The excesses of the early 18th century take a decisive hit from a reformer named Gluck. Talk Like An Opera Geek attempts to decode the intriguing and intimidating lexicon of the opera house. As we ...

(Angel SBL-3717, with Grace Bumbry as Orfeo and Vaclav Neumann conducting; and DGG-l39268/69, with FischerDieskau and Karl Richter). Bumbry’s singing has more warmth, and so does Neumann’s conducting, ...

Talk Like An Opera Geek attempts to decode the intriguing and intimidating lexicon of the opera house. Christophe Willibald Gluck, stationed in the musical capital of Vienna, was the man for the job.