Sunday Classics

An aging Renato Bruson sings "Di Provenza" (to a here unseen Alfredo) at Ravenna in 1991.

"The Father of Russian Music": Mikhail Glinka (1804-1867)GLINKA: Ruslan and Ludmila: OvertureKirov Orchestra (St. Petersburg), Valery Gergiev, cond. Philips, recorded February 1995New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein, cond. Columbia-CBS-Sony, recorded Oct. 14, 1963Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Alessandro Siciliani, cond. CSO Showcase, recorded February 2001Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner, cond. RCA-BMG, recorded Mar.

Longtime D'Oyly Carte Opera Company principal tenor Thomas Round was not only long gone from the company but, unfortunately, in his late 50s by the time he made the recordings below.

Tenor James Johnston's "Comfort ye" recording was aninspiration to me, but we're still not going to hear it."I see the church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars. You have to heal the wounds. Then we can talk about everything else.

Urged on by Figaro (Ross Benoliel), "Lindoro" (Luigi Boccia as Count Almaviva) identifies himself to Rosina (Stephanie Lauricella), with Enrico Granafei playing the guitar and Jason Tramm conducting, at New Jersey State Opera, June 2012.

Victoria de los Angeles as Rosina II at the Met in 1952Rosina I

So here's how the cantata beginsBACH: Cantata No. 82, "Ich habe genug":i. Aria, "Ich habe genug"-- from the Bach Cantatas WebsiteDietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone; Manfred Clement, oboe; Munich Bach Orchestra, Karl Richter, cond.

BACH: Cantata No. 82, "Ich habe genug":iii. Aria, "Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen"Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (May 28, 1925 – May 18, 2012)-- from the Bach Cantatas WebsiteDietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone; Munich Bach Orchestra, Karl Richter, cond.

COMDEN, GREEN, and BERNSTEIN: On the Town: Act I opening: "I Feel Like I'm Not Out of Bed Yet"; Introduction; "New York, New York"John Reardon, Gabey (and First Workman); Cris Alexander, Chip (and Workman); Adolph Green, Ozzie (and Workman); 1960 studio cast recording, Leonard Bernstein, cond.