{"id":20696,"date":"2026-04-16T23:52:56","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T21:52:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/?p=20696"},"modified":"2026-04-16T23:54:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T21:54:49","slug":"episode-455-back-in-the-saddle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/16\/episode-455-back-in-the-saddle\/","title":{"rendered":"Episode 455. Back in the Saddle"},"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-controls=\"mega-menu-primary\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Menu\" class=\"mega-toggle-animated mega-toggle-animated-slider\" type=\"button\">\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\"><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 455. Back in the Saddle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"340\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelody.blubrry.net\/?powerpress_embed=1934-podcast&amp;powerpress_player=mediaelement-audio\" title=\"Blubrry Podcast Player\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>SOCIAL SHARE<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><strong>SUBSCRIPTION PLATFORM<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-7e5fce0a wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link no-border-radius wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/countermelody.blubrry.net\/\">SUBSCRIBE VIA YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Corelli-Dick-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20889\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Corelli-Dick-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Corelli-Dick-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Corelli-Dick-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Corelli-Dick.jpg 1158w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:38px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Greetings to all from your recently Venetianized podcaster, now (as the title of today\u2019s episode indicates) once again back in the saddle and bringing you the fourth and final of my vacation (or holiday, if you prefer) episodes featuring great sopranos and tenors of the 1960s and 1970s, as compiled by the late great collector and vocal aficionado Ed Rosen. Today is the second of the tenor LPs from that collection and once again features a range of the brightest and best of that era in thrilling live performances: from Richard Tucker and Franco Corelli (both of whom are heard in excerpts from <em>La Fanciulla del West<\/em>) to Bj\u00f6rling, Carreras, Bergonzi, di Stefano, Kraus, Pavarotti, Gedda, and del Monaco singing everything from Nemorino to Siegmund (!) The vocal splendor of these singers is matched by (for the most part) their musical refinement and taste. And if certain of the featured tenors forgets his musical manners, rest assured that the amplitude of their thrilling high notes is suitable compensation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:47px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-size\" style=\"font-size:30px\"><strong> RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:55px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"245\" height=\"363\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Bjorling2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20869\" style=\"width:570px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Bjorling2.jpg 245w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Bjorling2-202x300.jpg 202w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 245px) 100vw, 245px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Giuseppe Verdi, Salvadore Cammarano [after Antonio Garc\u00eda Guti\u00e9rrez]: Ah, s\u00ec, ben mio (<em>Il trovatore<\/em>). Jussi Bj\u00f6rling [1960]<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"774\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Bjorling4-774x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20870\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Bjorling4-774x1024.jpg 774w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Bjorling4-227x300.jpg 227w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Bjorling4-768x1017.jpg 768w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Bjorling4.jpg 936w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 774px) 100vw, 774px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"495\" height=\"619\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Corelli2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20871\" style=\"width:581px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Corelli2.jpg 495w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Corelli2-240x300.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Giacomo Puccini, Carlo Zangarini, Guelfo Civinini [after David Belasco]: Vi ringrazio, Sonora&#8230; Ch\u2019ella mi creda (<em>La fanciulla del West<\/em>). Franco Corelli [1965]<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"247\" height=\"348\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Corelli4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20872\" style=\"width:528px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Corelli4.jpg 247w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Corelli4-213x300.jpg 213w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 247px) 100vw, 247px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"560\" height=\"336\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Bergonzi2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20873\" style=\"width:634px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Bergonzi2.jpg 560w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Bergonzi2-300x180.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Gaetano Donizetti, Felice Romani [after Eug\u00e8ne Scribe]: Una furtiva lagrima (<em>L\u2019elisir d\u2019amore<\/em>). Carlo Bergonzi [1966]<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"394\" height=\"507\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Bergonzi4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20874\" style=\"width:612px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Bergonzi4.jpg 394w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Bergonzi4-233x300.jpg 233w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 394px) 100vw, 394px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"366\" height=\"546\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carreras4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20875\" style=\"width:596px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carreras4.jpg 366w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carreras4-201x300.jpg 201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 366px) 100vw, 366px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Giuseppe Verdi, Antonio Somma [after Eug\u00e8ne Scribe]: Amici miei&#8230; La rivedr\u00f2 nell\u2019estasi (<em>Un ballo in maschera<\/em>) Jos\u00e9 Carreras [1976]<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"399\" height=\"501\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carreras3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20876\" style=\"width:523px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carreras3.jpg 399w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carreras3-239x300.jpg 239w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"446\" height=\"581\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Di-Stefano-Radames.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20877\" style=\"width:560px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Di-Stefano-Radames.png 446w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Di-Stefano-Radames-230x300.png 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 446px) 100vw, 446px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Giuseppe Verdi, Antonio Ghislanzoni [after Auguste Mariette and Temistocle Solera]: Se quel guerrier io fossi&#8230; Celeste Aida (<em>Aida<\/em>). Giuseppe di Stefano [1956]<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"413\" height=\"587\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DiStefano2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20878\" style=\"width:479px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DiStefano2.jpg 413w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DiStefano2-211x300.jpg 211w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 413px) 100vw, 413px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"617\" height=\"899\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Tucker2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20879\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Tucker2.jpg 617w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Tucker2-206x300.jpg 206w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 617px) 100vw, 617px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Giacomo Puccini, Carlo Zangarini, Guelfo Civinini [after David Belasco]: Una parola sola&#8230; Or son sei mesi (<em>La fanciulla del West<\/em>). Richard Tucker [1961]<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Tucker4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20880\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Tucker4.jpg 600w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Tucker4-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Tucker4-150x150.jpg 150w\" 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-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"371\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kraus2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20881\" style=\"width:624px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kraus2.jpg 250w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kraus2-202x300.jpg 202w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Giuseppe Verdi, Francesco Maria Piave [after Victor Hugo]: Ella mi fu rapita&#8230; Parmi veder le lagrime&#8230; Possente amor (<em>Rigoletto<\/em>). Alfredo Kraus [1966]<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"649\" height=\"950\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kraus3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20882\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kraus3.jpg 649w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kraus3-205x300.jpg 205w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 649px) 100vw, 649px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"434\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DelMonaco4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20883\" style=\"width:511px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DelMonaco4.jpg 434w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DelMonaco4-217x300.jpg 217w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 434px) 100vw, 434px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Richard Wagner: Winterst\u00fcrme wichen dem Wonnemond (<em>Die Walk\u00fcre<\/em>). Mario del Monaco [1958]<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DelMonaco2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20884\" style=\"width:579px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DelMonaco2.jpg 480w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DelMonaco2-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Giuseppe Verdi, Francesco Maria Piave [after Victor Hugo]: Merc\u00e8, diletti amici (<em><u>Ernani<\/u><\/em>). Luciano Pavarotti [1977]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"397\" height=\"503\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gedda2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20885\" style=\"width:499px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gedda2.jpg 397w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gedda2-237x300.jpg 237w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 397px) 100vw, 397px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Giacomo Meyerbeer, Eug\u00e8ne Scribe, \u00c9mile Deschamps [after Prosper M\u00e9rim\u00e9e]: Plus blanche que la blanche hermine (<em>Les Huguenots<\/em>). Nicolai Gedda [1971]<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"562\" height=\"711\" src=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gedda3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gedda3.jpg 562w, https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gedda3-237x300.jpg 237w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 562px) 100vw, 562px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Episode 455. Back in the Saddle SOCIAL SHARE SUBSCRIPTION PLATFORM Greetings to all from your recently Venetianized podcaster, now (as&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20887,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1701,3273,2476,2398,5137,808,2328,427],"tags":[437,47,5118,4534,4901,6368,1980,6349,4270,1977,6177,4266,4548,5222,4535,142,376,117,94,1712,207,6348,348,1509,281,2237,222,1259,354,4263,1015,4633,1681,486,325,4850,4536,332,3735],"class_list":["post-20696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bel-canto","category-french-opera","category-giacomo-puccini","category-giuseppe-verdi","category-great-tenors","category-needle-drop","category-richard-wagner","category-verismo","tag-aida","tag-alfredo-kraus","tag-antonio-garcia-gutierrez","tag-antonio-ghislanzoni","tag-antonio-somma","tag-auguste-mariette","tag-carlo-bergonzi","tag-carlo-zangarini","tag-david-belasco","tag-die-walkure","tag-emile-deschamps","tag-ernani","tag-eugene-scribe","tag-felice-romani","tag-francesco-maria-piave","tag-franco-corelli","tag-gaetano-donizetti","tag-giacomo-meyerbeer","tag-giacomo-puccini","tag-giuseppe-di-stefano","tag-giuseppe-verdi","tag-guelfo-civinini","tag-il-trovatore","tag-jose-carreras","tag-jussi-bjorling","tag-lelisir-damore-2","tag-la-fanciulla-del-west","tag-les-huguenots","tag-luciano-pavarotti","tag-mario-del-monaco","tag-nicolai-gedda","tag-prosper-merimee","tag-richard-tucker","tag-richard-wagner","tag-rigoletto","tag-salvadore-cammarano","tag-temistocle-solera","tag-un-ballo-in-maschera","tag-victor-hugo"],"author_meta":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/author\/admin\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DiStefano4-300x169.jpg","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/bel-canto\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Bel Canto<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/french-opera\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">French Opera<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/giacomo-puccini\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Giacomo Puccini<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/giuseppe-verdi\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Giuseppe Verdi<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/great-tenors\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Great Tenors<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/needle-drop\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Needle Drop<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/richard-wagner\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Richard Wagner<\/a>","<a 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href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/verismo\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Giacomo Meyerbeer<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/verismo\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Giacomo Puccini<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/verismo\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Giuseppe di Stefano<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/verismo\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Giuseppe Verdi<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/verismo\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Guelfo Civinini<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/verismo\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Il Trovatore<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/countermelodypodcast.com\/index.php\/category\/verismo\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Jos\u00e9 Carreras<\/a>","<a 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