Founded in 1978 and based in San Francisco, Chanticleer is the only full-time classical vocal ensemble in the United States. Comprised of twelve male voices, Chanticleer interprets vocal literature from Renaissance to the present.

While their works and forte is classical music, Roger Detmer and Virgil Thomson talk about tape and electronic music. Detmer points out that in some eastern European countries, tape is considered pasee, and yet it's used often to recreate a sound to be used with their orchestras. Both men talk about electronic music and how it's sometimes used to make hand-made music sound artificial.

Dr. Carlo Levi talks about the differences in Italian and American literature in the first part. In the second part, children Julio and Phillipo sing Italian nursery rhymes. In the last part, Maria Caniglia and husband Pino Donati discuss opera; part 2.

Licia Albanese discusses her performance preparations, advice to young new opera singers, the conductor techniques from Fausto Cleva, and the late Arturo Toscanini.

The Czech-born Austrian pianist, painter, poet, and essayist joins Studs to talk about his multi-faceted career.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The Czech-born Austrian pianist, painter, poet, and essayist joins Studs to talk about performing, writing, Haydn, and humor.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The music professor and well-traveled concertmaster of several orchestras joins Studs to discuss Bach, William Jennings Bryan, and the Chautauqua education and social movement.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Lotte Lehmann discusses her retirement from opera and how she knew when to stop singing concerts.