Sunday Classics preview: Our mystery composer is surely a mystery no more

by Ken

In last night's preview we heard four mystery excerpts, or at least they're mysteries for those who chose not to click through to the "solutions" post. For those who didn't, and who haven't guessed, we're dealing with one of the operatic masters, and while last night's selections tended, with one exception, to the obscure, tonight we're back in our man's creative breadbasket, so to speak.

Same deal as last night: Feel free to click through to the answers.

[A]
[B]

[C]
[D]


THE ONLY BIT OF SINGING WE'VE HEARD SO FAR . . .

in all these operatic excerpts occurs in tonight's selection [B]. Surely everyone can identify the singer. The fact that he was in his vocal prime at the time of this recording and still finds some of this little piece seriously heavy going demonstrates, I think, just how hard it is to sing.


FOR PROPER IDENTIFICATIONS OF OUR SELECTIONS . . .

and also a certain amount of explanation and discussion, and even a video clip, click here.


IN TOMORROW'S SUNDAY CLASSICS POST

Sometimes you do a thing, not because it's such a great idea, although maybe it seemed for a while like it would be, but because, well, gosh darn it, you can do it. I'm hoping this project doesn't fall into that category, but you never know.

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