Five women with, shall we say, unusual professions. Working hard are Renata Scotto, Shirley Verrett, Hermione Gingold, Rita Streich and Joyce DiDonato.
Two Courtesans, Two Queens, and a Princess
Playlist
“Col Versar, Barbaro, il Sangue” from Berenice, Queen of Palestine by by George Frideric Handel
Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano; Il Complesso Barocco; Alan Curtis, conductor
(Lonigo, Italy 2012. VIRGIN CLASSICS 50999060265425)
“Aria of the Queen of the Night” from The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Rita Streich, soprano; RIAS Symphony Orchestra; Ferenc Fricsay, conductor
(Berlin 1955. DGG 431 875‐2)
“Nel giardin del bello” from Don Carlo by Giuseppe Verdi
Shirley Verrett, mezzo-soprano; Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; Carlo Maria Giulini, conductor
(London 1970. EMI 4 40514 2)
“Sempre Libera” from La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi
Renata Scotto, soprano; Gianni Raimondi, tenor; Orchestra of La Scala; Antonino Votto, conductor
(Milan 1976. DGG 00289 477 8278)
“Liaisons” from A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim
Hermione Gingold with Orchestra; Paul Gemignani, conductor
(New York 1973. SONY SK 65284)
