Saturdays at 4:00 pm
Discover or rediscover your love for the art of singing: an hour for newcomers and connoisseurs alike
Have you ever wondered why people become obsessed with opera? Do you know the difference between an art song and an aria? Is there a singer whose voice goes right to your heart, but you can’t put your finger on why? Each week, Oliver Camacho shares his passion for vocal performance across many genres with highly personal analysis and anecdotes. Learn about the technical aspects of singing, the qualities that make certain artists beloved, opera highlights to help you prepare for upcoming Chicago-area performances, and more.
No Listening to Singers | Preempted by Strauss’s Die Frau ohne Schatten
December 7, 2024, 4:00 pm
Due to the length of the live broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera, there will be no Listening to Singers this week.
A Memorial Day Program of Song with John Brancy and Peter Dugan
May 29, 2021
An hour-long episode featuring an interview with Grammy Award-winning baritone John Brancy and the host of From the Top, pianist Peter Dugan.
Lieder Power Couple – Mitsuko Shirai and Hartmut Höll
May 22, 2021
The Japanese mezzo-soprano and German pianist are prolific and frequently recorded artists. They met in Stuttgart as students and later married. As a duo, they have set a high standard as interpreters of German lieder. Mitsuko Shirai and Hartmut Höll have given recitals all over the world, but they are especially well known in Germany and Japan. Shirai was praised ...
The Diverse Identities of Nicholas Phan
May 8, 2021
A program for Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month featuring Nicholas Phan and Brian Asawa.
A Tribute to Christa Ludwig
May 1, 2021
A mere sampling of the recorded legacy of one the quintessential musicians of the 20th century. This week, Oliver pays tribute to the great artist whose voice defied categorization.
Amanda Forsythe’s Astonishing Feats
April 24, 2021
Making the most difficult 18th century music sound easy.
The Heroic Power and Stamina of James King
April 17, 2021
What defines a heldentenor? The American tenor James King thrived in the most demanding roles in operas by Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss. His voice was described as strong and dependable, with the stamina to sustain him in longer dramatic roles. His six feet of height coupled with ringing, secure high notes made him an ideal heroic tenor.
The Uncompromising Musicianship of Ian Bostridge
April 10, 2021
An admiration for a unique artist with special guest Marcus Shields.
The Flawless Technique of Luciano Pavarotti
April 3, 2021
What made Pavarotti such an irresistible singer? A beautiful instrument, charisma to spare, and a technique that was the envy of the opera world.
A Consort of Women
March 27, 2021
The fourth program for Women's History Month focuses on the influence of the 17th century concerto delle donne.
The Singer / Conductor
March 20, 2021
Meet two singers enjoying dual careers as conductors. The third program for Women’s History Month features French contralto Nathalie Stutzmann and Canadian soprano Barbara Hannigan.
American Art Song with Laura Strickling
March 13, 2021
An hour-long episode for Women’s History Month spotlighting American composers. Soprano Laura Strickling — a leading proponent of contemporary art song — joins Oliver to present works by Clarice Assad, Stacy Garrop, Jacqueline B. Hairston, Lori Laitman, Gilda Lyons, Sheila Silver, and others. Learn more about Laura Strickling HERE. Learn more about the album Confessions HERE.
Why do people love Maria Callas?
March 6, 2021
An appreciation of a pioneering artist for the first episode in Women’s History Month. Callas can be a polarizing singer, but if someone carefully shows you the access points, you may begin to understand why SO MANY listeners swear by her interpretations.
The Diversified Singing Career
February 27, 2021
Meet five artists who have forged unique careers in arenas traditionally lacking diverse voices. The final program for Black History Month features singers who thrive on the concert stage.
On Singing Mozart
February 20, 2021
This third program for Black History Month will feature artists who excel in Mozart. Although the types of voices considered to be appropriate for 18th century music has changed over the years, singers like Reri Grist, Barbara Hendricks, and the late Christiane Eda-Pierre have always been able to meet Mozart’s technical demands.
Art Song and Gospel — An Hour with Will Liverman
February 13, 2021
This week, Listening to Singers begins at 4 p.m. and features a conversation with baritone Will Liverman. The Ryan Opera Center alum has debuted in leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Seattle Opera, Los Angeles Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Opera News writes that Liverman’s career “offers a model for what opera could be in the twenty-first ...
On Singing Bel Canto
February 6, 2021
This first program for Black History Month will feature artists who excel in the music from the Bel Canto era of Italian opera. A timespan that begins with the operas of Rossini and continues through Verdi’s middle career, the term bel canto is also used to describe the singing style of the era — a technical approach which has its ...
How to Love Schubert Lieder
January 30, 2021
A celebration of Franz Schubert’s 224th birthday. This week, Oliver shares six of his favorite Lieder (German for art songs) by Schubert, including a scary ballad about a dwarf, a touching episode from Greek mythology, and an old-fashioned sing-along. LISTENING TIP: Art song is all about the poetry. If we were at a concert of these songs, you would be ...
Countertenor Cornucopia
January 23, 2021
This week, Oliver introduces you to six countertenors and offers a handy nomenclature to help you distinguish them. Which one will touch the heart with artful sensitivity? Which one will thrill you with spectacular vocal fireworks? And the most important question…who sings the highest!?
