guest guiding us through these wonderful works.
Tchaikovsky 6 May 2012. Gary plays each of his songs twice, mostly sung by Russian speakers/singers. You’ll also hear some Tchaikovsky short piano music that fits the mood of the songs.
Barbara Bonney 22 April 2012. This program celebrated Barbara’s birthday and Gary had scheduled an interview, but mixed up the time. But she answered some questions by email and Gary includes those interesting subjects on the program.
Pop and Classical 13 April 2012. You’ll hear Jan de Gaetani compared with Fred Astaire, Elly and Ella, etc.
Rachmaninoff 1 April 2012. Celebrating his birthday is easy, because he wrote a lot of songs and even wrote piano transcriptions of two of them.
Bartok 25 March 2012. Gary celebrates Bartok’s b’day in spite of the fact that he’s not known for writing art song, having only written 10. But his folk song settings are very sophisticated and with comparison orchestrated versions, can sound like art song.
Rimsky-Korsakov 18 March 2012. Not well-known for his song output, R-K songs are enjoyable and this chance to hear them twice allows us to get to know them.
Werner Güra 11 March 2012. This must be one of the most able Lieder singers in the world today. Gary features a two CD recent release of this wonderful tenor.
Lotte Lehmann’s B’day 29 February 2012. Not only do we hear Lehmann, but we have a chance to hear how other singers perform the selections.
Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson 19 February 2012. On this program I concentrate on the intense performance that Hunt-Lieberson gives of a group of Brahms Op. 57 songs. It’s always fascinating to hear how other singers perform the same songs.
X-Rated Songs! 12 February 2012. You’ll hear sensual and sensuous love songs from many cultures. Some of the comparisons are orchestrated versions of the songs.
Mendelssohn 5 February 2012. What a joy to celebrate the birthday of Felix with comparison recordings of his best-known songs. And there’s his chamber music as interludes.
Delius 29 January 2012. Gary samples songs that Delius wrote in French and English with comparisons that include his orchestrated songs.
Virgil Thomson Recent Release 22 January 2012. This program features a recently released Thomson CD of both song and instrumental music featuring baritone Thomas Meglioranza. You’ll be very happy you listened.
What Is Art Song? 1 January 2012. For those who think they don’t know what an “art song” is, I provide this program.
Goethe B’day 26 Aug 2012 Songs inspired by Goethe’s poetry.
Liszt/Petrarch 25 November 2012. Liszt was inspired by Petrarch’s sonnets to write songs, then pianos pieces based on the songs, and finally a revision for low voice of the original songs. We’ll hear all of these!
Copland’s Dickinson Songs 18 November 2012. Both his original piano version and his orchestration of some of the songs are presented. Original Poetry
Songs Of Travel 14 October 2012 We celebrate Ralph Vaughan Williams’ birthday with his songs (with comparison recordings, as usual) and some of his instrumentals for balance.
Gershwin B’day 30 September 2012. You’ll hear both classical and popular versions of Gershwin songs.
Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel 11 November 2012. The songs of this composer, with comparison interpretations. Also, Gary offers you the chance to decide between two songs: which was by Felix and which by Fanny?
2011
Liszt 6 November 2011. Gary celebrates Liszt’s b’day with comparisons of his piano and orchestrated versions of his songs, along with his instrumental music.
Ives 27 November 2011. Quirky and unpredictable, but beautiful, Ive’s music includes a lot of songs and instrumental music based on songs.
Undated
Autumn Songs: From the Great Songs period, 2004 with Joan Canfield, co-host. We try to play all the beautiful Autumn songs we can think of.
Baudelaire: From and unknown date. The great French poet inspired many composers to write sophisticated mélodie. Translations
Bolcom’s Songs of Experience: From an unknown date. You can hear his massive work for orchestra, chorus, and soloists called Songs of Experience. As you can guess, he also wrote Songs of Innocence.
Composer Accompanists Another Great Songs program from the past.
English Poetry & Song This is a program from Gary’s Great Songs period, important in that it has readings of the poetry [by the likes of Auden!] before one hears the song.
Hölderlin: A Great Songs program from July 2004 with art songs that use the poetry of the great German Friedrich Hölderlin (1770-1843). As you’ll learn, much of his poetry is in fragments, which is perfect for the condensed genre of art song.
Ives for Independence Day: except that this was broadcast around July 4, the year isn’t known.
Les Illuminations by Benjamin Britten: a 2013 program to celebrate the centennial of Britten’s birth, this cycle (from 1940) was written to the abstract words of Rimbaud, with a string orchestra accompaniment.
Liszt in Song and Solo Piano: from an undated Great Songs program.
Lotte Lehmann Comparisons: from a 2014 broadcast featuring the 5 CD set of live and other rare Lehmann recordings with comparisons to modern ones. Translations
Massenet: from an unknown period.
Messengers of Love: from an unknown period.
Modern European Art Song: from an unknown period.
Mystery Composer: from an unknown period.
Mystery Singer: from an unknown period
Norway: undated Great Songs program produced and voiced by Maya Hoover.
Peter Schreier, Tenor: possibly a Great Songs production from 2001.
Peterson-Berger Swedish Composer: possibly from 2014
Rimsky-Korsakov: possibly from 2015
Same Poem Different Song: From 2007, the Great Songs period, Gary is joined by co-host Joanna Takagi.
Seniors Sing A program from a Great Songs broadcast many years ago.
Shostakovich: From 2006, the Great Songs period, Gary is joined by co-host Amy Healey.
Spanish Songs: possibly from 2014.
Spring Songs: from an unknown date. Mostly Schubert and Schumann Lieder with a bit of Debussy thrown in.
Songs of War: from an unknown date.
St. Patrick’s Day: from a Great Songs program of 2002
Underappreciated French mélodie: from an unknown date
Galina Vishnevskya: from an unknown date
Dan Welcher: From the Great Songs period, Gary interviews the composer and plays his songs with Dan’s introductions.
Winter Songs: from a Great Songs program of 2005 with co-host Joanna Takagi.