Shows
Opera ApéroJenůfa with MaxwellOn this episode of Opera Apéro, I talk to my friend Maxwell (he/him) about Leos Janacek's opera Jenůfa. It's the story of a young woman in a small town in love and pregnant by a man who can’t commit. As time progresses, they face the consequences of the decisions made to avoid community shame. We discuss parallels with other operas like Madama Butterfly and Pagliacci, how story meaning can change based on opera director’s artistic choices, and we mispronounce many Czech names. This is also the first episode where we play a drinking game along to...
2023-04-301h 09Opera ApéroPagliacci with CaitlinOn this episode of Opera Apéro, I talk to my friend Caitlin (she/her) about Ruggero Leoncavallo's opera Pagliacci. It's the story of a clown burying his feelings under his makeup and costume leading to an explosive ending. We talk about all kinds of clownery: toxic masculinity, the American double sided friendliness/fakeness, and The Simpsons. Stick around at the end to hear more about what I've been up to during the show hiatus.
Let me know what you thought on social media: on Instagram @opera.apero and on Twitter @OperaApero. You can find show notes for...
2023-01-1845 minOpera ApéroGoing on an Opera BingeOn this episode of Opera Apéro, I'm talking about my recent opera "binge" where I attended 4 live operas in one month. They were all different and special in their own way: attending a local opera house vs one while traveling; going on a swanky Saturday vs a weeknight; seeing operas I've never seen before vs those I seen many times over; going with opera newbies vs attending alone. Hear all about how my nights out validated my advice (sometimes) from the last episode on attending opera tips.
You can see photos from the opera and let m...
2021-10-2739 minOpera ApéroHow to Attend the OperaYou never forget your first... On this episode of Opera Apéro, we're talking all about how to attend the opera. If you've ever wondered what it's like, listen in to hear all about how you can attend your first opera. We talk through everything from how to pick an opera to see, how to prepare, what to wear, and how to get away with falling asleep (just kidding...kind of...). I spend some time talking about my experience attending the opera in Berlin for the first time.
Let me know what you thought on social media: on...
2021-10-1346 minOpera ApéroIolanta with NellyOn this episode of Opera Apéro, I talk to my friend Nelly (she/her) about Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's opera Iolanta. It's the story of a nobleman who falls in love with a young princess with a big secret that even she isn't aware of: she's blind. Mild spoiler, this is our second episode in a row that's a feel-good opera. Listen in to hear how this big romance goes down. We discuss how parents try to normalize their children's experiences and protect them, the importance of acknowleding a problem before fixing it, and strategies to protect your drunk fri...
2021-09-291h 00Opera ApéroL‘elisir d‘amore with LexOn this episode of Opera Apéro, I talk to my friend Lex (she/her) about L'elisir d'amore by Gaetano Donizetti. Unlike an earlier Donizetti opera episode (looking at you, Lucia), this opera is the 18th century version of a comforting romcom flick. It's the story of a rural worker longing for the love of a farm-owner with her head in a book, the magical potions he buys from a traveling medicineman to win her over. Lex is the founder of the Modality Group, a sex tech consulting company, and brought all her industry expertise to the show. We dis...
2021-09-1558 minOpera ApéroTosca with ShauryaJust like that, summer break is over and Opera Apéro is back with some fresh drama for your ears. On this episode, I talk to my friend and fellow Sagittarian, Shaurya (he/him) about Giacomo Puccini's famous stunner opera Tosca. This romantic tragedy tells the story of Roman opera singer Floria Tosca, her lover Cavaradossi, and the plot twists that pull them apart on the eve of Napoleon's invasion of Rome. Thats right: we also learn a page or two of Italian history. We discuss everything that makes Tosca a brilliant character, the parallels between opera and Bollywood, a...
2021-09-0153 min
Serially HookedThe Weekly Hook 9: OperaOn this episode of The Weekly Hook Chris and Rashaad are joined by Sophia, the host of the podcast Opera Apéro, to discuss the world of opera.
We, of course, explain why more people should watch opera as Sophia delves into her love of and personal history with the medium. Chris and Rashaad also ask the hard-hitting questions like: "'How do you define opera?"
Get more information about Opera Apéro at https://operaapero.com/about/ or on Twitter or Instagram.
To connect with us, check out our website at www.seriallyhooked.co...
2021-07-0359 minOpera ApéroWozzeck with The Queer Communist Book ClubOn this episode, I talk to my friends from the Queer Communist Book Club, Zoë (she/her) and Tom (he/him) about Alban Berg's opera Wozzeck. This is the story of a soldier in the early 1900s working to support his family all the while being tormented by his superiors and increasingly disturbing halllucinations. We discuss the ways in which impoverished communities and individuals lose autonomy over their decisions, the #FreeBritney movement, how the nuclear family gets in the way of developing community, and much more.
Stay tuned for a show announcement at the end of the e...
2021-06-301h 03Opera ApéroLucia di Lammermoor with ChrisOn this episode, I talk to my friend Chris (he/him) about Gaetano Donizetti's opera Lucia di Lammermoor. It's the tragic story of a woman mentally strained by grief, heartbreak, and arranged marriage and the unfortunate outcome of these growing pressures. We talk about the uniqueness of the emotional male character, understanding how each of the characters portrays their grief, and the notion of marriage as a financial transaction. To hear more from Chris (less about opera and more about Star Wars), you can find him at the Serially Hooked podcast.
Let me know what you thought by...
2021-06-1655 minOpera ApéroThe Nose with AlejandroOn this episode, I talk to my friend Alejandro (he/him) about Dmitri Shostakovich's opera The Nose. Originally based off a short story by Nikolai Gogol, it tells the story of a man who wakes up one morning with his nose missing and the ordeal of finding it again. It's a silly surreal opera that satirizes Russian society at that time. We discuss what body parts we could live without, the pressure to get married, and how class divisions present themselves in different points in time. And I learn a new acronym: NIMBY!
Let me know what you...
2021-06-0247 minOpera ApéroLe Comte Ory with MargueriteOn this episode, I talk to my friend Marguerite (she/her) about Gioachino Rossini's opera Le Comte Ory. It's a wacky comedy about a licentious man scheming his way into a castle of women while the men of the area are gone on the Crusades. Just wait for the sexy surprise at the end. My guest Marguerite happens to also be a young opera fan as well. We discuss how opera can be silly and sexy, the use of a pants role to create extra tension in the story, and how we got into opera and why we think...
2021-05-1950 minOpera ApéroThe Rake's Progress with KristinaOn this episode, I talk to my friend Kristina (she/her) about Stravinsky's English language opera The Rake's Progress. It's the story of one man's path from naive country man to disillusioned urbanite to doomed soul and all the people pulling him between good and bad along the way. Get ready for some fairy tale names and silly plot points. Afterwards, we discuss the city (and our home of Berlin) as a place to live outside societal norms and how opera prioritizes relatability over realism.
Let me know what you watch by connecting with me on social med...
2021-05-051h 09Opera ApéroCarmen with EllenOn this episode, I talk to my first Berlin friend Ellen (she/her) about the super sexy opera Carmen by Georges Bizet. It's the tragic story of a young Spanish soldier seduced by a free-spirited gypsy woman Carmen, and what comes after the flames of passion have burned out. We discuss the culpability of Carmen in the story, if she is a role model or not, whether or not passion can be a form of love, and what that looks like in romance and in friendship. So are you team Jose or team Carmen?
Let me know on...
2021-04-2157 minOpera ApéroBONUS: How to Watch Opera for FreeIt's a surprise bonus mini-episode! On the show, we talk so much about operas, the staging, the costumes, the acting. It's about time we talk about how to watch some of these magnificent productions. Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the options for streaming an opera at home are numerous. All you need is a solid internet connection. Tune in and then go forth and watch operas!
Let me know what you watch by connecting with me on social media: On Instagram @opera.apero and on Twitter @OperaApero.
If you like this show, please consider supporting m...
2021-04-1419 minOpera ApéroOpera Voice Types with SophiaOn this episode, I'm flying solo. We take a brief pause from working through operas to have an "Opera Appreciation" lesson on the different types of voices in operatic singing. These come from the German Fach system for categorizing voices by their range and depth. Beyond the currently sung voice types, I'll also get into the unfortunate history of the castrato voice and why it's no longer in existence. As I cover each voice type, you'll hear examples from operas this show has already covered and learn names of current singers from the soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone, bass-baritone, bar...
2021-04-0741 min