Countermelody
Countermelody is a new podcast devoted to the glories of the human voice raised in song. Singer and vocal aficionado Daniel Gundlach explores great classical and opera singers of the past and present with the help of guests from the classical music field: singers, conductors, composers, coaches, agents, and voice teachers. Daniel’s lifetime in music as a professional countertenor, pianist, vocal coach, voice teacher, and journalist yields an exciting array of anecdotes, impressions, and “inside stories.” At Countermelody’s core is the interaction between singers of all stripes, their instruments, and the connection they make to the words they sing. Please also visit the Countermelody website for updates, additional content, and to pledge your support. www.countermelodypodcast.com
- Update frequency
- every 3 days
- Average duration
- 91 minutes
- Episodes
- 320
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
Episode 351. Schubert in Not-German
I have been fascinated for years by operas performed in the vernacular, a phenomenon which was common in Germany until quite recently. Even more interesting in many ways is the performance of art son…
01:40:12 |
Fri 18 Apr 2025
Episode 350. Young Singers I Admire
Today we celebrate 350 episodes of Countermelody since the inception of the podcast in the fall of 2019. Given that this is a momentous occasion (probably mostly to me, just for sticking with this th…
01:11:42 |
Mon 14 Apr 2025
Episode 349. Lenten Melody
I’ve already done a Lententide episode devoted to contraltos singing the music of Bach, but it seemed to me that in the upheaval of today’s vengeful and war-hungry world, we could use another contemp…
01:39:03 |
Thu 10 Apr 2025
Episode 348. Rescue Mission II
After I post a Countermelody episode on a cherished singer, my relationship with these artists continues: one of those manifestataions is that I never stop seeking out rare and unusual recordings fea…
01:46:26 |
Tue 08 Apr 2025
Episode 347. Will the Real Eleanor Steber Please St/And Up?
Because there is no such thing as too much Eleanor Steber, today’s episode once again features the prodigiously gifted singer, in my opinion the greatest soprano the United States has ever produced, …
01:44:34 |
Fri 04 Apr 2025
Episode 346. Olive Middleton and La Puma (Alternate Universe Bel Canto)
Hello, Campers! Once again it is April Fool’s Day, which means that here at Countermelody, we’re doing another in my “Alternate Universe Bel Canto” series. This year the featured diva is Olive Middle…
01:35:19 |
Sun 30 Mar 2025
Episode 345. A Lenten Litany of Bach Contraltos
Over the course of the past year, I have done a number of episodes on contraltos singing a wide range of material. Toward the end of last year, I did a program on Bach contraltos, which featured just…
01:39:01 |
Fri 28 Mar 2025
Episode 344. Mady Mesplé Revisited
This past March 7 would have been the 94th birthday of the great French coloratura soprano Mady Mesplé. This episode begins a new series of episodes devoted to “Queens of the Night,” the surprisingly…
01:46:35 |
Mon 24 Mar 2025
Episode 343. Over-the-Top Sopranos, French Edition
As a follow-up to my Mezzos on the Verge series, which seemed to resonate with so many of you, today I present the first in a new ongoing series, Over-the-Top Sopranos. As I first began exploring thi…
01:39:26 |
Fri 21 Mar 2025
Episode 342. Norman Bailey Revisited
The British bass-baritone Norman Bailey (23 March 1933 – 15 September 2021) was one of the premier Wagner singers of his generation, appearing in his signature roles (Hans Sachs, the Dutchman, and Wo…
01:50:41 |
Mon 17 Mar 2025
Episode 341. Robert Massard Revisited
A year and a half ago, I posted an episode on Robert Massard, the finest French baritone of his era, and one of the finest French baritones of all time. Today, in honor of his upcoming hundredth birt…
01:47:06 |
Fri 14 Mar 2025
Episode 340. Roberta Alexander: Dutch Treat
Nothing brings me greater joy than when a deep exploration into the artistry of a favorite singer yields even more delights than I could have possibly imagined. And when I have a personal friendship …
01:31:14 |
Mon 10 Mar 2025
Episode 339. Todd Duncan
Today I present the male lead creator of Gershwin’s towering masterpiece, Porgy and Bess, the magnificent Todd Duncan (12 February 1903 – 28 February 1998), whose other creations included work by Kur…
01:31:21 |
Sat 08 Mar 2025
Episode 338. Ameling and Friends Sing Bach
As a belated 92nd birthday tribute to our beloved Elly Ameling, I offer another episode of the Elly and Johann Show which features her in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. If you twisted my arm, I …
01:41:43 |
Mon 03 Mar 2025
Episode 337. Anne Wiggins Brown
Today on Countermelody the first of two (for now) episodes celebrating the creators of George Gershwin’s legendary (and controversial) opera Porgy and Bess. Today we explore the fascinating life (and…
01:19:29 |
Fri 28 Feb 2025
Episode 336. Scotto Sings Rossini (Happy Birthday, Renata!)
Today would have been the 91st birthday of our beloved Renata Scotto. On an episode last year celebrating the 100th birthday of Maria Callas, I remarked that Renatina possessed in profusion two quali…
01:22:17 |
Mon 24 Feb 2025
Episode 335. Felicia Weathers, Schlagersängerin
This week a light-hearted (and therefore much-needed!) tribute to the marvelous Felicia Weathers, who, in the midst of her burgeoning operatic career in the late 1960s, made two LPs of Schlagermusik,…
01:36:43 |
Sat 22 Feb 2025
Episode 334. Gloria Davy Revisited
I’ve been wanting to revisit the legacy of the great African American soprano Gloria Davy (born in Brooklyn on 29 March 1931 and died in Genève on 28 November 2012) for some time now. In the first ye…
01:43:34 |
Tue 18 Feb 2025
Episode 333. Leontyne Price Sings Richard Strauss Lieder
On February 10th, our beloved diva Leontyne Price celebrated her 98th birthday. Of course she is recognized for her performances of the operas of Verdi, but in my opinion, she was even more suited, u…
01:25:26 |
Fri 14 Feb 2025
Episode 332. Ellabelle Davis Revisited
Today I present the African American soprano Ellabelle Davis (1907-1960) who during the late 1940s and early 1950s was greatly celebrated as a concert singer and who appeared around the world, the “T…
01:10:27 |
Mon 10 Feb 2025
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