LA Opera Podcasts: Behind the Curtain

Latest Episodes:

James Conlon's Pre-Performance Talk on Falstaff Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Richard Seaver Music Director James Conlon walks us through the history, the plot, and of course, the music of Verdi's "Falstaff." Don't miss this merry farce, playing April 18-May 10. Get your tickets now at LAOpera.org.

20 Years with Maestro Conlon: A Farewell Concert Mar 31, 2026

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This episode continues our 20 Years With the Maestro Miniseries, in which veteran journalist Gail Eichenthal and Maestro James Conlon take on the highlights of our 40th Anniversary season, while exploring Maestro Conlon's legacy at LA Opera and beyond. This time around, they celebrate Conlon's upcoming Gala Concert on April 24, a glittering evening of excerpts from the operatic canon with special guests from the LA Opera stage. Share in the repertoire selection process, uncover which opera's name you should never speak aloud, and get excited for some stellar singers--all in this delightful episode. Tickets for the April 24 Gala are available now at laopera.org.

Opera in the Community: Falstaff with Dr. Tiffany Kuo and The Independent Shakespeare Co. Mar 24, 2026

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Forgiveness. Comeuppance. Transformation. And the power of storytelling. In this episode of the Behind the Curtain miniseries Opera in the Community, scholar Dr. Tiffany Kuo talks to Melissa Chalsma of the Independent Shakespeare Company. They probe the enduring power of Shakespeare's comedies and enlighten us on some of the class and gender themes we'll uncover in LA Opera's production of Verdi's Falstaff, playing April 18th to May 10th at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Get your tickets for this merry farce at laopera.org.

20 Years with Maestro Conlon: Wagner, the Ring, and 19th-century German Opera Mar 17, 2026

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Today, we bring you another episode of "20 Years with Maestro Conlon", our miniseries in which Gail Eichenthal illuminates the legacy of Maestro James Conlon, in his culminating season with LA Opera. This time, the dynamic pair focuses on 19th-century German Opera with an emphasis on Wagner. Learn why the Ring was a must, how many rehearsals a "Rheingold" fits into, and which 20th-century composers were Wagner devotées. Maestro Conlon rounds out our 40th Anniversary Season conducting Verdi's "Falstaff" and Mozart's "The Magic Flute". Get your tickets now at LAOpera.org.

Dr. Tiffany Kuo's Pre-Performance Talk on Akhnaten Mar 10, 2026

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This episode features a live recording of the opening night pre-performance lecture for "Akhnaten," which runs now through March 22 at LA Opera. In this lecture, musicologist and Connects affiliated scholar Dr.Tiffany Kuo takes you on an intellectual journey that is as mesmerizing as the performance itself. Focusing on the symbolism of the heart and the sun, Tiffany talks spells on papyrus and trancelike rhythms. Get your tickets to "Akhnaten" now at LAOpera.org.

Pharaohs and Pop Culture: The Voice of Akhnaten with John Holiday and Jeremy Frank Mar 03, 2026

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In this episode, LA Opera Chorus Director Jeremy Frank and critically acclaimed countertenor John Holiday sit down for an intimate interview. Listen in as they identify famous countertenors in popular culture and dish on Philip Glass's "Akhnaten", playing now through March 22—with an added performance on March 21st. With his inimitable spirit, John shares about growing up singing, his unexpected TV debut, and how he's taking care of himself during the run of this production. Get your tickets to Akhnaten now at LAOpera.org.

Conducting Akhnaten with Dalia Stasevska and Gail Eichenthal Feb 24, 2026

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Internationally acclaimed conductor Dalia Stasevska joins host Gail Eichenthal for a revealing conversation about the sounds, mentors, and moments that shaped her life. From Finland's legendary conducting tradition to the role models who changed her path, Dalia shares what inspires her on and off the podium, including her favorite moment in LA Opera's current production of Philip Glass's Akhnaten. Discover what makes this opera unforgettable, then experience it for yourself. Akhnaten is selling fast, with an additional performance just added on March 21. Get your tickets now at LAOpera.org.

The Paradox of Power and Vulnerability: Akhnaten and BambinO with Phelim McDermott and Gail Eichenthal Feb 17, 2026

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Celebrated director Phelim McDermott has a long relationship with the opera "Akhnaten." In this episode, McDermott and our host, Gail Eichenthal, explore the "paradox of power and vulnerability" in opera, improvisation as the basis of theatre, and how each performance is different every single night. Join us as we get ready to raise the curtain on "Akhnaten," Philip Glass's tribute to a trailblazing pharaoh on February 28; and with ticket demand at an all-time high, we're adding an extra date on March 21st. You can get your tickets now at LAOpera.org.

Serious Fun With Opera: Philip Glass's Akhnaten with Dr. Kristi Brown-Montesano and Prof. Bob Fink Feb 10, 2026

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In this episode of "Serious Fun With Opera," a "Behind the Curtain" miniseries, Dr. Kristi Brown-Montesano interviews UCLA's Chair of Musicology, Professor Bob Fink, about musical minimalism--a term that "Philip Glass would not answer to," he says, but that is a "quintessentially American form." They discuss the concepts of trance, aural wallpaper, and the sublime, all swirling around Philip Glass's "Akhnaten', coming up on the LA Opera stage. Get your tickets now at LAOpera.org.

Opera in the Community: Akhnaten with Dr. Tiffany Kuo and The Getty Villa Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, LA Opera Connects affiliated scholar, Dr. Tiffany Kuo, brings you "Opera in the Community," a Behind the Curtain mini-series that pairs each opera in our historic 40th Anniversary Season with an arts organization in Los Angeles. This episode pairs Philip Glass's opera Akhnaten, which is set in ancient Egypt, with The Getty Villa, whose upcoming exhibition synchronicitously features the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. Dr. Kuo's interview with The Getty's Dr. Sara Cole reveals many surprises: that the Book of the Dead isn't really a book... That mummies were often wrapped in writing... And all the secrets of the afterlife! Listen in as they talk sun gods, gold-plated statues, and disrupting the status quo--and then get your tickets for Akhnaten at laopera.org.