{"id":19898,"date":"2025-12-23T15:49:36","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T14:49:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/?p=19898"},"modified":"2025-12-24T13:08:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T12:08:12","slug":"episode-423-christmas-redux-2019-hard-try","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/23\/episode-423-christmas-redux-2019-hard-try\/","title":{"rendered":"Episode 423. Christmas Redux 2019: Hard\/Try"},"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 435. Christmas Redux 2019: Hard\/Try<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"340\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelody.blubrry.net\/?powerpress_embed=1800-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\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links has-normal-icon-size is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-facebook  wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcountermelodypodcast.com%2Findex.php%2F2019%2F12%2F22%2Fepisode-14-christmas-potpourri-ii-hard-try%2F&#038;title=Episode%2014.%20Christmas%20Potpourri%20II\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Share on Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link 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c-0.344,0.094-0.707,0.144-1.081,0.144c-0.264,0-0.521-0.026-0.772-0.074c0.522,1.63,2.038,2.816,3.833,2.85 c-1.404,1.1-3.174,1.756-5.096,1.756c-0.331,0-0.658-0.019-0.979-0.057c1.816,1.164,3.973,1.843,6.29,1.843 c7.547,0,11.675-6.252,11.675-11.675c0-0.178-0.004-0.355-0.012-0.531C20.985,7.47,21.68,6.747,22.23,5.924z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Share on Twitter<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-pinterest  wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcountermelodypodcast.com%2Findex.php%2F2019%2F12%2F22%2Fepisode-14-christmas-potpourri-ii-hard-try%2F&#038;description=Episode%2014.%20Christmas%20Potpourri%20II\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path 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href=\"https:\/\/countermelody.blubrry.net\/\">SUBSCRIBE VIA YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\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-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"585\" height=\"769\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Santa-with-Printed-Music.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2814\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Santa-with-Printed-Music.jpg 585w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Santa-with-Printed-Music-228x300.jpg 228w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bass Hans Josefsson in costume at G\u00f6teborgs Operan&#8217;s Christmas celebration, 2009.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:38px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Another episode of Christmas music! The first part is a continuation of the previous All-Tenor Holiday Extravaganza. We hear from Luther Saxon, Roland Hayes, James Melton, Brian Sullivan, Richard Crooks, Raoul Jobin, Jussi Bj\u00f6rling, Richard Verreau, Fritz Wunderlich, Rudolf Schock, Ren\u00e9 Kollo, John McCormack, Peter Schreier, and Mel Torm\u00e9 (with an assist from Judy herself!) And for those who have ambivalent feelings about this holiday, the final third of the program foregrounds six of my most favoritest Depressing Christmas Pop Songs, sung by Eileen Farrell, Rita Gardner, Joni Mitchell, Edith Piaf, Judy Garland and (in memory of Marie Fredriksson), Roxette. A line from Judy\u2019s song \u201cAfter the Holidays\u201d (words and music by the late John Meyer) provides the inspiration for the episode title: \u201cI know it&#8217;s hard, but try.\u201d<\/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-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Alice-Parker-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2972\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Alice-Parker-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Alice-Parker-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Alice-Parker-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Alice-Parker-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Alice-Parker.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Alice Parker<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Traditional American Spiritual, arr. Alice Parker: Mary Had a Baby<\/strong>. Farrold Stephens,  Robert Shaw conducting the Robert Shaw Chorale. [1957].<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery 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=\"599\" height=\"583\" data-id=\"2823\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Shaw-Chorale-II-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2823\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Shaw-Chorale-II-1.jpg 599w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Shaw-Chorale-II-1-300x292.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:102px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery alignleft 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=\"145\" height=\"205\" data-id=\"2824\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/MacGimsey-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2824\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"216\" height=\"276\" data-id=\"2826\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/MacGimsey-blue-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2826\"\/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">Two views of Robert MacGimsey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Robert MacGimsey: Sweet Little Jesus Boy<\/strong>. Luther Saxon, tenor; Leonard De Paur conducting the Leonard De Paur Chorus. From <em>Calypso Christmas<\/em>, Columbia Records CL 923 (1956). As I relate on the podcast, Robert MacGimsey, a white man, is the composer of this spiritual-like perennial favorite. <strong><a aria-label=\"This article tells the story (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/mymerrychristmas.com\/not-know-sweet-little-jesus-boy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">This article tells the story<\/a><\/strong> of the composer&#8217;s inspiration in composing the song. Luther Saxon was plucked from the Hall Johnson Choir to appear as Joe in the original production of <em>Carmen Jones<\/em> in 1943. He died in 2017 at the age of 101.<strong><a aria-label=\" You can see him as an elderly man in this interview (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Gx9ikg9JpJU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">You can see him as an elderly man in this interview<\/a><\/strong> for a local television show speaking about his career, and particularly of creating the role of Joe. Please take note of Muriel Smith in the above photo; she was another extraordinary singer whom I hope to feature on an upcoming episode. <strong><a aria-label=\"Finally, this is a wonderful program from the WNYC Archives featuring Leonard De Paur discussing his career (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wnyc.org\/story\/leonard-de-paur\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Finally, this is a wonderful program from the WNYC Archives featuring Leonard De Paur discussing his career<\/a><\/strong>. Unfortunately the musical selections he played on that broadcast are not included.<\/p>\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=\"560\" height=\"852\" data-id=\"2829\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/DePaur-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2829\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/DePaur-3.jpg 560w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/DePaur-3-197x300.jpg 197w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Leonard de Paur<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"293\" height=\"371\" data-id=\"2827\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Screenshot-311.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2827\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Screenshot-311.png 293w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Screenshot-311-237x300.png 237w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 293px) 100vw, 293px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Luther Saxon and Muriel Smith in <em>Carmen Jones<\/em> (1943)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Calypso-Christmas.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2828\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Calypso-Christmas.jpg 600w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Calypso-Christmas-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Calypso-Christmas-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The record in question from which this performance comes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:92px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Traditional American Spiritual, arr. Roland Hayes: Little Boy<\/strong>. Roland Hayes, tenor. Roland Hayes is particularly known for his performance of this spiritual (and he himself created this performing version). This is my favorite of his versions: he is more vividly characterized and in even freer voice than in any of other versions I&#8217;ve heard. I don&#8217;t know the particulars of this performance; judging by the vibrant acoustic, it might be a live performance. He seems to be somewhat younger here than in the Vanguard Records discs he made as he was approaching 70.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter 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=\"657\" height=\"944\" data-id=\"2832\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Roland-Hayes-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2832\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Roland-Hayes-1.jpg 657w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Roland-Hayes-1-209x300.jpg 209w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 657px) 100vw, 657px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"629\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"2831\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Roland-Hayes-II.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2831\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Roland-Hayes-II.jpg 629w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Roland-Hayes-II-210x300.jpg 210w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 629px) 100vw, 629px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">Roland Hayes photographed by Carl Van Vechten.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:122px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"569\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Melton-O-Come.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2942\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Melton-O-Come.jpg 569w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Melton-O-Come-300x295.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 569px) 100vw, 569px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"431\" height=\"544\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Melton-as-Ottavio.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2834\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Melton-as-Ottavio.jpg 431w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Melton-as-Ottavio-238x300.jpg 238w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 431px) 100vw, 431px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">James Melton as Don Ottavio<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Anonymous (collected John Francis Wade), Frederick Oakeley (arr. Frank Black): O Come, All Ye Faithful<\/strong>. James Melton, Frank Black, RCA Orchestra [ca. 1948]. As I mentioned on the podcast, the careers of both James Melton and Brian Sullivan encompassed success across a wide musical spectrum while ending in tragedy, despair and early death. Since we get into the depressing aspects of Christmas music later in the episode, let&#8217;s for the moment focus on the lovely recordings that are presented here. Melton began as a radio singer and eventually starred on the Metropolitan Opera stage, where he was frequently paired with Licia Albanese, who was a great admirer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"321\" height=\"411\" data-id=\"2944\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Melton.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2944\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Melton.png 321w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Melton-234x300.png 234w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 321px) 100vw, 321px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"833\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"2945\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Melton-grilling-833x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2945\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Melton-grilling-833x1024.jpg 833w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Melton-grilling-244x300.jpg 244w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Melton-grilling-768x945.jpg 768w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Melton-grilling-1249x1536.jpg 1249w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Melton-grilling.jpg 1301w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 833px) 100vw, 833px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Barbeque, anyone?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"254\" data-id=\"2943\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/James-Melton-on-the-Radio.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2943\"\/><\/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-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"597\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Firestone-Xmas.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2836\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Firestone-Xmas.jpg 600w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Firestone-Xmas-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Firestone-Xmas-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">We had this in our Christmas records collection.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Richard Storrs Willis, Edmund Sears: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear<\/strong>. Brian Sullivan, John Lesko, The Firestone Orchestra and Chorus [1962]. One of Brian Sullivan&#8217;s earliest appearances was on Broadway was as Sam Kaplan in the first performances of Kurt Weill and Langston Hughes&#8217;s <em>Street Scene<\/em>. I am deeply fond of the voice and artistry of Brian Sullivan. He sang nearly 200 performances at the Met in repertoire ranging from Pinkerton to Lohengrin, Ferrando to Grigory the Pretender in <em>Boris Godunov<\/em>, Peter Grimes to Matteo in <em>Arabella<\/em>, Adm\u00e8te in <em>Alceste <\/em>(opposite both Kirsten Flagstad and Eileen Farrell) to Parsifal. A career not at all dissimilar to John Alexander&#8217;s, whose praises I was singing a few episodes ago. His life ended in 1969 at the age of 51 in circumstances that looked suspiciously like suicide. Here he is on one of those over-produced and sappy Christmas records that Firestone Tires put out in the early sixties. His artistry shines through the choir- and bell-drenched arrangement. (I had thought that I might do full episodes on these Firestone releases, but on relistening to them, I realized how mostly dreadful they are!) Here is Sullivan pictured with Anne Jeffreys, his co-star in <em>Street Scene<\/em> in 1947. Unlike Sullivan, Anne Jeffreys lived a long life, dying in September 2017 at the age of 94.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"472\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Sullivan-and-Jeffreys-in-Street-Scene.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2838\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Sullivan-and-Jeffreys-in-Street-Scene.jpg 600w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Sullivan-and-Jeffreys-in-Street-Scene-300x236.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Brian Sullivan and Anne Jeffreys in <em>Street Scene<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\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-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"783\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"2904\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Crooks-Des-Grieux.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2904\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Crooks-Des-Grieux.jpg 783w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Crooks-Des-Grieux-229x300.jpg 229w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Crooks-Des-Grieux-768x1004.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 783px) 100vw, 783px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Richard Crooks as the Chevalier des Grieux.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-id=\"2946\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Richard-Crooks-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2946\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Richard-Crooks-1.jpg 960w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Richard-Crooks-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Richard-Crooks-1-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">And still dressed smartly,<br>but for a less formal occasion<br>(and with less makeup).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>C\u00e9sar&nbsp;Franck: Panis angelicus<\/strong>. Richard Crooks, tenor; Charles O&#8217;Connell conducting the Victor Symphony Orchestra [1942]. Richard Crooks possessed one of the most beautiful lyric tenor voices in the history of recorded sound. He was a very popular radio star (in fact, from 1928 to 1945, the host of the popular radio series <em>The Voice of Firestone<\/em>!) as well as (like Melton and Sullivan in their day) one of the leading tenors of the Metropolitan Opera. Needless to say, with his timbre, openness, and sincerity, he was a masterful purveyor of the same &#8220;Irish tenor&#8221; repertoire as John McCormack (see below). His recording of Franck&#8217;s <em>Panis angelicus<\/em> makes me melt.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"664\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Crooks-Panis-Record.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2905\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Crooks-Panis-Record.jpg 600w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Crooks-Panis-Record-271x300.jpg 271w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/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-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Jobin-Noel.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2906\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Jobin-Noel.jpg 600w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Jobin-Noel-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Jobin-Noel-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Raoul Jobin&#8217;s Christmas LP on Canadian RCA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Adolphe Adam: Minuit,&nbsp;chr\u00e9tiens [Cantique de No\u00ebl]<\/strong>. Raoul Jobin, Charles Goulet conducting Les Disciples de Massenet, Roland Roy, organ [1948]. As I mention on the podcast, Raoul Jobin&#8217;s was one of the first tenor voices I knew well in my earliest exposure to opera. I checked out his record of <em>Les contes d&#8217;Hoffmann<\/em> (the 1948 Op\u00e9ra-Comique EMI recording which also featured Ren\u00e9e Doria, G\u00e9ori-Bou\u00e9, Vina Bovy, Charles Cambon, Andr\u00e9 Vessieres, Andr\u00e9 Pernet, Charles Soix, Louis Musy, Fanely R\u00e9voil, and Bourvil, conducted by the great Andr\u00e9 Cluytens. The Canadian tenor resembles (to my ear) a slightly lower-tier Georges Thill (which is not meant to slight Jobin at all!): he has the brightness and depth and thrust (as well as the point-on French style) required for the role of Hoffmann and other of the key French tenor roles (Don Jos\u00e9, Rom\u00e9o, and others). His recording of Adam&#8217;s <em>Cantique de No\u00ebl<\/em>, so beloved by me as well as many others), is one to cherish, in spite of the rather dull-sounding organ and choir that accompany him in this recording.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"434\" data-id=\"2901\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Jobin-as-Canio.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2901\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Jobin-as-Canio.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Jobin-as-Canio-207x300.jpg 207w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"725\" data-id=\"2900\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Jobin-sadsack-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Jobin-sadsack-2.jpg 545w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Jobin-sadsack-2-226x300.jpg 226w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"809\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"2902\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Jobin-Hoffmann-2-809x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2902\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Jobin-Hoffmann-2-809x1024.jpg 809w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Jobin-Hoffmann-2-237x300.jpg 237w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Jobin-Hoffmann-2-768x972.jpg 768w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Jobin-Hoffmann-2.jpg 866w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 809px) 100vw, 809px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">As Canio (L), as Hoffmann (R), or as himself, Jobin always looks pretty unhappy.<br>Someone cheer this guy up!<\/figcaption><\/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-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"599\" height=\"603\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Bjorling-Adam.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2907\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Bjorling-Adam.jpg 599w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Bjorling-Adam-298x300.jpg 298w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Bjorling-Adam-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A 45 from Swedish RCA which was the first appearance on disc of this amazing performance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Adolphe Adam: O helga natt<\/strong>. Jussi Bj\u00f6rling, orchestra conducted by Nils Grevillius [1959]. For many persons, this is the supreme recording of the <em>Cantique de No\u00ebl<\/em>, here sung in Swedish as <em>O helga natt<\/em>. Even at the end of his tragically short life, Bj\u00f6rling brings a matchless tonal quality and enormous ease on his high notes. Never a great linguist, I think Jussi is always at his best when singing in his native language. And as my guest Nicholas Tamagna mentioned in <strong><a aria-label=\"our interview in Episode 3 of Countermelody (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/episode-3-interview-with-nicholas-tamagna-part-two\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">our the second part of our interview (Episode 3 of <em>Countermelody<\/em>)<\/a><\/strong>, he has endless legato and a deep commitment to the integrity and harmony of each and every vowel (I use the term &#8220;vowel harmony&#8221; to refer to the integrity of each vowel while still maintaining the voice&#8217;s balance and tonal quality: to my ear, Bj\u00f6rling was <em><strong>the<\/strong><\/em> master of vocal harmony.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-8 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"660\" data-id=\"2899\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Bjorling-Nilsson-Tosca.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2899\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Bjorling-Nilsson-Tosca.jpg 480w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Bjorling-Nilsson-Tosca-218x300.jpg 218w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">With his fellow countrywoman Birgit<br>as Tosca and Cavaradossi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"908\" data-id=\"2898\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Bjorling-and-Wife-Anna.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2898\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Bjorling-and-Wife-Anna.jpg 480w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Bjorling-and-Wife-Anna-159x300.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">With his wife , soprano Anna-Lisa Bj\u00f6rling.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"709\" data-id=\"2897\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Bjorling-Callas-and-Doggie.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2897\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Bjorling-Callas-and-Doggie.jpg 960w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Bjorling-Callas-and-Doggie-300x222.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Bjorling-Callas-and-Doggie-768x567.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">With Maria and one of her poodles (is it Toy?)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Augusta-Holmes-1024x641.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2896\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Augusta-Holmes-1024x641.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Augusta-Holmes-300x188.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Augusta-Holmes-768x480.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Augusta-Holmes-1536x961.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Augusta-Holmes-1600x1001.jpeg 1600w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Augusta-Holmes.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The venerable Augusta  Holm\u00e8s, who wrote this popular French Christmas favorite.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:22px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Richard-Verreau-Noel.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2912\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Richard-Verreau-Noel.jpg 600w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Richard-Verreau-Noel-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Richard-Verreau-Noel-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Augusta Holm\u00e8s: No\u00ebl [Trois anges sont venus du ciel]<\/strong>. Richard Verreau, Orchestra and Les ch\u0153urs de la Bonne Chanson conducted by Andr\u00e9 Grassi [1959]. This might be, for me, my favorite discovery of this holiday season. I had heard the name Richard Verreau before, but I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;d ever heard his voice before. It has a ring and clarity, and an ease in the high register, that makes him one of the finest lyric tenors I have ever heard. And this song, a lasting Christmas favorite in French-speaking countries and regions, is one of several holiday numbers written by the august Augusta Holm\u00e8s (1847-1903), an Irish-French composer whose other work is ripe for rediscovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"448\" height=\"716\" data-id=\"2909\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Verreau-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2909\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Verreau-2-1.jpg 448w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Verreau-2-1-188x300.jpg 188w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 448px) 100vw, 448px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"1000\" data-id=\"2908\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Richard-Verreau-in-recital-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2908\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Richard-Verreau-in-recital-1.jpeg 788w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Richard-Verreau-in-recital-1-236x300.jpeg 236w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Richard-Verreau-in-recital-1-768x975.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 788px) 100vw, 788px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"463\" height=\"536\" data-id=\"2911\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Richard-Verreau-2-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2911\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Richard-Verreau-2-1.png 463w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Richard-Verreau-2-1-259x300.png 259w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 463px) 100vw, 463px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"516\" data-id=\"2910\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Emanuel-Young-Richard-Verreau-Joseph-Rouleau-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2910\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Emanuel-Young-Richard-Verreau-Joseph-Rouleau-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Emanuel-Young-Richard-Verreau-Joseph-Rouleau-1-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Emanuel-Young-Richard-Verreau-Joseph-Rouleau-1-768x495.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pianist Emanuel Young, Richard Verreau,<br>and the late Joseph Rouleau preparing <em>Boheme<\/em>, Covent Garden 1957.<\/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-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Wunderlich-Prey-Weihnachtsmusik-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2890\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Wunderlich-Prey-Weihnachtsmusik-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Wunderlich-Prey-Weihnachtsmusik-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Wunderlich-Prey-Weihnachtsmusik-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Wunderlich-Prey-Weihnachtsmusik-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Wunderlich-Prey-Weihnachtsmusik.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Traditional German, collected&nbsp;August von Haxthausen&nbsp;and Dietrich Bocholtz-Asseburg: Maria durch ein Dornwald ging<\/strong>. Fritz Wunderlich, Hermann Prey, instrumental ensemble conducted by Fritz Neumeyer [1966]. This recording was made in the summer of 1966, apparently in the midst of a sweltering German summer. Mere months later, the beloved Fritz Wunderlich was dead in a tragic accident the circumstances of which were never completely explained. In an interview in observance of her recent 90th birthday celebration, Christa Ludwig had some pretty harsh words for Fritz Wunderlich as a person, but both of these artists, as well as Hermann Prey, who is heard in duet with Wunderlich in this recording, contributed immeasurably to German-language <em>bel canto<\/em> style in the second half of the twentieth century.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"359\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Fritz-and-Hermann-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2891\" style=\"width:577px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Fritz-and-Hermann-2.png 359w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Fritz-and-Hermann-2-232x300.png 232w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 359px) 100vw, 359px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Once again, our  <em>Zauberfl\u00f6te<\/em> friends with their magical instruments,<br>tenor and baritone, flute and glockenspiel.<\/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-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"599\" height=\"586\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schock-Weihnachten-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2885\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schock-Weihnachten-3.jpg 599w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schock-Weihnachten-3-300x293.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Careful with them candles, Rudi: Brandgefahr!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Eduard Ebel: Leise rieselt der Schnee<\/strong>. Rudolf Schock, G\u00fcnther Arndt, Berliner Symphoniker, RIAS-Kammerchor, RIAS-Kinderchor [1964]. Rudolf Schock gained enormous popularity in German-speaking countries based on his television appearances, in effect the tenor version of Anneliese Rothenberger. Though he is by no means my favorite tenor, Schock was not only a purveyor of schlock (known in Deutschland as <em>schlag<\/em>!), but was also a valued <em>Lieder<\/em> and opera singer. His slightly beefy timbre is backed by a solid technique, the sound of which is, to my ear, quintessentially <em>Deutsch<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"292\" height=\"450\" data-id=\"2886\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schock-Nemorino.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schock-Nemorino.jpg 292w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schock-Nemorino-195x300.jpg 195w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 292px) 100vw, 292px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">No, not Santa&#8217;s elf! Nemorino in <em>Der Liebestrank<\/em>!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"305\" height=\"400\" data-id=\"2888\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schock.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2888\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schock.jpg 305w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schock-229x300.jpg 229w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 305px) 100vw, 305px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"261\" height=\"307\" data-id=\"2887\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schock-in-costume-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2887\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schock-in-costume-2.jpg 261w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schock-in-costume-2-255x300.jpg 255w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 261px) 100vw, 261px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">The quintessential (and greatly beloved) German tenor, Rudolf Schock.<\/figcaption><\/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-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"583\" height=\"572\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Kollo-Weihnacht-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2883\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Kollo-Weihnacht-3.jpg 583w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Kollo-Weihnacht-3-300x294.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 583px) 100vw, 583px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"288\" height=\"486\" data-id=\"2958\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Walter-Kollo.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2958\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Walter-Kollo.jpg 288w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Walter-Kollo-178x300.jpg 178w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 288px) 100vw, 288px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Walter Kollo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"656\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"2959\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Willi-Kollo-with-dogs-656x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2959\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Willi-Kollo-with-dogs-656x1024.jpg 656w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Willi-Kollo-with-dogs-192x300.jpg 192w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Willi-Kollo-with-dogs-768x1199.jpg 768w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Willi-Kollo-with-dogs.jpg 833w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 656px) 100vw, 656px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Willi Kollo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Austrian Carol, collected Vinzenz Maria S\u00fc\u00df: Still, still, still<\/strong>. Ren\u00e9 Kollo, Siegfried K\u00f6hler, Symphonieorchester Graunke, M\u00fcnchner Sternsinger [1978]. Ren\u00e9 Kollo comes from a family of musicians dating back two generations. His grandfather Walter (1878-1940) was a composer of the Berlin-style of operetta and revue; his father Willi (1904-1988) was also a composer, particularly of film <em>Schlager<\/em> and cabaret revues. Ren\u00e9&#8217;s sister Marguerite was an important agent and opera administrator. Ren\u00e9 Kollo began his career as a pop singer in the Ricky Nelson style (his first hit in fact was a German version of Ricky&#8217;s <em>Hello, Mary Lou<\/em>); he participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964 and 1965, and in the latter year made his operatic debut as a tenor. He developed into a <em>Heldentenor<\/em> of the lightest type, but sang the heaviest repertoire from Siegfried to Tristan to Florestan to Bacchus in houses from Bayreuth to the Met with the most important conductors of the period. In the late 1990s he served as the unsuccessful <em>Intendant<\/em> of the Metropol-Theater: the theater closed in 1997 because of bankruptcy. In my opinion, he is heard at his best in music did not unduly tax his lyric instrument, such as this recording of <em>Still, still, still<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-12 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"338\" height=\"518\" data-id=\"2913\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Kollo-young-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2913\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Kollo-young-2.jpg 338w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Kollo-young-2-196x300.jpg 196w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kollo in his teen idol days.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"2884\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Kollo-at-80.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2884\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Kollo-at-80.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Kollo-at-80-240x300.jpeg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Still going strong in 2017 at age 80!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:105px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"357\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/McCormack2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2915\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/McCormack2.png 360w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/McCormack2-300x298.png 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/McCormack2-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The second mammoth McCormack issue<br>on the incomparable Marston Records label.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Hugo Wolf: Schlafendes Jesuskind (<em>M\u00f6rike-Lieder<\/em><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lsIGGIhVcH8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">)<\/a><\/strong>. John McCormack, Edwin Schneider [1930]. John McCormack was an enormously popular recording artist, most familiar to his myriad admirers for his sentimental &#8220;Irish tenor&#8221; repertoire. But his musical tastes and aspirations ran deeper: his recordings of Hugo Wolf in particular are remarkably skillful and perceptive. Ward Marston has recently released two mammoth McCormack boxes on his irreplaceable Marston Records label and on this latest release alone, which covers his complete electrical recordings from 1925 to 1942, as well as his extant radio broadcasts, there are four versions of Hugo Wolf&#8217;s masterpiece <em>Schlafendes Jesuskind <\/em>from which to choose. I chose the 1930 version with his usual pianist, Edwin Schneider, as the one that best presents his virtues in this repertoire: a simplicity and clarity of utterance, a voice of limpid beauty, clear diction (though his German is slightly but not distractingly accented) and unfussy delivery. Here is a <strong><a aria-label=\"link to the poem (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.oxfordlieder.co.uk\/song\/1545\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">link to the poem<\/a><\/strong>, by the German minister and poet Eduard M\u00f6rike, along with an English translation by <strong><a aria-label=\"Richard Stokes (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ram.ac.uk\/about-us\/staff\/richard-stokes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Richard Stokes<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"214\" height=\"317\" data-id=\"2881\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/McCormack-at-piano.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2881\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/McCormack-at-piano.jpg 214w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/McCormack-at-piano-203x300.jpg 203w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"330\" data-id=\"2882\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/McCormack.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2882\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/McCormack.jpg 620w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/McCormack-300x160.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:101px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"348\" height=\"355\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schreier-Christmas-LP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2880\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schreier-Christmas-LP.jpg 348w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schreier-Christmas-LP-294x300.jpg 294w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 348px) 100vw, 348px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Peter Schreier and Norman Shetler&#8217;s beautiful 1979 <em>Lieder zur Weihnacht<\/em> recording on the East German Eterna label.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Max Reger: Mari\u00e4 Wiegenlied (<em>Schlichte Weisen<\/em>, Op. 76\/52)<\/strong><a aria-label=\"x Reger: Mari\u00e4 Wiegenlied (from Schlichte Weisen, Op. 76\/52). (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=j8ZJOYoStjQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">.<\/a> Peter Schreier, Norman Shetler [1979]. After Fritz Wunderlich&#8217;s death, Deutsche Grammophon was desperate to find a successor to him. The East German Peter Schreier was pegged for that distinction, getting plugged into several projects that Wunderlich had been slated for. In a way, it was completely unfair to Schreier, whose virtues were completely unlike those of Wunderlich&#8217;s: Schreier had, in my opinion, a much more refined and subtle musical sense, while possessing very little of Wunderlich&#8217;s innate beauty of tone. As he developed over the years, Schreier&#8217;s merit became clearer and clearer, particularly as a singer of <em>Lieder <\/em>and of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, both areas of repertoire in which Wunderlich had begun to make a mark, but in which he would most likely have developed even further. Schreier had the advantage of a long life; he died at the age of 84 on Christmas Day 2019, a few short days after this episode was first released. His collaboration with Sviatoslav Richter in <em>Winterreise<\/em>, which comprised a short series of performances, including a live televised performance from the Pushkin Museum in Moscow and a live audio recording from the Semperoper in Dresden, represent the absolute pinnacle of his achievement, and a high point in the performance history of Schubert&#8217;s supreme song cycle. This recording of Christmas art songs contains two cycles (the <em>Krippenlieder<\/em> by the virtually unknown Joseph Haas and the better-known <em>Weihnachtslieder<\/em> by Peter Cornelius) as well as songs on Christmas themes by Hugo Wolf and Max Reger. So many newly-composed Christmas songs make use of familiar Christmas themes: Johannes Brahms&#8217;s <em>Geistliches Wiegenlied<\/em> makes use of the same song that Reger uses here: <em>Joseph, lieber Joseph mein<\/em> and in the pop realm, Joni Mitchell&#8217;s <em>River<\/em> makes poignant use of <em>Jingle Bells<\/em>, as the introduction to Piaf&#8217;s <em>Le No\u00ebl de la Rue<\/em> makes use of the famous French carol, <em>Il est n\u00e9 le divin enfant<\/em>. I adore this song, and I love Schreier&#8217;s performance, one which highlights the words but still manages to spin out a beautiful legato line when it&#8217;s called for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-14 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"205\" height=\"296\" data-id=\"2878\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schreier-boy-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2878\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"199\" height=\"273\" data-id=\"2879\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schreier-young-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2879\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"2918\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schreier-younger-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2918\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schreier-younger-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schreier-younger-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schreier-younger.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"665\" height=\"442\" data-id=\"2919\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schreier-Today.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2919\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schreier-Today.jpg 665w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Schreier-Today-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 665px) 100vw, 665px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">Peter Schreier through the years<\/figcaption><\/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 is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"473\" height=\"212\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Judy-and-Mel-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2812\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Judy-and-Mel-2.jpg 473w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Judy-and-Mel-2-300x134.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 473px) 100vw, 473px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Judy and Mel singing <em>The Christmas Song <\/em>on the special Christmas episode of <em>The Judy Garland Show<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Mel Torm\u00e9, Robert Wells. The Christmas Song<\/strong>. Mel Torm\u00e9, Judy Garland [from <em>The Judy Garland Show<\/em>, Episode 12, first aired 22.XII.1963]. David and I just rewatched the entire <em><strong><a aria-label=\"Judy Garland Christmas Special  (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=MlG2qzN6svE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Judy Garland Christmas Special<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, which is sheer delight for anyone who loves Judy. The duet with Mel Torm\u00e9 (1925-1999) on his famous &#8220;Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire&#8221; (co-written with Robert Wells) is the absolute highlight, even though Judy accidentally calls Mel &#8220;Mort&#8221; at one point (Mort Lindsey was the music director of the show; Mel Torm\u00e9 was responsible for all the special musical material). Torm\u00e9 was known as &#8220;The Velvet Fog&#8221; for that enveloping and enchanting tenor voice of his. Here are a bunch of photos of him throughout his career, which began with him seated behind a drumset and encompassed appearances on <em>The Carol Burnett Show<\/em> as well as increasing renown and acclaim as a jazz singer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" data-id=\"2877\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Judy-and-Mel2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2877\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Judy-and-Mel2.jpg 480w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Judy-and-Mel2-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"262\" height=\"394\" data-id=\"2876\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Judy-and-Mel3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2876\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Judy-and-Mel3.jpg 262w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Judy-and-Mel3-199x300.jpg 199w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 262px) 100vw, 262px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:26px\" 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-16 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"391\" data-id=\"2921\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-drumming2-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2921\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-drumming2-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-drumming2-1-230x300.jpg 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"351\" height=\"454\" data-id=\"2924\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-pensive-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2924\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-pensive-1.jpg 351w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-pensive-1-232x300.jpg 232w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 351px) 100vw, 351px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"469\" height=\"599\" data-id=\"2922\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-and-Carol-Burnett-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2922\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-and-Carol-Burnett-1.jpg 469w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-and-Carol-Burnett-1-235x300.jpg 235w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 469px) 100vw, 469px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">With Carol Burnett<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"636\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"2926\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-young1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2926\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-young1-1.jpg 636w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-young1-1-239x300.jpg 239w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 636px) 100vw, 636px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"346\" height=\"450\" data-id=\"2920\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Tormeo-60s-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Tormeo-60s-1.jpg 346w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Tormeo-60s-1-231x300.jpg 231w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 100vw, 346px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"257\" data-id=\"2925\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-young2-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2925\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"338\" height=\"450\" data-id=\"2923\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-drumming-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2923\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-drumming-1.jpg 338w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-drumming-1-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"568\" data-id=\"2927\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-at-the-piano-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2927\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-at-the-piano-1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-at-the-piano-1-264x300.jpg 264w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" data-id=\"2928\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-old.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2928\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-old.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Torme-old-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">The &#8220;Velvet Fog&#8221; over the course of a long career.<\/figcaption><\/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 is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"346\" height=\"508\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-Old-e1576575321244.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2847\" style=\"width:478px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-Old-e1576575321244.jpg 346w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-Old-e1576575321244-204x300.jpg 204w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 100vw, 346px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (from <em>Meet Me in St. Louis<\/em>)<\/strong>. Eileen Farrell, Greg Hyslop, Loonis McGlohon, Dardanelle, Terry Peoples, Phil Thompson, Bill Stowe [1990]. I went on the record on this episode and named Eileen Farrell the greatest all-around vocalist, as well as the most versatile, that the United States of America has produced. There might be challengers but I can&#8217;t think of any right now. From Bach to Berg, from Gluck to Harold Arlen, from Handel to Rodgers and Hammerstein, Eileen Farrell could (and <em>did<\/em>) sing everything. Her career spanned over forty years: she began as a girl singer on the radio during WWII and in 1993 released her last pop album, which consisted of songs by Harold Arlen. In this 1990 release, she puts a fresh (and fresh-voiced) spin on my <em>favorite<\/em> sad Christmas song, giving even Judy, who created the song so memorably in <em>Meet Me in St. Louis<\/em>, a run for the money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-17 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"2852\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-young-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2852\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-young-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-young-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-young.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"517\" height=\"717\" data-id=\"2849\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-Sincere.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2849\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-Sincere.jpg 517w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-Sincere-216x300.jpg 216w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 517px) 100vw, 517px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"619\" data-id=\"2850\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-and-Sills.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2850\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-and-Sills.jpg 800w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-and-Sills-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-and-Sills-768x594.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">With Beverly Sills<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"335\" height=\"203\" data-id=\"2851\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-Alceste.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2851\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-Alceste.png 335w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-Alceste-300x182.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 335px) 100vw, 335px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"264\" height=\"264\" data-id=\"2848\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-middleaged.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2848\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-middleaged.jpg 264w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Farrell-middleaged-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 264px) 100vw, 264px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"582\" height=\"279\" data-id=\"1260\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/10-Eileen-Farrell-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1260\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/10-Eileen-Farrell-2.jpg 582w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/10-Eileen-Farrell-2-300x144.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 582px) 100vw, 582px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">Nothing but the greatest all-around voice ever produced by the United States of America.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:107px\" 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-18 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"239\" data-id=\"2930\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Rita-Gardner.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2930\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"431\" data-id=\"2868\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Rita-Garner-old.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2868\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Rita-Garner-old.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Rita-Garner-old-209x300.jpg 209w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">Rita Gardner in the early 1960s and in 2019.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>David Shire, Richard Maltby, Jr.: I Don&#8217;t Remember Christmas (from <em>Starting Here, Starting Now<\/em>)<\/strong>. Rita Gardner, Alex Rybeck [live New York IX.2011]. Rita Gardner is clearly on of those rare singers, like Judy Collins, who only gets better with age. (Another of those ageless singers is Susan Watson, who was in both the original cast of <em>Bye Bye, Birdie<\/em> and an early revival of <em>The Fantasticks<\/em>.) I played one of the two pianos in this show when it was performed the fall of my senior year of high school at Oshkosh North High School: it was one of my happiest memories from that period in my life. As for the song Rita Gardner sings here, it is from the Maltby &amp; Shire review <em>Starting Here, Starting Now<\/em>. My friend Jerry Hadley sang a memorable version of this song on his <em>In the Real World<\/em> CD, but somehow it seemed a bit morbid to include his version on the podcast. A fun fact to know and tell is that Richard Maltby was born in Ripon, WI, home to the school where I got my undergraduate degree in music! And David Shire played in the pit in the original production of <em>The Fantasticks<\/em>! Both of these men have had active and varied careers in music, but I must confess that this song represents to me their pinnacle! [n.b. Rita Gardner died on 24 September 2022 at the age of 87, almost three years after this podcast was initially posted.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-19 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"573\" data-id=\"2865\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Fnatasticks-original-cast-1024x573.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2865\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Fnatasticks-original-cast-1024x573.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Fnatasticks-original-cast-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Fnatasticks-original-cast-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Fnatasticks-original-cast.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"546\" data-id=\"2866\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Fantasticks-original-cast.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2866\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Fantasticks-original-cast.jpg 970w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Fantasticks-original-cast-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Fantasticks-original-cast-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 970px) 100vw, 970px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">The original cast of <em>The Fantasticks<\/em>.<br>Rita Gardner as Luisa (The Girl), Kenneth Nelson as Matt (The Boy), and Jerry Orbach as El Gallo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:127px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"610\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Joni-Skating.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2863\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Joni-Skating.jpg 610w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Joni-Skating-300x194.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>I would teach my feet to&#8230; fly&#8230; <\/em>(Joni Mitchell skating in 1976)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Joni Mitchell: River<\/strong>. Joni Mitchell [1971]. I have already said on the podcast what I have to say about this song, this album, and this artist. I will only add that my friends Chip and Peggy introduced me to both Joni Mitchell and this album when they would sit together in the music lounge outside the practice rooms at Ripon College and sing <em>Little Green<\/em> and <em>My Old Man<\/em> and <em>California<\/em>, as well as this song, accompanying each other on the guitar. At that point, <em>Blue<\/em> wasn&#8217;t even ten years old! I will cherish these memories until the day I die.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"569\" height=\"822\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Joni-young.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2862\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Joni-young.jpg 569w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Joni-young-208x300.jpg 208w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 569px) 100vw, 569px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:39px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Joni-Blue.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2931\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Joni-Blue.jpg 600w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Joni-Blue-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Joni-Blue-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The greatest pop album ever made. Period. Don&#8217;t argue with me.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\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-20 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"564\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"2938\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Noel-de-la-Rue-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2938\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Noel-de-la-Rue-2.jpg 564w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Noel-de-la-Rue-2-294x300.jpg 294w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 564px) 100vw, 564px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The original 1951 single release.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"657\" height=\"1006\" data-id=\"2969\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Sheet-Music.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2969\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Sheet-Music.jpg 657w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Sheet-Music-196x300.jpg 196w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 657px) 100vw, 657px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The sheet music for the song.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-21 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"550\" height=\"310\" data-id=\"2860\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Piaf-intense.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2860\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Piaf-intense.jpg 550w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Piaf-intense-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"475\" data-id=\"2932\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Piaf-in-1939.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2932\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Piaf-in-1939.jpg 360w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Piaf-in-1939-227x300.jpg 227w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"434\" height=\"243\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Henri-Contet-and-Edith-Piaf.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2968\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Henri-Contet-and-Edith-Piaf.jpg 434w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Henri-Contet-and-Edith-Piaf-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 434px) 100vw, 434px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Edith Piaf and Henri Contet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Marc Heyral, Henri Contet: Le No\u00ebl de la Rue<\/strong>. Edith Piaf, Orchestra and Les Choeurs R. Saint-Paul conducted by Robert Chauvigny [1951]. As mentioned above, the introduction to this song makes use of the familiar French carol <em>I<\/em> <em>Il est n\u00e9 le divin enfant<\/em>. The song was composed by Marc Heyral (born Marius Herschkovitch, 1920-1989) with words by Henri Contet (1904-1998). Though neither were among Piaf&#8217;s most important collaborators, they were responsible for such memorable highlights as <em>Padam Padam<\/em> (for which Contet wrote the lyrics) and <em>L&#8217;effet que tu me fais<\/em> (for which Heyral wrote the music). This song is one of Piaf&#8217;s most poignant and intense, evoking as it does the grim life of homeless children on the street and contrasting it with the comfortable indoor Christmas of the children of the <em>bourgeoisie<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"703\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Piaf-and-Dietrich.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2933\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Piaf-and-Dietrich.jpg 800w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Piaf-and-Dietrich-300x264.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Piaf-and-Dietrich-768x675.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Piaf and Dietrich: a Franco-Teutonic summit.<\/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 is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Judy-After-the-Holidays-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2934\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Judy-After-the-Holidays-1.jpg 480w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Judy-After-the-Holidays-1-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Please stay with me till after the holidays. I know it&#8217;s hard, but try&#8230;&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>John Meyer: After the Holidays. Judy Garland<\/strong>. Performed live on <em>The Tonight Show<\/em> on 17 December 1968. John Meyer was evidently a romantic partner of Judy Garland&#8217;s right before her final husband Mickey Deans came on the scene. He was a pianist and vocal coach <strong><a aria-label=\"who has written a memoir about his time spent with Judy (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/meyerwire.blog\/judy-garland\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">who has written a memoir about his time spent with Judy<\/a><\/strong>. He wrote several songs for her in particular, this one, <strong><a aria-label=\"I'd Like to Hate Myself in the Morning (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=4FLTQ8cwEbI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">I&#8217;d Like to Hate Myself in the Morning<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a aria-label=\"It's All For You. (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=yf93oalhCdk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">It&#8217;s All For You<em>.<\/em><\/a><\/strong> You can see on the interview portion of her final appearance on <em>The Tonight Show<\/em> just how fucked up she was: she can barely relate a simple story. But Johnny Carson hands her the mic and she is transformed into the supreme professional that she always was, capable of evoking heartbreak by the most economical and sincerest of means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-22 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"175\" height=\"229\" data-id=\"2937\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/John-Meyer.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2937\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"2935\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/John-Meyer-and-Judy-Garland-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2935\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/John-Meyer-and-Judy-Garland-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/John-Meyer-and-Judy-Garland-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/John-Meyer-and-Judy-Garland-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/John-Meyer-and-Judy-Garland-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/John-Meyer-and-Judy-Garland-1600x2133.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/John-Meyer-and-Judy-Garland.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"151\" height=\"226\" data-id=\"2936\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/John-Meyer-Now.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2936\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>n.b. John Meyer, always a controversial figure vis-a-vis Judy, died on 17 February 2024 at the age of 86 from post-surgical complications.<\/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 is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"606\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Broken-hearted-Xmas.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2939\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Broken-hearted-Xmas.jpg 600w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Broken-hearted-Xmas-297x300.jpg 297w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The original single release in Sweden, Christmas 1987<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Per Gessle: Christmas for the Brokenhearted [It Must Have Been Love]<\/strong>. Roxette [Marie Frederiksson and Per Gessle] [1987]. Originally released in this version in 1987; re-recorded and re-released as <em>It Must Have Been Love<\/em>. Used in that version in the film <em>Pretty Woman<\/em>, it became a world-wide sensation. This is in memory of Marie Fredriksson who died on 9 December 2019 after a series of health issues which had plagued her since 2002. As I said on the podcast, I LOVE these depressing power ballads. To those who don&#8217;t, please fast-forward! But do give a nod to this powerhouse vocalist who gave voice to the words and music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-23 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"860\" height=\"484\" data-id=\"2858\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Roxette.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2858\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Roxette.jpg 860w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Roxette-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Roxette-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marie Fredriksson and<br>Per Gessle (Roxette)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"259\" height=\"194\" data-id=\"2857\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Marie-young.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2857\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"860\" height=\"484\" data-id=\"2855\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Roxette2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Roxette2.jpg 860w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Roxette2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Roxette2-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> Marie Fredriksson and<br>Per Gessle (Roxette)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"939\" data-id=\"2856\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Marie-on-beach.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2856\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Marie-on-beach.jpg 960w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Marie-on-beach-300x293.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Marie-on-beach-768x751.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"2859\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Marie-Fredriksson-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2859\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Marie-Fredriksson-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Marie-Fredriksson-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Marie-Fredriksson-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Marie-Fredriksson-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Marie-Fredriksson-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Marie-Fredriksson-1600x900.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"380\" height=\"550\" data-id=\"2940\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Marie-in-2012.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2940\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Marie-in-2012.jpg 380w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Marie-in-2012-207x300.jpg 207w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 380px) 100vw, 380px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Traditional German Carol, Johannes Daniel Falk: O du fr\u00f6hliche<\/strong>. Lotte Lehmann, Hermann Weigert membe,rs of the Staatskapelle Berlin [1928]. This, along with <strong><a aria-label=\"Claudia Muzio's Italian version of Max Reger's Mari\u00e4 Wiegenlied (called La ninna nanna della Vergine (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vLGLRm7hS5U&amp;list=PLqnLIVPz7zrnb1fBA18m81D93tdlAgroC&amp;index=17&amp;t=0s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Claudia Muzio&#8217;s Italian version of Max Reger&#8217;s <em>Mari\u00e4 Wiegenlied<\/em> (called <em>La ninna nanna della Vergine<\/em><\/a><\/strong>) and <strong><a aria-label=\"Leontyne's version of O Holy Night (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=z8g5cpNUzyY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Leontyne&#8217;s version of <em>O Holy Night<\/em><\/a><\/strong>, is one of my three favorite Christmas recordings. Though she not a religious woman, the fervor, warmth, and generosity of Lehmann&#8217;s artistry comes through like the Christmas star shining through the darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"280\" height=\"355\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Lotte-Lehmann-borderline-elderly.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2818\" style=\"width:452px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Lotte-Lehmann-borderline-elderly.jpg 280w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Lotte-Lehmann-borderline-elderly-237x300.jpg 237w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 280px) 100vw, 280px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Episode 435. Christmas Redux 2019: Hard\/Try SOCIAL SHARE SUBSCRIPTION PLATFORM Another episode of Christmas music! The first part is a&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19905,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[420,1626,1075,7296,2109,1076,1955,5823,1625,1073,1072,5806,2260,2755,4801,3272,6119,2806,2550],"tags":[628,590,617,639,636,634,541,664,641,632,642,653,663,619,45,672,584,659,648,629,682,650,676,669,261,620,87,671,681,651,656,652,677,49,660,645,665,631,1781,666,621,567,568,657,601,680,644,655,624,646],"class_list":["post-19898","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-african-american-opera-singers","category-african-american-singers","category-art-song","category-black-history-month","category-broadway-and-musicals","category-crossover","category-eileen-farrell","category-forgotten-divas","category-gay-pride","category-holiday-music","category-in-memoriam","category-listeners-favorites","category-music-for-a-world-in-crisis","category-pop-icons","category-singers-in-old-age","category-singers-of-color","category-spirituals","category-twentieth-century-music","category-voiceless-wonders","tag-adeste-fideles","tag-adolphe-adam","tag-alice-parker","tag-august-von-haxthausen","tag-augusta-holmes","tag-brian-sullivan","tag-cesar-franck","tag-david-shire","tag-dietrich-bocholtz-asseburg","tag-edmund-sears","tag-eduard-ebel","tag-eduard-morike","tag-eileen-farrell","tag-farrold-stephens","tag-fritz-wunderlich","tag-henri-contet","tag-hermann-prey","tag-hugh-martin","tag-hugo-wolf","tag-james-melton","tag-johannes-david-falk","tag-john-mccormack","tag-john-meyer","tag-joni-mitchell","tag-judy-garland","tag-leonard-de-paur","tag-lotte-lehmann","tag-marc-heyral","tag-marie-frederiksson","tag-max-reger","tag-mel-torme","tag-norman-shetler","tag-per-gessle","tag-peter-schreier","tag-ralph-blane","tag-rene-kollo","tag-richard-maltby-jr","tag-richard-storrs-willis","tag-richard-verreau","tag-rita-gardner","tag-robert-macgimsey","tag-robert-shaw","tag-robert-shaw-chorale","tag-robert-wells","tag-roland-hayes","tag-roxette","tag-rudolf-schock","tag-schlichte-weisen","tag-the-leonard-de-paur-chorus","tag-vinzenz-maria-sus"],"author_meta":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/author\/admin\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Judy-After-the-Holidays-300x225.jpg","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\/art-song\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Art Song<\/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\/broadway-and-musicals\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Broadway and Musicals<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/crossover\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Crossover<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/eileen-farrell\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Eileen Farrell<\/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\/gay-pride\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Gay Pride<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/holiday-music\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Holiday Music<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/in-memoriam\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">In Memoriam<\/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\/pop-icons\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Pop Icons<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/singers-in-old-age\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Singers in Old Age<\/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\/spirituals\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Spirituals<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/twentieth-century-music\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Twentieth Century Music<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Voiceless Wonders<\/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\">Art Song<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Black History Month<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Broadway and Musicals<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Crossover<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Eileen Farrell<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Forgotten Divas<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Gay Pride<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Holiday Music<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">In Memoriam<\/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\">Pop Icons<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Singers in Old Age<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Singers of Color<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Spirituals<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Twentieth Century Music<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Voiceless Wonders<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Adeste fideles<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Adolphe Adam<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Alice Parker<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">August von Haxthausen<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Augusta Holm\u00e8s<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Brian Sullivan<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Cesar Franck<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">David Shire<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Dietrich Bocholtz-Asseburg<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Edmund Sears<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Eduard Ebel<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Eduard M\u00f6rike<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Eileen Farrell<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Farrold Stephens<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Fritz Wunderlich<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Henri Contet<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Hermann Prey<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Hugh Martin<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Hugo Wolf<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">James Melton<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Johannes David Falk<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">John McCormack<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">John Meyer<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Joni Mitchell<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Judy Garland<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Leonard De Paur<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Lotte Lehmann<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Marc Heyral<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Marie Frederiksson<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Max Reger<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Mel Torm\u00e9<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Norman Shetler<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Per Gessle<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Peter Schreier<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Ralph Blane<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Ren\u00e9 Kollo<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Richard Maltby Jr.<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Richard Storrs Willis<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Richard Verreau<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Rita Gardner<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Robert MacGimsey<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Robert Shaw<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Robert Shaw Chorale<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Robert Wells<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Roland Hayes<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Roxette<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Rudolf Schock<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Schlichte Weisen<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">The Leonard De Paur Chorus<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/voiceless-wonders\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Vinzenz Maria S\u00fc\u00df<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Adeste fideles<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Adolphe Adam<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Alice Parker<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">August von Haxthausen<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Augusta Holm\u00e8s<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Brian Sullivan<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Cesar Franck<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">David Shire<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Dietrich Bocholtz-Asseburg<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Edmund Sears<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Eduard Ebel<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Eduard M\u00f6rike<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Eileen Farrell<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Farrold Stephens<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Fritz Wunderlich<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Henri Contet<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Hermann Prey<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Hugh Martin<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Hugo Wolf<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">James Melton<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Johannes David Falk<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">John McCormack<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">John Meyer<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Joni Mitchell<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Judy Garland<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Leonard De Paur<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Lotte Lehmann<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Marc Heyral<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Marie Frederiksson<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Max Reger<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Mel Torm\u00e9<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Norman Shetler<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Per Gessle<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Peter Schreier<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Ralph Blane<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Ren\u00e9 Kollo<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Richard Maltby Jr.<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Richard Storrs Willis<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Richard Verreau<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Rita Gardner<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Robert MacGimsey<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Robert Shaw<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Robert Shaw Chorale<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Robert Wells<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Roland Hayes<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Roxette<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Rudolf Schock<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Schlichte Weisen<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">The Leonard De Paur Chorus<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Vinzenz Maria S\u00fc\u00df<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 3 months ago","modified":"Updated 3 months ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on 23\/12\/2025","modified":"Updated on 24\/12\/2025"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on 23\/12\/2025 15:49","modified":"Updated on 24\/12\/2025 13:08"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19898","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=19898"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19898\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19906,"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19898\/revisions\/19906"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19905"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19898"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19898"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19898"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}