Tony Villecco – All Articles

Mildred Miller’s boisterous career has truly come full circle. Read about her early work in Europe that led to hundreds of Met performances and how all that experience is now impacting the lives of university students.

Get a closer look at opera’s ever-changing landscape from three major singers and one director.

Cody Quattlebaum, a young singer on the rise, has racked up quite a résumé. With debuts in Zurich and London, Quattlebaum has also been a finalist in the 2018 Glyndebourne Opera Cup and the 2017 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and received a grant from the Richard Tucker Music Foundation. In concert, he has appeared at Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall. How does someone so young, just barely out of graduate school, achieve so much? Ambitious and adventurous Quattlebaum shares his success story here. Read about his up-and-coming European career, plus his advice to young singers.

Love her or hate her, no one can deny the continuing impact of Maria Callas. Have a look at a fresh perspective into the musical styling of this controversial soprano.

While you may not have heard of Helen Vanni, you certainly have heard of Dolora Zajick. The latter credits the former with shaping her voice and talent while Zajick was a student of Vanni’s at the Manhattan School of Music. Learn more about Vanni’s remarkable career from mainstage operas and concerts to recitals, recordings, and teaching.

Imagine discussing your characterization of Tosca with Puccini himself. Soprano Maria Jeritza did just that, and a pianist who knew her when remembers.

Jean Madeira enjoyed a lengthy career at the Metropolitan Opera, where her Carmen was legendary. But the road to that Carmen was hardly straight. Read about the mezzo soprano whose large shadow nearly kept Madeira from that role on the Met stage, as well as Madeira’s remarkable voice and acting abilities that led to an international career, as seen through the eyes of those who knew her.

Mezzo soprano Jean Madeira enjoyed a lengthy career at the Metropolitan Opera, where her Carmen was legendary. But the road to that Carmen was hardly straight. Read about the mezzo soprano whose large shadow nearly kept Madeira from that role on the Met stage, as well as Madeira’s remarkable voice and acting abilities that led to an international career, as seen through the eyes of those who knew her.

Maria Callas’ masterclasses at Juilliard have become legendary. But untold until now is the story of a singer who actually walked out on the famous soprano, forfeiting an amazing opportunity but learning some valuable life lessons along the way.