ArtCetera with John Sayers

Former heldentenor John Sayers discusses his time on the opera stage and other interests of the arts world. From opera to jazz and ballet to abstract art, John has an opinion and he is not afraid to share it. During his career, he sang with many well-known singers, stage directors and conductors. After retiring from singing, he wrote and edited the EastSider, an arts and entertainment newspaper in south Florida. He also created The Opera Minute for NPR on the Treasure Coast. He has published one book and is working hard on his second, which shall be full of wonder and surprises.

Final Episode

Taking a pause.

08-30
02:08

A Micaela Disaster and a Beverly Sills Conversation

I talk about my experience with a poor Micaela and a cancelled flight. Oops! Also, my experience with John Crosby of the Santa Fe Opera and conflicts of interest with my home theater. My long , ongoing discussion with Beverly Sills when she tried to bring me back to the New York City Opera.

08-23
29:09

Duets for Women (even where one is playing a young man)

We've heard the men; here are the women. Soprano/Mezzo duets, even where one is playing a young man. Rosenkavalier, Le Nozze di Figaro, Rossini's Zalmira and the famous flower duet from Lakme. What more could you ask for. Enjoy!

08-16
26:40

Manly Duets

Ah, yes, duets for two men. Tenor and baritone and a duet for two tenors. Enjoy La Forza del Destino, The Pearl Fishers, The Rakes Progress and a duet for two tenors from a Rossini opera, but I'm not going to tell you which one.

08-09
26:41

Ensembles

The beauty and high musicianship of operatic ensembles. Today we hear from Carmen, Rigoletto and Il Barbiere di Seviglia. Enjoy!

08-02
24:22

Basses! Basses! Basses!

The deep and sonorous voice of the Bass in all its glory. Franz Josef Selig, Ivan Petrov, Boris Stokolov, Cesare Siepe, Alexander Pirogov sing arias from Zauberfloette, La Sonambula, Nabucco, Eugene Onegin and Modest Mussorgsky's Khovanshchina. Good Listening!

07-26
29:22

Here are the Mezzos!

Mezzosoprano arias as the fourth installment of beautiful arias.

07-19
16:37

Beautiful Soprano Arias

As promised, after the tenor and the baritone comes the soprano. Here are three of the most beautiful soprano arias from Carmen, Zauberfloette and Tristan und Isolde.

07-12
26:45

Beautiful Baritone Arias

Like the tenor arias of last week, here are the three arias I have selected this week as beautiful baritone arias. Eri tu; Vien, Leonora; O du mein holder Abendstern

07-05
19:23

Beautiful Tenor Arias

Tenor arias that make my list of the most beautiful.

06-28
15:47

Hard Arias: Or Are They?

A lot of arias seem hard to the listener. They generate many bravos to award a hard job well done. But, how hard are these arias to sing? Let's find out.

06-21
24:41

Operas You've Heard of But Have Never Seen

Three operas you may have heard of but have never seen on stage. Tiefland by D'Albert, Krutnava by Suchon and Ivan the Terrible by Georges Bizet.

06-14
29:40

REPEAT: Politics in the Arts

A repeat of Program 8, Politics in the Arts, which aired Oct. 26, 2020.

06-07
22:06

Double Basses and Me: Abstract Art and Abstract Music

The history of the double bass and my experience learning how to play it. I was taught by a master: Ditty Gerber. Abstract art and abstract modern classical music. You either love it or you hate it. But, the choice is yours.

05-31
22:35

Flashmobs

Amazingly, so many of the flashmobs that occur are classical in nature. ArtCetera looks at some of the more popular. In case you haven't noticed, The Angry Tenor is now ArtCetera.

05-24
15:48

Climate Change Status: Not Good!

Evaluating the status of climate change in early 2021 leaves a picture that is not very pretty. A glance at how we are doing.

05-20
12:44

Opera Overtures for the Concert Stage

Many opera overtures out live the operas they were written for.

05-17
35:17

We Must Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidies; Wind Farms can help!

According to Greta Thunberg, we must stop fossil fuel subsidies right now. The Biden Administration may help as it is ready to approve construction of a massive wind farm south of Martha's Vineyard.

05-13
10:19

Ballet In Opera

Thanks to the French, many operas have a ballet scene and woe be to the composer who messes this up. Just ask Wagner. But others were just fine. That's where we are. Ballet music from the opera stage. Good listening!

05-10
34:52

Coal Replacement Fuels Can Still Kill You

Natural gas and other "bridge" fuels can still kill you with their emissions into the atmosphere. They're not as bad as coal, but they still emit bad stuff into the air. We need solar and wind power now more than ever. It's time to stop fighting climate change and either help or go bury your head in the sand. It's the only planet we have. Protect it!

05-06
08:24

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