Shows
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 124 Giulietta e Romeo by Nicola VaccaiA great story is one that we are never done with, and there are few stories in human history with as many retellings and reimaginings as the epic tale of Romeo and Juliet. Nicola Vaccai wrote this 1825 opera based not on the Elizabethan play, but on the source materials from which Shakespeare drew. Here, the Montagues and Capulets are not merely feuding families, but armies waging war as a part of the titanic power struggles between the Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy that wracked medieval and renaissance Italy. However, the heart of the story remains the doomed romance between you...
2024-11-142h 01El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 123 Mozart's IdomeneoTrying desperately to return home alive from the Trojan War, King Idomeneo makes a terrible promise to the sea god from the deck of his storm-ravaged ship. The consequence of his promise is worse than he could imagine, and only after many twists does he achingly find his way to peace. The emotional depth of the characters of Idomeneo gives Mozart ample opportunity to demonstrate his compositional powers in this, his first fully mature and unquestionably successful opera. Hosted by Pat, with guest co-host Gerald Malone Gerald Malone is the Opera Critic of the UK online current affairs and cultural pu...
2024-10-061h 58El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 122 Zoroastre by Jean-Philippe RameauIt’s a battle for the fate of the universe as the Dark Side plots, schemes, and fights to gain dominance over the Light Side. Though this opera predates Mozart’s The Magic Flute by several decades, you may find echoes here of Mozart’s beloved work, as it is also heavily influenced by the ideals of the Enlightenment and the principles of Freemasonry. Jean-Philippe Rameau was the pre-eminent French composer of his day, and close with thinkers such as Voltaire. Rameau’s librettist for Zoroastre, Louis de Cahusac, was the secretary for the Grand Master of the Freemasonry’s Grand Lodge i...
2024-09-201h 58El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 121 Mozart's Die ZauberflöteDie Zauberflöte (“The Magic Flute”) is, by any measure, one of the most popular, successful, and well-known operas ever written, delighting adults and children alike. Yet experiencing Mozart’s The Magic Flute has left countless opera-goers reflecting contentedly on the sumptuous musical feast, but scratching their heads over the plot and characters. With the help of conductor Ben Manis, Opera for Everyone takes a close look at both Mozart’s musical genius and a narrative journey into a fantastical and dreamlike world. In this realm of magic and incarnate forces, we try to discover what can be understood, and what must si...
2024-08-112h 02El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 120 Gounod's Roméo et JulietteOf all the love stories ever told, none quite compare to the enduring power of Romeo and Juliet. Over four centuries ago, English playwright William Shakespeare crafted a timeless story harnessing both the powers of profound love and deep hatred, and his tale of “star-crossed lovers” has become an inspiration to countless artists. Two and a half centuries later, French composer Charles Gounod and his librettists took Shakespeare’s play as a starting point, and crafted it into an exquisitely beautiful and heart-rending opera. Join us for an in-depth discussion of how this story plays out as a French grand opéra. H...
2024-07-211h 58El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 119 Zoraida di Granata by DonizettiAn unscrupulous king pressures a woman to marry him. She resists, knowing her heart belongs to the man who truly loves her, the chief general in the king’s army. Into this love-triangle, toss in a scheming underling of the king, a sympathetic maid of the woman, a devoted best friend of the general, and you have all the ingredients for a gripping story. Enhance the whole tale with a magnificent score, and you have a delightful opera, and, in fact, the first fully successful opera by the most prolific composer of the Bel Canto style, Gaetano Donizetti. Though Donizetti compo...
2024-06-171h 58El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaOFE Presents a Brief Conversation with KHOL's Executive DirectorKHOL in Jackson WY is Opera for Everyone’s home radio station, and Wyoming’s only community radio station. If you have ever wanted to support Opera for Everyone, please consider supporting KHOL at 891KHOL.org/donate. June 15 marks the beginning of KHOL’s summer membership drive. Thank you everyone!
2024-06-1605 minEl podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 118 A Midsummer Night's Dream by Benjamin Britten“The course of true love never did run smooth.” Shakespeare’s iconic "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" gives us some of the Bard’s most memorable (and ridiculous) characters and situations. Benjamin Britten, together with his partner Peter Pears, so appreciated the merits of Shakespeare’s play that they faithfully adapted the script into a libretto for Britten’s 1960 opera of the same name. The good-natured story shifts among fairy and human characters and their antics on a midsummer night. Observing the chaos, Puck, puckish henchman to the fairy king, exclaims, “Lord, what fools these mortals be!” True enough, but there’s plenty of ent...
2024-05-191h 58El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 117 The Fairy Queen by Henry PurcellWas it only a dream? Baroque composer Henry Purcell was on his way to establishing a national operatic tradition based on the dramatic and musical traditions of the English, when, alas, his life was cut short after just 36 years. Join us as we explore Purcell’s musically and emotionally rich “The Fairy Queen,” a delightful twist on the Bard’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Shakespeare was content to end his tale with ambiguity, and so must we content ourselves with what Purcell has given us, and not indulge in the fantasy of what might have been had he enjoyed additional year...
2024-04-151h 58El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 116 Verdi's La Forza del Destino & Lisa Reagan's What We Need Is HereWhere passion joins with music and poetry we find opera. In this sweet spot, we also find What We Need Is Here, the most recent project by accomplished musician and singer, Lisa Reagan. Lisa joins us to talk about creating an album of songs for classic poems that have been meaningful to her life. Lisa Reagan spent twenty years singing with the Washington National Opera and her first performance there was in Verdi’s La Forza del Destino, an opera of epic scope and dramatic extremes. Join Pat, Kathleen and Lisa for a close look at this powerful opera and th...
2024-02-262h 05El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 115 Berg's Lulu & Erica Miner's Prelude to MurderTwo things never go out of fashion: opera and mystery. In this episode, mystery writer and former opera violinist Erica Miner talks with us about her opera mystery series and Lulu, Berg’s high-body-count melodrama. Lulu, which features prominently in Erica’s new novel, centers on a beautiful young woman whose admirers descend into obsession. Join us for a fascinating discussion of the nuts and bolts of opera, how it has informed Erica’s writings, and a close look at Berg’s masterpiece. Erica Miner is the author of Prelude to Murder, the second book in the Julia Kogan Opera Mystery Ser...
2024-01-221h 58El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 114 Amahl and the Night VisitorsIn Amahl and the Night Visitors, a young boy and his mother unexpectedly play host to the Magi on their way to meet the infant Jesus. Originally written for television, this opera uniquely bridges the ancient and modern in a heartfelt exploration of the meaning of hospitality. In the second half of this episode, we are joined by Grant to talk about the role of Epiphany in the Christmas story, and enjoy some of the more beloved songs associated with the timeless story of the Magi. Hosted by Pat and Kathleen. For more cultural and arts commentary by Kathleen Van D...
2023-12-311h 58El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 13 L’Italiana in Algeri by RossiniBy turns funny, serious, and seriously funny, L’Italiana in Algeri is a fascinating assembly of romantic tropes: a spurned wife, a shipwrecked lover, a pirate king, and a daring escape. At the same time, it deals with serious themes of agency, power, and silence. Set in a world that is both alien and familiar, this opera has something to say to all of us. Guest co-host Emily Cohen, executive director of Opera For Everyone’s home station KHOL, joins us for an opera in which she once performed!
2023-11-191h 58El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 112 The Egyptian Helen by Richard Strauss“The face that launched a thousand ships.” Helen of Troy, the most beautiful woman in the world, has a problem. Her husband plans to kill her, but she just wants him to fall in love with her again. She may just need a miracle to pull it off, but if anyone can do it, she can. Richard Strauss and Hugo von Hofmannsthal aimed for a light and comic operetta with Die Ägyptische Helena, but delivered a profound and dramatic work of art about the road to repairing broken relationships. Hosted by Pat, Kathleen, and Grant For more cultural and arts commenta...
2023-10-022h 09El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 111 Tosca by Giacomo PucciniOne of the top ten most-performed operas in the world, Puccini’s Tosca is considered by some the greatest of operas. A painter provides refuge for an escaped political prisoner, which begins a chain of events that starts with petty jealousy and ends in a death leap. Things spiral further and further out of control in this epic confrontation of tyranny and passion, set in the tempestuous era of the Napoleonic Wars. Join Pat and Greg for an in-depth discussion of the story and the power of this masterpiece.
2023-08-271h 58
2023-08-1203 minEl podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 110 Das Liebesverbot by WagnerRichard Wagner’s style is one of the most distinctive and recognizable in all of opera. But Wagner wasn’t always the Wagner we’ve come to know. The earliest of Wagner’s operas to be performed in his lifetime was an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, Das Liebesverbot, where he is still developing his craft and working on his relationship to German opera. The result is an opera which does not shy away from Italian styles. It even makes the villain of the piece the one German character among a multitude of Italians bumping up against the moral codes o...
2023-08-012h 04
2023-07-3001 min
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 224: Expanding the Canon Part III - Foreign WorksOn today's episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, we have the last of three episodes exploring how the operatic canon is being expanded, featuring Guild lecturer Matthew Timmermans. In this final episode, he will dive into how the Met’s production of foreign works such as Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and Britten’s Peter Grimes have expanded the boundaries of the canon. This marks our final podcast episode of this season, but we will return on August 9 with a brand new season! Until then, make sure to follow The Metropolitan Opera Guild, Opera News, and The Metropolitan Opera...
2023-07-051h 09El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 109 Die Frau Ohne Schatten by Richard StraussAt once a sweeping story about humanity and a deeply personal look at a married couple with unfulfilled aspirations, Die Frau Ohne Schatten is often considered the magnum opus of the famed partnership between composer Richard Strauss and librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Moving between lofty, other-worldly, and gritty settings, this opera simultaneously puzzles and inspires audiences. Being human, this opera tells us, is a messy business, but ultimately, the greatest pursuit and prize in all creation. Hosted by Pat and Kathleen For more cultural and arts commentary by Kathleen Van De Wille, visit Constructive Criticism on Substack.
2023-06-261h 58
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 223: Expanding the Canon Part II - Star-Studded RevivalsToday, we have the second of three episodes exploring how the operatic canon is being expanded, featuring Guild lecturer Matthew Timmermans. In this episode, he will dive into star-studded revivals —looking at somewhat unknown operas that are often revived with all-star casts, such as Cherubini’s Medea and Giordano’s Fedora.
2023-06-211h 04
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 222: Expanding the Canon Part I - New WorksOn today's episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, we have the first of three episodes exploring how the operatic canon is being expanded, featuring Guild lecturer Matthew Timmermans. In this first episode, he will dive into two new productions that have pushed the boundaries of the canon—Terence Blanchard’s Champion and Kevin Puts’s The Hours.
2023-06-071h 11
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 221: Talking About Opera on Die ZauberflöteOn today’s episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, we are delving into our archives to explore Die Zauberflöte with the late renowned music scholar Father Owen Lee. Die Zauberflöte is a sublime and magical fairytale full of mysticism, love, and humor. Listen to learn more about the opera’s fantastical drama and ethereal score.
2023-05-3153 minEl podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 108 Lucrezia Borgia by DonizettiOne of history’s most infamous women, Lucrezia Borgia has inspired artists, dramatists, and TV show writers for centuries. Donizetti’s opera follows the play by Victor Hugo, telling of Lucrezia’s effort to find the kind of love that might change her life. However, it isn’t easy being a powerful woman in Renaissance Italy. Gaetano Donizetti, a prolific composer in the Bel Canto style, gives us an opera with a fascinating story, and, of course, “beautiful singing.” Hosted by Pat, Kathleen, and Grant For more cultural and arts commentary by Kathleen Van De Wille, visit Constructive Criticism on Substack.
2023-05-212h 00
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 220: Opera Outlook on Don GiovanniOn today's episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, we are joined by lecturer Phillip Gainsley as he explores the music and drama of Don Giovanni. Based on the legend of Don Juan, Mozart’s masterpiece has remained on the operatic stage since its premiere in 1787 and has gone on to become a cultural behemoth, inspiring playwrights such as Peter Shaffer and other composers such as Liszt and Tchaikovsky. On today’s episode, we will delve into what makes this evergreen opera as popular today as it was in the 18th century.
2023-05-171h 02
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 219: Opera Outlook on ChampionOn today's episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, we are joined by lecturer Tanisha Mitchell as she discusses the music and real-life themes of Champion, an “opera in jazz.”
2023-04-2650 minEl podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 107 Macbeth by Verdi“Double, double toil and trouble.” Composer Giuseppi Verdi enthusiastically declared that Shakespeare’s Macbeth “is one of the greatest creations of man!” Harnessing this passionate admiration, he went on to craft the first of his three completed operas based on Shakespeare plays. Verdi’s Macbeth is full of powerful choral pieces, arias from a royal couple lurching toward self-destruction, and Verdi’s own personal vision of a people yearning to free themselves from despotic oppression. In the end, Macbeth concludes that life is “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing,” but to Verdi, the tyrant’s downfall brin...
2023-04-221h 58
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 218: The Mythos and Myths of Wagner's Male Characters Part IIOn today's episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, we have the second of two episodes exploring the mythos and myths of Wagner’s male characters, featuring Guild lecturer Desiree Mays. In this second episode, she will continue to explore the ideas of myth and mythos and how they are presented in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and Lohengrin.
2023-03-291h 12El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 106 Giulio Cesare in Egitto by HandelOne of the world’s most formidable generals and one of history’s most beguiling politicians are joined by two frustrated young men and an irresistible widow in Handel’s Baroque masterpiece, Giulio Cesare in Egitto. Join Pat, Kathleen, and Grant for a journey through history, literature, and myth in exploring the influences and meaning of this enduring opera. For more cultural and arts commentary by Kathleen Van De Wille, visit Constructive Criticism on Substack.
2023-03-261h 57
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 217: The Mythos and Myths of Wagner's Male Characters Part IMythos, myth, legend and folk art were all topics that captivated Richard Wagner when he was no longer satisfied with realistic situations and the confines of time and space. On today's episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, we have the first of two episodes exploring the myth and mythos of Wagner’s male characters, featuring Guild lecturer Desiree Mays. In this first episode she will explore the idea of myth and mythos and how it is presented through the doom-ridden Dutchman.
2023-03-221h 20
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 216: Opera Outlook on LohengrinLohengrin is a pivotal work in Wagner’s stylistic development, showcased by his tremendous ability to represent the psychology of his characters through music. Lohengrin returned to the Met stage this season, in a brand-new production by director François Girard, whose previous work includes the Met’s stunning production of Parsifal in 2013. On today's episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, we are joined by Guild lecturer John J. H. Muller as he explores the history and music of this epic tale of the mysterious swan knight.
2023-03-1557 min
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 215: L'Elisir d'AmoreOn today's episode of the Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, we are joined by soprano and the Guild's School Programs Senior Associate, Alyson Sheehan, as she discusses the bel canto classic, L'Elisir d'Amore.
2023-03-0852 minEl podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 105 The Marriage of Figaro and Elly Uncomposed with Valerie NiemergOne of the world’s most beloved operas, Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, is not only the focus of this episode, but also the inspiration for Elly Uncomposed: A Novel Opera, a magical realist novel by author and retired opera singer, Valerie Niemerg. Like the opera Figaro, some truly serious and important topics are addressed in Elly Uncomposed, but with a charmingly comical touch. Join Valerie and Pat for a wide-ranging conversation about her delightful book, stories about her time in professional opera, and an exploration of Le Nozze di Figaro.
2023-02-251h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 214: Operatic Singing And RecordingOn today's Met Opera Guild podcast, we are joined by musicologist and lecturer Diana Maron as she discusses the evolution of early recording technology and opera.
2023-02-2240 min
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 213: Verdi's Merry Masterpiece – FalstaffVerdi’s final opera, Falstaff, is based on Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor and Henry IV, Part 1, but it did not become a huge success until Arturo Toscanini insisted on reviving it at La Scala, and later The Metropolitan Opera, in the 1890s. On today's episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild podcast, we are joined by Voice Teacher, Stage Director and Educator, Doreen Hutchings as she discusses the humor, music, and staging challenges within Giuseppe Verdi’s Falstaff.
2023-02-1544 minEl podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 104 Nabucco by VerdiA people yearns for freedom. The power of their prayers, set to Verdi’s incomparable music, have stirred audiences ever since the première of Nabucco in 1842. The impact of this opera may relate to Verdi’s own struggle to overcome personal tragedies preceding the composition the music. It also resonates with the passions of the Italian people of his day, and their desire to free themselves from foreign domination. Drawing inspiration from scripture, Verdi and his librettist created an opera that tells a timeless story, and gave Italians one of their great anthems, Va pensiero. Hosted by Pat and Grant
2023-01-131h 58El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 46 Remastered: Handel’s Messiah OFE Holiday SpecialHandel’s beloved Messiah, known for its thrilling Hallelujah Chorus, is a long-standing favorite during the Christmas season. Neither an opera, nor Christmas music, this English-language oratorio was composed for the Easter Season and premièred in Dublin in 1842. The magnificent text was crafted from the King James Bible by Handel’s friend, Charles Jennens. Join Pat and Grant for their newly remastered conversation about this enduring Baroque masterpiece.
2022-12-201h 58
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 103 OFE Presents Opera Mysteries with Erica MinerHave you ever asked what might be going on backstage at an opera house? Or wondered about what secrets hide behind those glittering stages? Drawing on 21 years as a violinist in the Metropolitan Opera, Erica Miner guides her readers through a dramatized version of the opera world in her mystery novel, Aria for Murder, the first in the “Julia Kogan Opera Mystery” series. Join Pat for a conversation with Erica about her experiences in professional opera and the work of crafting them into thrilling works of fiction. Find Erica at: ericaminer.com
2022-11-271h 58
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 102 Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss IIGlittering and gloriously tuneful, Die Fledermaus (“The Bat”) is the most enduring operetta of Vienna’s famous “Waltz King,” Johann Strauss II. Its plot features revenge, infidelity, disguised identities, and a glamorous ball at its center, given by a wealthy host who requires his guests to keep the party lively. Toasting “King Champagne,” the characters of this “spirited” operetta recognize the royalty of sparkling wine: the beverage that motivates, infuriates, and ultimately exonerates them. Hosted by Pat and Rosie (www.rosiebrooks.com)
2022-10-282h 04
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 207: Opera Outlook MedeaCherubini was a child prodigy who composed several works by the time he was thirteen, before turning his sights to the operatic stage. Perhaps his most famous work, Medea opened the 2022-23 Met Opera season, marking the company premiere of the opera. We welcomeD lecturer and radio personality, Nimet Habachy, as she explores the life and times of Cherubini and his most famous opera, Medea.
2022-10-1949 minEl podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 101 Un Ballo in Maschera by VerdiMasks, both literal and figurative, abound in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, “A Masked Ball.” Conspirators feign support of a leader they despise. A noblewoman must veil both her face and her feelings from her husband. The governor must put on a disguise to understand his subjects, and his beloved. The governor’s chief councilor dons a mask to take murderous revenge on him for an imagined betrayal. Even the setting itself, colonial Boston, is a thin disguise for the original setting, Sweden under Gustav III. Hosted by Pat and guest co-host Michael Severance, long-serving bassoonist and contrabassoonist with the San Franci...
2022-09-131h 58El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 100 Oedipus Rex and Persephone by StravinskyA beloved king becomes reviled by his family and his people as previously hidden dark deeds come to light. A young woman loses her innocence and freedom through the machinations of the lord of the underworld. The timeless ancient Greek stories of King Oedipus and Persephone captured the imagination of Igor Stravinsky, a composer unafraid to present drama in new and unexpected formats. Join Opera for Everyone as we explore the characters, and the powerful music of these two short operas. Hosted by Pat and Kathleen Van De Wille
2022-08-091h 58
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 204: Opera and Greek Drama Part IVIn the last part of our series Opera and Greek Drama, we’ll conclude our journey of Greek drama after the Trojan War with arguably the most violent and bloodthirsty of Greek myths, the saga of Agamemnon. Lecturer Matthew Timmermans will begin by returning to Gluck, looking at his Iphigénie en Tauride (1779), one of the many operas he wrote for the French stage after his career in Italy. Then, he will discuss one of operas most powerful, beautiful, and disturbing musical adaptations, Strauss’s Elektra.
2022-07-2756 minEl podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 99 Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria by MonteverdiThere is no secular story nearly so important to the Western tradition as the Odyssey, a timeless tale of heroism, achievement, and loss. The subject matter of this epic poem has found its way into many works of art, and likely the earliest opera adaptation was Monteverdi’s Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria, first performed in 1639 in the city of Venice. Monteverdi’s opera tells one of the oldest remembered human stories through the new form of art of which he was one of the pioneers, the opera. His reimaginings of Greek myth often fused Christian and pagan elements into a be...
2022-06-272h 14
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 200: Lucia and Madness Study Day- Part IIWe have reached podcast episode #200! In today’s episode of the Metropolitan Opera Guild podcast, lecturer Dr. Mark Pottinger leads us through the second part of his Study Day all about Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and the fascinating history of madness in opera.
2022-06-2256 min
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 197: Opera Outlook on Lucia di LammermoorFrom the vocal fireworks featured in the famous “mad scene” to the popularized sextet Lucia continues to fascinate audiences today. Many sopranos have taken the role, including, Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, Renata Scotto, Lisette Oropesa and the current Lucia, Nadine Sierra. On today’s episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, we have lecturer Tanisha Mitchell discussing the inner workings of this operatic staple.
2022-05-1853 minEl podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 98 La Donna del Lago by RossiniWe all know that feeling when we want to marry one rebel leader, but our father wants us to marry the chief rebel leader, but then one day a wandering king disguised as a huntsman starts chatting us up on the moors. With this timeless and relatable set-up (based on a poem by Sir Walter Scott that is credited with starting the Scottish Romantic movement) Rossini crafts an opera that blends romance and political intrigue. Featuring a druid chorus, a major character unceremoniously killed offstage, and an unexpectedly happy ending, La Donna del Lago (“The Lady of the Lake”) is a won...
2022-04-231h 58
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp.196: Opera Outlook Don CarlosFor the first time in the company’s history, the Metropolitan Opera is presenting Verdi’s tragic opera Don Carlos in its original five act French version. Set during the period of the tumultuous Spanish Inquisition, this opera boasts a super star cast including Matthew Polenzani, Sonya Yoncheva, Jamie Barton, and Eric Owens. Join lecturer John J.H. Muller as he explores the music and history of this French Grand Opera.
2022-03-2359 minEl podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 97 OFE Meets Maestro Joseph Rescigno, ft Ariadne auf Naxos by StraussMeet Maestro Joseph Rescigno–gentleman, author, and opera conductor extraordinaire. The Maestro joins OFE for this wide-ranging discussion of the how, what, and why of conducting opera. Drawing on material from his book, Conducting Opera: Where Theater Meets Music, and a lifetime of conducting opera around the world, Maestro Rescigno brings a unique perspective to the theory and practice of operatic composition and performance. In the second half, we explore Richard Strauss’ unusual and fascinating Ariadne auf Naxos, which hybridizes myth and psychodrama, opera and commedia dell'arte. Hosted by Pat
2022-03-051h 58
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 96 The Cunning Little Vixen by Leoš JanáčekLeos Janacek’s opera about a clever little fox living in the worlds of both animals and humans has many of the charming and amusing elements expected of traditional children’s stories. However, don’t let this Cunning Little Vixen fool you. Her story, and the story of the forester who pursues her, are richly layered with issues that may glide over the heads of young opera-goers while leaving the adults in the room pondering as they smile at the sly references. Hosted by Pat and Rosie Brooks
2022-01-251h 58El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 95 Béatrice et Bénédict by BerliozBeatrice and Benedick often steal the show in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing with their sharp-tongued banter, and a romance that is as unlikely as it is inevitable. Composer Hector Berlioz was captivated by these characters, and turned their story into an operatic romantic comedy in his final completed opera, Béatrice et Bénédict. As the music soars and sparkles, join us for this “merry war!” Hosted by Pat, and Kathleen Van De Wille
2021-12-121h 58
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 191: Opera Outlook: Eurydice with W. Anthony SheppardWith music by Genius grant recipient Matthew Aucoin, libretto by recipient Sarah Ruhl, and stage direction by recipient Mary Zimmerman, Eurydice is a new examination of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice from Eurydice’s point of view. This co-commission and co-production arrives at the Met after a successful premiere at LA Opera in February 2020. On today’s episode, professor W. Anthony Sheppard takes us into the underworld and explores our protagonist’s tale.
2021-12-0148 min
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 94 Opera For Everyone Meets United Arts StudiesWhat does Salvador Dali have in common with opera? Listen to this episode to find out! This episode features special guests soprano Elizaveta Ulakhovich and baritone Perry Sook talking about their work and lives as an operatic couple. Their newest project is a YouTube series that connects their love of opera and their exploration of the visual arts. Join us for a unique episode featuring romance, creativity, and adventure. Hosted by Pat and Grant
2021-11-081h 59El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 93 Der Rosenkavalier by StraussAll things must come to an end, but few approach endings with such grace as Marschallin Marie-Therese, the iconic character of Der Rosenkavalier. At once epic and intimate in scope, Strauss’s masterwork resists characterization, at various points telling the story of the end of a romance, the end of adolescence, and the end of an empire. Published on the eve of the First World War, this opera masterfully intertwines traditional and modern subjects to produce an epic story of nobility, violence, and the achievement of wisdom. Working together, Strauss and playwright-librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal created one of the finest stor...
2021-10-232h 05
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 92 Cox and Box & Pirates of Penzance by Sullivan and GilbertRiding high on the tide of their smash success, H.M.S. Pinafore, W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan enjoyed celebrity on both sides of the Atlantic. While engaged in defending the integrity of their work against inferior pirated versions, they hastily completed and premiered a show about a group of inferior pirates. Pirates of Penzance is almost certainly Gilbert and Sullivan’s most enduringly popular collaboration, giving us memorable tunes and characters such as the steadfast Mabel, the swashbuckling Pirate King, and the Very Model of a Modern Major General. By turns hilarious, incisive, and thrilling, this masterful operetta is a...
2021-08-301h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 184: Great Divas I Have Seen Part IV with Ira SiffBy turns regal and opulent, rich and astounding, the operatic diva has the ability to move you with performances that you will remember for the rest of your life. In the final episode of our four-part series, we’re joined by lecturer Ira Siff as he discusses the lives and careers of the great divas Christa Ludwig, Aprile Millo, Krassmira Stoyanova, Teresa Stratas, and, of course, Jessye Norman.
2021-07-2844 min
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 91 Guillaume Tell by Rossini [EXTENDED VERSION]This extended version of our William Tell show includes everything from the regular length show, plus more history, more music, more explication, and more fun! Imperial soldiers, determined rebels, a martyred elder, a plucky youth, a noble princess, a cruel oppressor… it’s not Star Wars; it’s Rossini’s final opera, William Tell! First performed in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Era and inspired by much earlier legends of a medieval Swiss folk hero, this opera is a masterwork of everything we love about opera. It tells a story that is at once personal, specific in time and place, and yet un...
2021-07-182h 10
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 91 Guillaume Tell by RossiniImperial soldiers, determined rebels, a martyred elder, a plucky youth, a noble princess, a cruel oppressor… it’s not Star Wars; it’s Rossini’s final opera, William Tell! First performed in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Era and inspired by much earlier legends of a medieval Swiss folk hero, this opera is a masterwork of everything we love about opera. It tells a story that is at once personal, specific in time and place, and yet universal at its core. Join host Pat, who, with the help of co-hosts Kathleen and Grant, takes a deep dive into this Bel Canto maste...
2021-07-181h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 90 Benvenuto Cellini by BerliozAn adventurous Renaissance artist’s action-packed autobiography provided compelling inspiration for Hector Berlioz’s first completed opera, Benvenuto Cellini. Berlioz strongly identified with the notorious Cellini, seeing in him a mirror of his own bravado, skill, and passion… and uses this identification to add to the story. The result is a relentlessly entertaining opera that is by turns comic, poignant, farcical, political, and romantic. Hosted by Pat and Kathleen Van De Wille
2021-06-181h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 89 Trial by Jury and H.M.S. Pinafore by Gilbert and SullivanHow do you get from The Opera to The Musical? Any answer to that question would have to include the powerhouse Victorian English duo of Gilbert and Sullivan and their ground-breaking form of “light opera.” Hilarious, cheerful, and energetic, they innovated both in opera and satirical comedy. Not only were they beloved by theater-goers of the late nineteenth century, they remain popular to this day, influencing the creators of drama, film, and musical theater. This episode of Opera For Everyone focuses on two of Gilbert and Sullivan’s earliest successes, Trial by Jury and H.M.S. Pinafore. Join us for a clos...
2021-05-252h 01
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 88 Susannah by Carlisle FloydAlthough only included in some versions of the biblical book of Daniel, the story of “Susanna and the Elders” has long been a favorite artistic subject thanks to its risqué content and virtuous heroine, Susanna. Inspired by this story of lechery, slander, and condemnation, American composer Carlisle Floyd wrote Susannah, a poignant opera about the consequences of people’s judgement of one another. On this special episode, Pat is joined by two opera singers, Mariah Wilcox and Evan Dunn, who share some of their performance experiences, as well as take a close look at the opera Susannah. Evan and Mariah also hos...
2021-04-052h 00
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 87 Pelléas et Mélisande by DebussyA beautiful young woman with long golden hair; a charming young prince who lives in a castle in the fantastic land of Allemonde… While these may be the ingredients for a classic fairy-tale, this story subverts all expectations. First performed in the opening decade of the twentieth century, Pelléas et Mélisande is the only opera ever completed by the famed composer Claude Debussy. Based on a symbolist play, Pelléas et Mélisande marked the debut of a new kind of story-telling... and a new kind of opera. The characters may not live “happily ever after,” but this opera is unm...
2021-03-181h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 86 Orpheus In The Underworld By OffenbachIt’s not just modern interpreters who poke fun at distinguished personages of the mythic past. In the mid-nineteenth century, Jacques Offenbach turned the Orpehus and Euridice story on its head in his smash-hit, Orpheus in the Underworld. This work, in addition to giving us the infamous “Can-Can,” started an international craze for toe-tapping, fun-loving operettas. Join us for raucous fun with ancient gods and heroes. Hosted by Pat and guest co-host Rosie Brooks.
2021-02-131h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 85 L'Orfeo By MonteverdiIn the palace of the Duke of Mantua in 1607, composer Claudio Monteverdi presented a ground-breaking “musical fable” to a select group. The music may sound Medieval to our ears, but it was truly modern at the time, and proved itself an early Baroque masterpiece. Four centuries later, Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo is still in the repertoire, tugging on the heartstrings of the audience members who long to see the master-musician Orpheus rewarded for a devotion to his beloved Euridice that takes him to the very depths of hell. Hosted by Pat and guest co-host Grant
2021-01-181h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 84 L'Enfance Du Christ By BerliozJoin Opera for Everyone this holiday season as we explore Hector Berlioz’s unusual take on the Christmas story, L’Enfance du Christ. Instead of telling the familiar story culminating in the adoration of the newborn babe, Berlioz composed both music and text to begin with the immediate challenges that followed the birth of the son who had just arrived into the family of Mary and Joseph. We hope you are as enchanted as we are by this fascinating and powerful piece by the man who also composed Symphonie Fantastique, and La Damnation de Faust. Hosted by Pat and Grant.
2020-12-231h 58
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 83 The Merry Widow By Franz LeharIn Franz Lehar's operetta The Merry Widow, the men cheerfully complain "the study of women is hard," and the women dance circles around them! Premiered in the early twentieth century, The Merry Widow was an international sensation on an unprecedented scale. Its songs were widely distributed, its action adapted into films, and its costumes imitated widely in department stores. Come for the music, stay for the parties… all three of them! You never know, you might just find yourself a fan! Hosted by Pat with illustrator and opera-lover Rosie Brooks
2020-12-091h 58
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 82 Hamlet By Ambroise ThomasTo thine own self be true… with the source material, however, you can be more flexible. In the mid-19th century, Ambroise Thomas created a Grand Opera that took on what many consider the greatest play ever written. Travel through a familiar story made all new by a romantic focus and a twist ending! Who will live? Who will die? Who will get herself to a nunnery? Hosted by Pat and Kathleen Van De Wille.
2020-11-141h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 81 OFE Presents Starting Them Young With Rosie BrooksThe young ones in your life may not be ready to sit through the entire Ring Cycle, but we can assure you that the world of opera has many delights available to them. On this episode Keely and Pat are joined by special guest, illustrator and opera aficionado Rosie Brooks. Rosie has combined these two passions, and has been drawing the stories of operas for a children’s book she is in the process of creating. We sheepishly admit we have taken her away from this important work to chat about songs and operas with some appeal to children, in no...
2020-10-171h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 80 The Makropulos Case By JanáčekA beautiful diva arrives just in time to shed new light on an inheritance case that is a century old. She doesn’t behave like other women, and somehow she knows exactly where to locate the will that has eluded searchers for generations. The mystery grows more perplexing and incomprehensible, as the characters grow ever more extreme in their behaviors. The Makropulos Case by Leoš Janáček is a taut mystery enriched with lush music that also asks us to consider the value of our own mortality. Hosted by Keely and Pat
2020-09-161h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 79 Mefistofele By Arrigo BoitoThe Devil takes center stage in this opera based on the Faust story: a timeless tale of the seductive nature of evil and the redemptive promise of grace. Known primarily for his many successful libretti, Arrigo Boito gave his full poetic, philosophical, and musical talents to this, his only complete opera. This is the third in a series of Opera For Everyone podcasts featuring operas based on Goethe’s “Faust.” Also in the series: Episode 76 "La Damnation de Faust" by Hector Berlioz, and Episode 78 "Faust" by Charles Gounod. All three are hosted by Pat and guest co-host Kathleen Van De Wille.
2020-08-241h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 78 Faust By Charles GounodA deal with the Devil; a Faustian bargain. When an elderly scholar prays to the Devil in desperation, he learns that it might not be wise to let the Devil answer his prayers. Faust gains only transitory pleasures but causes the pitiful downfall of a naive young woman. This story takes a close look at the relationship between that woman and the scholar. Composer Charles Gounod’s take on the Goethe play gives us sumptuous music and one of the great enduring operas in the repertoire. Hosted by Pat and Kathleen Van De Wille
2020-08-011h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 77 Rusalka By DvorakA beautiful woman encounters a handsome prince near her home. She cannot tell the prince that she loves him, but her passion is so powerful that she chooses to give up her family and voice in order to appear to him and win his love. His wavering commitment, however, dooms them both. Antonin Dvorak’s opera Rusalka soars with vibrant music and invites us to ponder what makes us human. Hosted by Keely and Pat
2020-07-201h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 76 La Damnation De Faust By BerliozFaust, an aging scholar, despairs that the world holds no further interest for him. But the crafty devil Mephistopheles appears and invites Faust to pleasures not found in his books. Of course, it is never wise to make a deal with the Devil. The epic tale of the downfall of Faust and the innocent woman he drags with him is sublimely illustrated by Hector Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust. Hosted by Pat and Kathleen Van De Wille
2020-07-031h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp.75 I Capuleti e I Montecchi By BelliniThese are not Shakespeare’s Montagues and Capulets! Based on the original medieval Italian source material, Bellini’s take on the star-crossed lovers portrays Romeo as a young man who knows his mind and leads an army. Juliet loves Romeo deeply, but must contend with both external and internal impediments to realizing any happiness with her beloved. Join us for the soaring Bel Canto version of the famous tale of lovers from rival clans.
2020-06-141h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 74 Werther By MassenetYoung Werther is the embodiment of Romanticism. He swoons for nature, sighs for love, and marvels at the innocence of childhood. These impulses, however, can turn dark when his desires are thwarted. A sensation when it was published, Goethe’s story of a young poet in love, captured the imagination of a generation. Massenet’s riveting opera takes us into the world of a sensitive poet and the object of his desire. Hosted by Pat and guest co-host Kathleen Van de Wille
2020-05-151h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 73 Le Comte Ory By RossiniRossini’s witty and urbane Le Comte Ory is a comic opera full of mirth and ridiculous disguises. Meet the randy Comte Ory and his merry band of singing knights. While the decent men of the castle are away in the Holy Land, the Comte plays the part of a hermit, a female pilgrim... anything to cozy up to the lovely Countess Adele. Though his plans are foiled, we suspect the Comte will repeat his efforts countless times in the years to come. Hosted by Keely and Pat.
2020-05-031h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 72 Salome By StraussWhen a young princess's depraved stepfather asks her to dance, she sees a way to satisfy her lust for the imprisoned John (the Baptist). Based on an Oscar Wilde play dramatizing a biblical story, the opera Salome was shocking and enticing for audiences, and a critical success for composer Richard Strauss early in his career. Hosted by Pat, Grant & new guest co-host, Jocelyn
2020-04-171h 58
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 71.5 OFE Presents Songs Of Triumph And CelebrationIn the last of a series of five special episodes, Keely and Pat play some of opera’s great works around a theme of triumph and celebration. Get ready to humm, sing, and dance along to these heart-pumping pieces!
2020-04-0259 minEl podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 71.4 OFE Presents Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4The fourth in a series of five special episodes takes a close look at Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony. This powerfully dramatic work was partly inspired by Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony... and partly by one particularly tumultuous year in Tchaikovsky’s own turbulent life. Fortunately, he endured his troubles with the help of one remarkable woman, to whom music-lovers everywhere are forever indebted.
2020-03-3159 minEl podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 71.3 OFE Presents Symphonie Fantastique By BerliozThe third in a series of five special episodes explores Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. Berlioz uses this symphony to illustrate episodes in “the life of an artist.” Autobiography, soaring imagination, and quintessential Romantic sensibilities combine to create Berlioz’s compelling and much-loved Symphonie Fantastique.
2020-03-3058 minEl podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 71.1 OFE Presents Rossini OverturesThis first in a series of five special OFE episodes explores overtures by Rossini. He was such a master of the form, that he set the standard and spawned countless imitators. Among them, Rossini himself, who used one particular overture for four different operas!
2020-03-2759 min
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 70 Don Carlos By Verdi [Extended Version]This extended version of our Don Carlos show includes everything from the regular length show, plus a little more music and a lot more history! Don Carlos, son of King Philip II of Spain, is bethrothed to the daughter of the King of France. In this romantic portrayal of history, they fall in love at first sight, but their happiness is dashed when Philip II decides to make Elizabeth his own bride. The drama of this royal family is complicated by Carlos’s idealistic comrade, Elizabeth’s too-beautiful friend, Carlos’s own impetuous behavior, the ominous specter of Philip II’s devout...
2020-03-122h 13
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 70 Don Carlos By VerdiDon Carlos, son of King Philip II of Spain, is bethrothed to the daughter of the King of France. In this romantic portrayal of history, they fall in love at first sight, but their happiness is dashed when Philip II decides to make Elizabeth his own bride. The drama of this royal family is complicated by Carlos’s idealistic comrade, Elizabeth’s too-beautiful friend, Carlos’s own impetuous behavior, the ominous specter of Philip II’s devout father, and the threatening presence of the Spanish Inquisition. Join us for this Italian master’s French Grand Opera. Hosted by Keely and Pat
2020-03-121h 57
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 69 Agrippina By HandelAn ambitious mother, a pliable son, amorous courtiers, a headstrong emperor, a quick-witted lady, and an upstanding army commander. All historical figures from first century Rome, these are the characters who scheme, intrigue, and try to survive in Handel’s first wildly successful opera. Join us for a Baroque treasure which uses a grand setting along and comic elements, to explore human truths. Hosted by Keely and Pat
2020-02-152h 03
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 68 Lucia Di Lammermoor By DonizettiA young woman falls in love with a handsome young man who saves her from a wild beast. This Bel Canto classic is not, however, a simple love story. Based on the Walter Scott novel The Bride of Lammermoor, this opera puts the fragile Lucia at the center of the competing demands of her brother, her spiritual mentor, and her beloved. It’s enough to make anyone crack, and crack she does, in spectacular form, resulting in opera’s most famous “mad scene.” Join us for the spectacular, haunting music of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. Hosted by Pat and special gu...
2020-01-281h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 67 Kâta Kabanová By JanáčekThe torment and passion of a young wife living in a small town on the Volga River inspire exquisitely lush music from the incomparable Czech composer Leoš Janáček. Káta Kabanová dreams of soaring like a bird, but falls to earthly desires. As she yearns to take to the sky, her young lover prophetically notes, “Life is much easier for a man. I shall be free to do as I wish, but you. . .” Hosted by Keely and Pat
2020-01-111h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 66 Hänsel Und Gretel, Holiday Special 2019Join the world of fairy tales as two lost, hungry, playful, and resourceful children spring forth toward adventure and danger. Engelbert Humperdinck first began to write these songs to accompany his family's production of a holiday show. Before long he developed it into a tuneful, lush, and perennially successful opera, a staple of the holiday season. This third annual holiday special is hosted by Keely and Pat.
2019-12-241h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 65 Ernani By VerdiElvira has it all... youth, beauty, and three determined suitors. But her blessings turn into a curse as passion and power collide. It is good to be king... and emperor too. Based on a story by Victor Hugo, this opera was the first of many collaborations between Verdi and librettist Francesco Maria Piave. Hosted by Keely and Pat.
2019-12-081h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 64 Akhnaten By GlassThirty-three centuries ago, a doomed visionary Pharaoh tried to remake the world in honor of his god. Thirty-five years ago, a brilliant composer created a powerful opera that explored the wonder and the tragedy of that ancient dreamer. Philip Glass's Akhnaten combines modern music with a libretto in ancient languages to break through the centuries and tell a timeless tale. Hosted by Pat and guest co-host Grant.
2019-11-211h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 63 Orfeo Ed Euridice By GluckWith Orfeo ed Euridice, Christoph Willibald Gluck turned to an ancient story to show that he could create a new kind of opera. Powerful music displays powerful emotion, and this story tells us that the strongest emotion of all is love. You may know the myth of Orpheus and Euridice, but this Classical opera presents a version of the story in which love and music team up to change the will of the gods. Hosted by Pat and guest co-host Petria.
2019-11-011h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 62 Turandot By Giacomo PucciniIn Puccini’s final opera, the icy princess Turandot inspires The Unknown Prince to risk his life in the hope of winning her hand. His quest does not require the usual feats of derring-do... Instead, he must battle wits with her. Though he ultimately triumphs, the cost is terrible.
2019-10-161h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 61 Manon Lescaut By PucciniIn Giacomo Puccini's first major hit, Manon Lescaut, we meet the adventurous young Manon as she is headed to a convent to live out the rest of her days. Soon, however, she finds herself torn between a man she loves, and a man whose wealth she loves. Based on the novel by Abbé Prévost, this story found its home in opera, serving as the basis for two wildly successful versions. Come hear how magnificently the "medium of excess" tells a story of a woman who wants it all. Hosted by Pat Wright with special guest Petria Fossel.
2019-09-251h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 60 Roméo Et Juliette By Charles GounodCharles Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette is an operatic take on Shakespeare’s timeless and tragic tale of young love bursting through old hatreds. Gounod’s sumptuous music exquisitely transports us into the world of the Juliette Capulet and Roméo Montague. Just say yes to this timeless love story's sweet sorrow. Hosted by Pat Wright and Keely Herron.
2019-09-071h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 59 Les Troyens by BerliozHector Berlioz’s opera “Les Troyens” is an opera on a truly epic scale, with a story based on the oldest and most successful fan fiction ever written: The Aneid, Virgil's take on the great warrior from the siege of Troy presented in Homer's Illiad. This opera’s tale includes three continents, two legendary founders of empires, and one love story that definitely doesn’t go according to plan. If roaming Romans romancing roving refugee rowers is your thing (or maybe if you just like operas that give costumers a lot to work with), you will love “Les Troyens!” Hosted by Pat and gue...
2019-08-211h 58
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 58 Carmen By Georges BizetEven if you think you don’t know Opera, you know something of Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen. The tunes pervade our culture, and for good reason, popping up in films, television, and advertisements. They not only convey the passion and identity of characters who seduce and beguile, but the melodies remain long after the show has ended. Join us for Bizet’s masterpiece, the story of woman who insists on freedom, but cannot escape her fate. Hosted by Pat Wright and special guest co-host Greg.
2019-07-281h 58
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 57 Xerxes By HandelThis episode we present, Handel’s Xerxes, an opera that initially failed at the box office for being too silly and unorthodox. Today’s audiences love it. . . for being so silly and unorthodox. This Baroque opera features the ancient king of Persia, mistaken identities, disguises, and an unusually seductive tree. This work is distinguished by its unusual arrangement of vocal parts: a woman singing as a man, a man singing in the female range, and one part whose casting requirements are totally different now than they were 300 years ago. With Pat and special guest co-host Grant.
2019-07-131h 58
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 56 Il Barbiere Di Siviglia By RossiniRossini’s exuberant Opera Buffa, The Barber of Seville, features the irrepressible jack-of-all-trades Figaro. This Bel Canto masterpiece is where you will hear the quintessential opera piece “Largo al Factorum,” best known for the glorious (and comic) repetitions of “Figaro, Figaro, Figaro. . .” Everyone clamors for Figaro’s attention, and in this wild romp he assists Count Almavia to wed Rosina, the lovely ward of the greedy Dr. Bartolo. No marriage for Figaro here—that’s a different opera! With Pat and guest co-host, Petria Fossel.
2019-07-011h 59
El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 55 Wagner's The Ring Of The NibelungHave you ever wondered just who that woman with the blond braids, shining breastplate, and iconic opera helmet might be? Meet Brünhilde and her clan in the in this epic tale. Dwarfs, water nymphs, giants, dragons, forbidden love, heroes, gods, mortals, greed, pride, lust, resentment, the beginning of time, the end of time, what happens in between, fire, marriage, blood, flying horses, a magic sword, contract law—it’s all here in one of history’s greatest works of art, Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen, the story of the accursed golden ring of infinite power. With Pat and guest...
2019-06-151h 59El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 54 Maria Stuarda By DonizettiWith unabashed romanticism, Gaetano Donizetti sweeps us into the passions of the final days of Mary Queen of Scots in his Bel Canto masterpiece, Maria Stuarda. Donizetti seeks not accuracy in history and politics, but to explore the boundaries of affection and loyalty by imagining a tragic love-triangle involving Mary Stuart, Queen Elizabeth I, and Elizabeth’s favourite, the Earl of Leicester. Only one woman will survive. Keely and Pat co-host. Now you can feast on all three of Donizetti’s “Tudor Queen Operas” on Opera for Everyone: Anna Bolena, Episode 53; Maria Stuarda, Episode 54; Roberto Devereaux, Episode 44.
2019-06-021h 58El podcast de Yuleny AbarcaEp. 53 Anna Bolena By DonizettiDonizetti dazzles in the Bel Canto masterpieces that comprise his Tudor Queen “trilogy.” In Anna Bolena, the first of these, Henry VIII has turned against his second wife, Anne Boleyn, and decided to make Anne’s lady-in-waiting, Jane Seymour, his next queen – in this take, for reasons of passion not dynastic politics. Opera For Everyone will soon be presenting the second Tudor Queen opera, Maria Stuarda, and you can find the third opera, Roberto Devereaux, as Episode 44. Enjoy these presentations of English “history” from an unabashedly Italian perspective. Keely and Pat co-host.
2019-05-111h 58