LA Opera Podcasts: Behind the Curtain

Latest Episodes:

Building an Opera: A Conversation with the Creators of Eurydice Jan 14, 2020

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How do you give birth to an opera? This conversation between the creators of the world-premiere opera Eurydice - Matthew Aucoin (composer) and Sarah Ruhl (librettist) - reveals the process, the inspirations and the hurdles. Soprano Danielle de Niese, who is originating the role of Eurydice, joins the conversation along with LA Opera's President and CEO Christopher Koelsch. Eurydice makes is premiere at LA Opera on Saturday, February 1, 2020. More information: www.LAOpera.org/Eurydice

Eurydice Found: Getty Villa Associate Curator Mary Louise Hart in conversation with Brian Lauritzen Dec 31, 2019

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In anticipation of the world premiere of "Eurydice", Mary Louise Hart, Associate Curator of Antiquities for the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Villa, together with Brian Lauritzen, discusses ancient theatre, myth and how the story of Orpheus and Eurydice continues to fascinate us, in a conversation recorded earlier this fall. More information about "Eurydice": www.laopera.org/eurydice

LA Opera History Embodied: Baritone Rod Gilfrey in conversation with Christopher Koelsch Dec 17, 2019

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Listen in on this intimate and in-depth conversation between President and CEO Christopher Koelsch and Grammy-nominated baritone - and LA Opera's own - Rod Gilfry about his 34 year performance career. They discuss his diverse pallet of roles and musical styles, his deep history with LA Opera, as well as his role in Matthew Aucoin’s new opera "Eurydice", premiering at LA Opera on February 1, 2020. More information about "Eurydice": https://www.laopera.org/eurydice

Style and Status: Dr. Mitchell Morris on Music’s Social Roles in "The Magic Flute" Dec 03, 2019

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What is an opera seria character doing in a fairy tale opera? How does Mozart’s use of musical form demonstrate how we are supposed understand the characters? Dr. Mitchell Morris, UCLA Professor of Musicology, answers these questions and more, cracking open our understanding of "The Magic Flute" through a detailed discussion of the composer's use of music and poetic forms. Recorded live at LA Opera Connects' Opera for Educators class on "The Magic Flute" (Saturday, October 26, 2019).

We All Look to the Stars: Composer Juhi Bansal & Brian Lauritzen in Conversation Nov 21, 2019

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Composer Juhi Bansal and Classical KUSC’s Brian Lauritzen discuss Bansal’s new work, “We All Look to the Stars”, commissioned by LA Opera for the upcoming Eurydice Found festival. This new work draws on myths, legends and writings from different cultures, and - inspired by the constellation Lyra - the piece is a musical celebration of the wonders of the night sky. Across history, culture, time and space—every division and divide among us—we all look at the same stars. Bringing together professional musicians, students and faculty from Pasadena City College, CalTech and the local community at The Huntington Library, “We All Look to the Stars” will be performed on Thursday, February 13th at The Huntington in San Marino. More information: Eurydice Found festival – www.LAOpera.org/EurydiceFound Juhi Bansal – www.juhibansal.com

All About The Magic Flute: A Pre-Performance Talk with James Conlon Nov 20, 2019

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LA Opera's Richard Seaver Music Director James Conlon explores Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "The Magic Flute" during his pre-show talk prior to LA Opera's opening performance on November 16, 2019.

"The Magic Flute" Scene-By-Scene by Frederick Ballentine Nov 11, 2019

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Frederick Ballentine, who plays the role of Monostatos in LA Opera’s production of “The Magic Flute," takes us through a scene-by-scene telling of the story. Follow along as Mozart’s dazzling celebration of love conquering all transports you into an enchanted world where good battles the forces of darkness. More information on LA Opera’s production can be found here: https://www.laopera.org/performances/201920-season/the-magic-flute/

Making Opera Magical: Grant Gershon and Brian Lauritzen on The Magic Flute Nov 05, 2019

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Listen in as LA Opera’s Resident Conductor Grant Gershon and Classical KUSC’s Brian Lauritzen talk about Gershon’s history with LA Opera, his journey of becoming a conductor and upcoming performances of LA Opera’s production of "The Magic Flute". Gershon cracks open his experience with the challenges and excitement behind performing with animated scenes and characters, as well as the themes and entertainment value in this fantastical production. For more information on "The Magic Flute", visit LA Opera's website: www.LAOpera.org.

Igniting Imagination: Opera and the Stars with Dr. Ed Krupp and Brian Lauritzen Oct 22, 2019

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Classical KUSC’s Brian Lauritzen chats with Dr. Ed Krupp, an astronomer, researcher, author and the director of the Griffith Observatory since 1974. Dr. Krupp will be presenting on the intersection of astronomy and opera immediately following the February 16, 2020 performance of LA Opera’s Eurydice, as a part of the Company’s “Eurydice Found” festival. Their conversation in this podcast centers on those themes as well and took place at the Observatory shortly after the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon-landing. For more information about the “Eurydice Found” festival, visit www.LAOpera.org/community.

All About "The Light in the Piazza": A Conversation with Grant Gershon and Gail Eichenthal Oct 17, 2019

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Listen-in on two superfans of Adam Guettel's "The Light in the Piazza" - LA Opera's Resident Conductor Grant Gershon and Classical KUSC's Gail Eichenthal - dish about composer Adam Guettel and his beautiful show.

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