More people should listen to Joyce Guyer More people should listen to Joyce Guyer

Joyce Guyer’s silvery soprano, impeccable musicianship and beguiling stage presence made her an invaluable member of the Met roster in the late 1990s and early 2000s, appearing most frequently in harmony with others in such assignments as Najade in Ariadne auf Naxos, Woglinde in Wagner’s Ring Cycle and as a Parsifal Flower Maiden.

on March 15, 2025 at 6:00 AM
More people should listen to Lianna Haroutounian More people should listen to Lianna Haroutounian

Although not exactly unknown, why she isn’t a big star is mysterious to me.

on March 14, 2025 at 6:00 AM
More people should listen to Karina Gauvin More people should listen to Karina Gauvin

I first encountered Karina Gauvin in 2003 in the Boston Early Music Festival’s production of Conradi’s Ariadne. It does not happen often that I encounter an unknown singer with such a gorgeous sheen to their voice. Her performance was a knockout.

on March 13, 2025 at 6:00 AM
More people should listen to Eugenia Burzio More people should listen to Eugenia Burzio

Eugenia Burzio is the most demented soprano on record, for me at least.

on March 12, 2025 at 6:00 AM
More people should listen to Suzanne Adams More people should listen to Suzanne Adams

Such clean, beautifully poised technique, rich timbre, gorgeous agility…the anti-Melba

on March 11, 2025 at 6:00 AM
More people should listen to Chelsea Lehnea More people should listen to Chelsea Lehnea

A currently active dramatic coloratura who has the voice and technique for Odabella! how often do we see that?

on March 10, 2025 at 6:00 AM
More people should listen to Maureen O’Flynn More people should listen to Maureen O’Flynn

I first saw her perform with Portland Opera in Lucia. I subsequently saw her in Traviata, also in Portland. Later, I saw her as both Gilda and Juliette as the Met.

on March 09, 2025 at 6:00 AM
More people should listen to Licia Albanese More people should listen to Licia Albanese

Not sure if she’s under-appreciated per se, but hers is my favorite Manon Lescaut with Jussi Björling.

on March 08, 2025 at 6:00 AM
More people should listen to Ninon Vallin More people should listen to Ninon Vallin

The assumption is that singers, singing in their own language, will be more expressive and idiomatic. The reality is that it often seldom makes a difference.

on March 07, 2025 at 6:00 AM
More people should listen to Diana Soviero More people should listen to Diana Soviero

Diana Soviero, America’s standard-setter in Puccini and verismo — an artist whose vocalism was luminous, and whose inner conviction achieved the ultimate in shattering, profoundly moving emotional intensity.

on March 06, 2025 at 6:00 AM
More people should listen to Patrizia Ciofi More people should listen to Patrizia Ciofi

I first heard Patrizia Ciofi in a production of La traviata from Venice. It was a very modern production set in present day, but still she shown through her performance was just incredible.

on March 05, 2025 at 6:00 AM
More people should listen to Hanne-Lore Kuhse More people should listen to Hanne-Lore Kuhse

East Germany’s Hochdramatische icon, Berlin’s local Nachtigall.

on March 04, 2025 at 6:00 AM
More people should listen to Barbara Haveman More people should listen to Barbara Haveman

Unfortunately, Barbara Haveman does not perform very much anymore and she did not leave many recordings.

on March 03, 2025 at 6:00 AM
More people should listen to Isabelle Poulenard More people should listen to Isabelle Poulenard

My parents- heroes that they were- used to drive me to Tower Records in Piccadilly Circus (RIP, to both the store and while we’re here, to my parents) after dinner on my birthday, to take advantage of the fact that it was open until midnight.

on March 02, 2025 at 6:00 AM
More people should listen to Benita Valente More people should listen to Benita Valente

Many of us of a certain age had the good luck to see Benita Valente frequently at the Met. My memory is that she was treated rather like a house singer at first, and only later was appreciated for her extraordinary gifts.

on March 01, 2025 at 6:00 AM