Janos writes:

>When you see that subject line, the first thought may well be: hmmm, are
>there any *good* ones, never mind "greatest." But the truth is that there
>is a great one among us, fully equal to any legend of old.
>
>The answer is so obvious that it's just startling when you recognize
>it.  Maybe not for others, but for me, the answer was both obvious and
>surprising when it hit me this morning.

I first heard Domingo's Walter from Meistersinger, a nice way to ease
oneself into Wagnerian repertoire from the Italian.  He thrilled me in the
part.  I expected tremendous things, at least as far as complete opera
recordings went.  He had the goods.  I wonder why he never went further.

I've also heard that Wagner is murder on voices, although George Bernard
Shaw characteristically debunks that idea.  Is it really terrible if one
knows how to sing? It seems to me that Verdi and Puccini, especially for
tenors, would wear on the voice more harshly.

Steve Schwartz