The first time I listened to this CD of arias I said – and I quote – “Ugh.”

The second time, I said, “Ugh.”

The third time, I said, “Ugh.”

By the fourth or fifth time I said, “Ugh” and “Hmmm.”

I doubt I’ll ever like arias. The voices are like fingernails on a chalk board.

German fingernails on a chalkboard.

But after a half dozen or so listens, I got used to it.

I won’t say I appreciated it. But I got used to it.

Well, maybe I appreciated it.

Maybe.

The performers on today’s CD:

Hanne-Lore Kuhse soprano

Eberhard Buchner tenor

Siegfried Vogel bass

Staatskapelle Berlin

Arthur Apelt conductor