{"id":18444,"date":"2025-08-22T09:52:47","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T07:52:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/?p=18444"},"modified":"2025-08-29T23:51:04","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T21:51:04","slug":"episode-387-zauberwelt-der-oper-black-diva-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/22\/episode-387-zauberwelt-der-oper-black-diva-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"Episode 387. Zauberwelt der Oper (Black Diva Edition)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"mega-menu-wrap-primary\" class=\"mega-menu-wrap\"><div class=\"mega-menu-toggle\"><div class=\"mega-toggle-blocks-left\"><\/div><div class=\"mega-toggle-blocks-center\"><\/div><div class=\"mega-toggle-blocks-right\"><div class='mega-toggle-block mega-menu-toggle-animated-block mega-toggle-block-1' id='mega-toggle-block-1'><button aria-label=\"Menu\" class=\"mega-toggle-animated mega-toggle-animated-slider\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-menu-primary\">\n                  <span class=\"mega-toggle-animated-box\">\n                    <span class=\"mega-toggle-animated-inner\"><\/span>\n                  <\/span>\n                <\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div><ul id=\"mega-menu-primary\" class=\"mega-menu max-mega-menu mega-menu-horizontal mega-no-js\" data-event=\"hover_intent\" data-effect=\"slide\" data-effect-speed=\"200\" data-effect-mobile=\"slide\" data-effect-speed-mobile=\"200\" data-mobile-force-width=\"body\" data-second-click=\"go\" data-document-click=\"collapse\" data-vertical-behaviour=\"standard\" data-breakpoint=\"600\" data-unbind=\"true\" data-mobile-state=\"collapse_all\" data-mobile-direction=\"vertical\" data-hover-intent-timeout=\"300\" data-hover-intent-interval=\"100\"><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-home mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-19160\" id=\"mega-menu-item-19160\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/\">Home<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-19161\" id=\"mega-menu-item-19161\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/about-daniel\/\">About Daniel<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-current_page_parent mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-19171\" id=\"mega-menu-item-19171\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/all-episodes\/\">All Episodes<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Episode 387. Zauberwelt der Oper (Black Diva Edition)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"340\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelody.blubrry.net\/?powerpress_embed=1657-podcast&amp;powerpress_player=mediaelement-audio\" title=\"Blubrry Podcast Player\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>SOCIAL SHARE<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><strong>SUBSCRIPTION PLATFORM<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-7e5fce0a wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link no-border-radius wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/countermelody.blubrry.net\/\">SUBSCRIBE VIA YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"399\" height=\"528\" data-id=\"18710\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Weathers-Wien-Portrait.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18710\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Weathers-Wien-Portrait.png 399w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Weathers-Wien-Portrait-227x300.png 227w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"823\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"18708\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/MDobbs-portrait-823x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18708\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/MDobbs-portrait-823x1024.jpg 823w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/MDobbs-portrait-241x300.jpg 241w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/MDobbs-portrait-768x955.jpg 768w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/MDobbs-portrait.jpg 1053w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 823px) 100vw, 823px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"810\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"18707\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Grist-early-headshot-810x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Grist-early-headshot-810x1024.jpg 810w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Grist-early-headshot-237x300.jpg 237w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Grist-early-headshot-768x971.jpg 768w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Grist-early-headshot.jpg 1092w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 810px) 100vw, 810px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:38px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m on holiday this week, but it would be most unGundlachian of me not to provide an episode to sustain my listeners in my absence. I recently purchased a mammoth 13-LP set on the Concert Hall Society label. The release promises a variety of excerpts that illustrate the history of opera from Monteverdi through Puccini. As such it makes use of a number of complete operatic recordings made for the now-nearly-forgotten label, as well as some impressive individual performances recorded in the early 1960s. One of the attractions of this release to me is that it presents rare recordings by three of the supreme African American divas of that era: Mattiwilda Dobbs, Reri Grist, and Felicia Weathers, the latter two at the very beginning of their international careers in the early 1960s, when they were both <em>fest<\/em> at the Z\u00fcrich Opera (where, my astute listeners will remember, contralto Carol Smith) was also ensconced. None of these recordings has received wide distribution (in fact, to my knowledge the majority of them were never re-released in any form). So it is my particularly pleasure to present to you each of these three estimable artists in peak form on recordings that I (at least) had never before encountered: Dobbs as Zerlina in <em>Don Giovanni<\/em> and Olympia and Antonia in <em>Tales of Hoffmann<\/em>; Grist as Norina in <em>Don Pasquale<\/em>; and Weathers as Dido, Manon (by Massenet, not Puccini!), and Butterfly! A number of interesting tenors are nearby to provide assistance in duets: the Swiss tenor Fritz Peters, the American Glade Peterson (both of whom were also <em>fest<\/em> in Z\u00fcrich at that time), and the legendary French-Canadian L\u00e9opold Simoneau. Far be it from me to throw together an episode that was not as fascinating as some of my more deeply-researched efforts! I\u2019m also celebrating this week 100,000 downloads of the podcast. I\u2019ve often referred to <em>Countermelody<\/em> as \u201cthe Little Podcast that Could,\u201d so this milestone is particularly gratifying to me. Finally, this episode also serves as a belated birthday tribute to Felicia Weathers, who just last week turned 88 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:47px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-size\" style=\"font-size:30px\"><strong> RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:55px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"760\" height=\"948\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Felicia-Weathers-pearls-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18716\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Felicia-Weathers-pearls-1.png 760w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Felicia-Weathers-pearls-1-241x300.png 241w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Henry Purcell, Nahum Tate: Thy hand, Belinda&#8230; When I am laid in earth (<em>Dido and Aeneas<\/em>). Felicia Weathers, Boris Mersson, Tonhalle Orchester Z\u00fcrich<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"395\" height=\"558\" data-id=\"18717\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Mattiwilda-Dobbs.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18717\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Mattiwilda-Dobbs.png 395w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Mattiwilda-Dobbs-212x300.png 212w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 395px) 100vw, 395px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"366\" height=\"534\" data-id=\"18721\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Colombo.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18721\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Colombo.jpg 366w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Colombo-206x300.jpg 206w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 366px) 100vw, 366px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Lorenzo d Ponte: L\u00e0 ci darem la mano (<em>Don Giovanni<\/em>). Mattiwilda Dobbs, Scipio Colombo, Alexander Krannhals, Orchester der Badischen Staatsoper<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"564\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Grist-Norina.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18723\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Grist-Norina.jpg 564w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Grist-Norina-217x300.jpg 217w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 564px) 100vw, 564px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Gaetano Donizetti, Giovanni Ruffini (after Angelo Anelli): from <em>Don Pasquale<\/em>. Reri Grist, Boris Mersson, Tonhalle Orchester Z\u00fcrich:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Quel guardo il cavaliere&#8230; So anch&#8217;io la virt\u00f9 magica<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tornami a dir che m&#8217;ami (with Fritz Peters)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"18725\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Grist-Hair-Helmet-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18725\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Grist-Hair-Helmet-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Grist-Hair-Helmet-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Grist-Hair-Helmet-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Grist-Hair-Helmet.jpg 1213w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"535\" height=\"714\" data-id=\"18724\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Fritz-Peters.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18724\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Fritz-Peters.png 535w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Fritz-Peters-225x300.png 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 535px) 100vw, 535px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fritz Peters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"578\" height=\"794\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Dobbs1-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18727\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Dobbs1-1.png 578w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Dobbs1-1-218x300.png 218w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Jacques Offenbach, Jules Barbier [after ETA Hoffmann as adapted by Jules Barbier and Michel Carr\u00e9]: from <em>Les Contes d&#8217;Hoffmann<\/em>. Mattiwilda Dobbs, Pierre-Michel Le Comte, Orchestre des Concerts de Paris:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"648\" height=\"812\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Dobbs-Olympia.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18726\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Dobbs-Olympia.png 648w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Dobbs-Olympia-239x300.png 239w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 648px) 100vw, 648px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dobbs as Olympia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Les oiseaux dans la charmille<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Elle a fui, la tourterelle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tiens, ce doux chant d&#8217;amour&#8230; C&#8217;est une chanson d&#8217;amour (with L\u00e9opold Simoneau)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"504\" height=\"688\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Simoneau-Leopold-Hands.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18728\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Simoneau-Leopold-Hands.jpg 504w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Simoneau-Leopold-Hands-220x300.jpg 220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 504px) 100vw, 504px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">L\u00e9opold Simoneau<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"525\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Weathers-pilot.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18732\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Weathers-pilot.png 771w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Weathers-pilot-300x204.png 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Weathers-pilot-768x523.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Jules Massenet, Henri Meilhac, Philippe Gille [after Abb\u00e9 Pr\u00e9vost]: from <em>Manon<\/em>. Boris Mersson, Tonhalle Orchester Z\u00fcrich:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Je suis encore toute \u00e9tourdie. Felicia Weathers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Instant charmant&#8230; En fermant les yeux. Glade Peterson<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"627\" height=\"855\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Glade-Peterson.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18729\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Glade-Peterson.png 627w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Glade-Peterson-220x300.png 220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 627px) 100vw, 627px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Glade Peterson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"514\" height=\"694\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Weathers-Butterfly.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18730\" style=\"width:591px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Weathers-Butterfly.png 514w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Weathers-Butterfly-222x300.png 222w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 514px) 100vw, 514px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Giacosa, Luigi Illica [after John Luther Long, David Belasco]: from <em>Madama Butterfly<\/em>. Felicia Weathers, Boris Mersson, Tonhalle Orchester Z\u00fcrich:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bimba dagli occhi pieni di malia (with Glade Peterson)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Un bel d\u00ec vedremo<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"333\" height=\"449\" data-id=\"18711\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Weathers-Youngissima.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18711\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Weathers-Youngissima.png 333w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Weathers-Youngissima-222x300.png 222w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"578\" height=\"794\" data-id=\"18713\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Dobbs1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Dobbs1.png 578w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Dobbs1-218x300.png 218w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"387\" height=\"546\" data-id=\"18731\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Grist-Another-Fayer-Headshot-TRIMMED.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18731\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Grist-Another-Fayer-Headshot-TRIMMED.png 387w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Grist-Another-Fayer-Headshot-TRIMMED-213x300.png 213w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 387px) 100vw, 387px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Episode 387. Zauberwelt der Oper (Black Diva Edition) SOCIAL SHARE SUBSCRIPTION PLATFORM I\u2019m on holiday this week, but it would&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18714,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[420,1626,1701,7296,7295,3614,5823,3273,2476,2399,5137,1074,5806,2260,808,3272,427,5138],"tags":[4009,8143,8142,8139,2794,1068,2238,4956,2165,8140,376,94,8141,4759,8138,3672,255,98,4020,433,50,870,4758,135,434,1753,4021,3686,4008,524,5090,34],"class_list":["post-18444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-african-american-opera-singers","category-african-american-singers","category-bel-canto","category-black-history-month","category-black-history-month-2025","category-canadian-singers","category-forgotten-divas","category-french-opera","category-giacomo-puccini","category-great-baritones","category-great-tenors","category-happy-birthday","category-listeners-favorites","category-music-for-a-world-in-crisis","category-needle-drop","category-singers-of-color","category-verismo","category-wolfgang-amadeus-mozart","tag-abbe-prevost","tag-alexander-krannhals","tag-angelo-anelli","tag-boris-mersson","tag-dido-and-aeneas","tag-don-giovanni","tag-don-pasquale","tag-eta-hoffmann","tag-felicia-weathers","tag-fritz-peters","tag-gaetano-donizetti","tag-giacomo-puccini","tag-giovanni-ruffini","tag-giuseppe-giacosa","tag-glade-peterson","tag-henri-meilhac","tag-henry-purcell","tag-jacques-offenbach","tag-jules-barbier","tag-jules-massenet","tag-leopold-simoneau","tag-lorenzo-da-ponte","tag-luigi-illica","tag-madama-butterfly","tag-manon","tag-mattiwilda-dobbs","tag-michel-carre","tag-nahum-tate","tag-philippe-gille","tag-reri-grist","tag-scipio-colombo","tag-wolfgang-amadeus-mozart"],"author_meta":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/author\/admin\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Weathers-Breezy-Casual-TRIMMED-300x126.png","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/african-american-opera-singers\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">African American Opera Singers<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/african-american-singers\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">African American Singers<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/bel-canto\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Bel Canto<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/black-history-month\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Black History Month<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/black-history-month-2025\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Black History Month 2025<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/canadian-singers\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Canadian Singers<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/forgotten-divas\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Forgotten Divas<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/french-opera\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">French Opera<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/giacomo-puccini\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Giacomo Puccini<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/great-baritones\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Great Baritones<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/great-tenors\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Great Tenors<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/happy-birthday\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Happy Birthday<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/listeners-favorites\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Listeners&#039; Favorites<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/music-for-a-world-in-crisis\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Music for a World in Crisis<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/needle-drop\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Needle Drop<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/singers-of-color\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Singers of Color<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/verismo\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Verismo<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">African American Opera Singers<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">African American Singers<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Bel Canto<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Black History Month<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Black History Month 2025<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Canadian Singers<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Forgotten Divas<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">French Opera<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Giacomo Puccini<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Great Baritones<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Great Tenors<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Happy Birthday<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Listeners&#039; Favorites<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Music for a World in Crisis<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Needle Drop<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Singers of Color<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Verismo<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Abb\u00e9 Prevost<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Alexander Krannhals<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Angelo Anelli<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Boris Mersson<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Dido and Aeneas<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Don Giovanni<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Don Pasquale<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">ETA Hoffmann<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Felicia Weathers<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Fritz Peters<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Gaetano Donizetti<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Giacomo Puccini<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Giovanni Ruffini<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Giuseppe Giacosa<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Glade Peterson<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Henri Meilhac<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Henry Purcell<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Jacques Offenbach<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Jules Barbier<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Jules Massenet<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Leopold Simoneau<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Lorenzo da Ponte<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Luigi Illica<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Madama Butterfly<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Manon<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Mattiwilda Dobbs<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Michel Carr\u00e9<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Nahum Tate<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Philippe Gille<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Reri Grist<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Scipio Colombo<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Abb\u00e9 Prevost<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Alexander Krannhals<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Angelo Anelli<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Boris Mersson<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Dido and Aeneas<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Don Giovanni<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Don Pasquale<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">ETA Hoffmann<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Felicia Weathers<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Fritz Peters<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Gaetano Donizetti<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Giacomo Puccini<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Giovanni Ruffini<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Giuseppe Giacosa<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Glade Peterson<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Henri Meilhac<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Henry Purcell<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Jacques Offenbach<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Jules Barbier<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Jules Massenet<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Leopold Simoneau<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Lorenzo da Ponte<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Luigi Illica<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Madama Butterfly<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Manon<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Mattiwilda Dobbs<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Michel Carr\u00e9<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Nahum Tate<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Philippe Gille<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Reri Grist<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Scipio Colombo<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"2","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 8 months ago","modified":"Updated 7 months ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on 22\/08\/2025","modified":"Updated on 29\/08\/2025"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on 22\/08\/2025 09:52","modified":"Updated on 29\/08\/2025 23:51"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18444"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18444\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18763,"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18444\/revisions\/18763"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18714"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}