Roger Niese

The opera Porgy and Bess contains many songs that have become popular in their own right, becoming standards in jazz and blues in addition to their original operatic setting. One of those is the lulla...

Franz von Suppé composed about 30 operettas and 180 farces, ballets, and other stage works. Although the bulk of Suppé's operas have sunk into relative obscurity, the overtures - particularly 'Dichter...

During most of his career in Leipzig Bach composed about one cantata per month. About 200 of the total 300 cantatas he created have been preserved. 'Jesus bleibet meine Freude' (Jesu, Joy of Man's Des...

During most of his career in Leipzig Bach composed about one cantata per month. About 200 of the total 300 cantatas he created have been preserved. Jesus bleibet meine Freude (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desir...

'By Strauss' is a song composed by George Gershwin in 1936. It pays homage to the music of Johann Strauss Sr. and Johann Strauss Jr.. The singer sings how she doesn't like Broadway, Irving Berlin, Jer...

The French composer Gabriel Faure (1845-1924) composed the Requiem in the years 1877-1900. The Pie Jesu from this mass is a delightful piece for solo soprano.In this transcription the solo part can al...

The French composer Gabriel Faure (1845-1924) composed the Requiem in the years 1877-1900. The Pie Jesu from this mass is a delightful piece for solo soprano.In this transcription the solo part can al...

....Now I have a young King who really loves me ecstatically; you cannot conceive what that means. I remember a dream which I had in my youth: I dreamed that Shakespeare was living, and that I saw him...

....Now I have a young King who really loves me ecstatically; you cannot conceive what that means. I remember a dream which I had in my youth: I dreamed that Shakespeare was living, and that I saw him...

Giuseppe Verdi's romantic opera 'Il Trovatore' lives by its streams of memorable melodies. One of those is the aria 'D'amor sull'ali rosee'. It is sung by Leonora in the fourth act of the Opera: Manri...

Giuseppe Verdi's romantic opera 'Il Trovatore' lives by its streams of memorable melodies. One of those is the aria 'D'amor sull'ali rosee'. It is sung by Leonora in the fourth act of the Opera: Manri...

Giacomo Puccini's opera 'Tosca' might be described as a thriller with political overtones. Set in Rome in 1800 at a time when the Police Chief Scarpia is conducting a reign of terror, it shows its her...

Giacomo Puccini's opera 'Tosca' might be described as a thriller with political overtones. Set in Rome in 1800 at a time when the Police Chief Scarpia is conducting a reign of terror, it shows its her...

Along with the opera's 'Andrea Chénier' and 'Siberia', 'Fedora' is one of the most notable works of Italian composer Umberto Giordano. 'Fedora' is an opera in three acts to an Italian libretto by Artu...

Along with the opera's 'Andrea Chénier' and 'Siberia', 'Fedora' is one of the most notable works of Italian composer Umberto Giordano. 'Fedora' is an opera in three acts to an Italian libretto by Artu...

Giacomo Puccini's 'Suor Angelica' (Sister Angelica) is one of the three one-act opera's which belong to the triptych 'Il Trittico' which is an example of the verismo-opera, a naturalistic movement in...

Giacomo Puccini's 'Suor Angelica' (Sister Angelica) is one of the three one-act opera's which belong to the triptych 'Il Trittico' which is an example of the verismo-opera, a naturalistic movement in...

Puccini's Opera 'Manon Lescaut' is based on the 1731 novel 'L'histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut' by the Abbé Prévost. The aria 'In quelle trine morbide is sung in the 2nd act of the...

Puccini's Opera 'Manon Lescaut' is based on the 1731 novel 'L'histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut' by the Abbé Prévost. The aria 'In quelle trine morbide is sung in the 2nd act of the...

Sapho" is an opera by Charles Gounod to a libretto by Émile Augier which was premiered in 1851. The story of the opera is based on the legends of the Greek poet Sappho, her love for Phaon and her suic...

Sapho" is an opera by Charles Gounod to a libretto by Émile Augier which was premiered in 1851. The story of the opera is based on the legends of the Greek poet Sappho, her love for Phaon and her suic...

Jean-Baptiste Arban (1825 - 1889) was a cornet player, conductor, composer, pedagogue and the first famed virtuoso of the 'cornet à piston' or valved cornet. He was influenced by Niccolò Paganini's vi...

Jean-Baptiste Arban (1825 - 1889) was a cornet player, conductor, composer, pedagogue and the first famed virtuoso of the 'cornet à piston' or valved cornet. He was influenced by Niccolò Paganini's vi...

At the end of his life Offenbach composed his opera 'Les contes d'Hoffman', but unfortunately he was not able to finish it. The plot tells the story of the poet Hoffmann telling three of his amorous a...

Eduard Strauss (1835 - 1916) was an Austrian composer who, together with brothers Johann Strauss II and Josef Strauss made up the Strauss musical dynasty. His popularity was overshadowed by that of hi...