Met Opera Guild Podcast

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Ep. 172: Opera In The Soviet Era Part II Mar 03, 2021

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Opera, like all art, is frequently a reflection of the current political and social climate, and operas composed during the Soviet Era were no exception. Despite the oppressive environment, composers like Prokofiev managed to be extremely prolific during those times.

Ep. 171: Opera in the Soviet Era Part 1 Feb 17, 2021

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In the 1930s there was a push to make Moscow the center of art and music, which started a cultural struggle between modern European innovation and the folk traditions of the past. On today's episode of the Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, guild lecturer Dr. Naomi Perley takes a closer look at the music of the Soviet era.

Ep. 170: Talking About Opera: Faust with Father Owen Lee Jan 27, 2021

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This classic tale of a man who makes an ill-advised deal with the devil has inspired many operas over the years, including Busoni’s Doktor Faust, Boito’s Mefistofele, and Lutz’s Faust et Marguerite. But no operatic version of this legend has come close to the instant success and enduring popularity of Gounod’s version. Today we have a pre-performance lecture from our “Talking about Opera” archives, featuring lecturer and writer Father Owen Lee, giving us an in-depth history and analysis of the music and creative inspiration behind this legendary work.

Ep. 169: Met Opera Guild Season Preview Podcast Jan 06, 2021

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While the stage of the Met Opera may be dark we are excited to give you a sneak peak of the virtual content that will be coming in this new year as part of the Metropolitan Opera Guild's Season of Learning.

Ep. 168: Holiday Episode - LCE Staff Share Favorites Dec 16, 2020

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Whether you prefer operatic arias and classic carols, or more upbeat contemporary tunes, every home can hear holiday favorites sung by some of the worlds greatest opera singers. Today on the Met Opera Guild podcast, our Community Engagement staff will share highlights from their favorite albums from this time of the year.

Ep.167: Fidelio Pre-Performance Lecture with Philip Gainsley Dec 09, 2020

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Ludwig van Beethoven's only opera Fidelio had a long and complicated compositional history. In fact, Beethoven went through three different versions of the opera during his lifetime. No other composition gave him such frustration. So much so that he never attempted to write an opera again. Today we explore themes of freedom and love in Beethoven's only operatic work.

Ep.166: Celebrating Beethoven's 250th Birthday with Victoria Bond Dec 02, 2020

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Born in 1770, this year marks the 250th birthday of Ludwig Van Beethoven. His influence in western classical music is unparalleled. His transformative works especially The Ninth Symphony took music in a new direction.

Ep.165: Il Trovatore: A Tale of Love and Revenge Nov 04, 2020

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Perhaps best known for its popular Anvil Chorus, Giuseppi Verdi's opera Il Trovatore has dazzled audiences since its premiere in 1853. Its intricate plot and dramatic music have helped it become a staple of the operatic repertoire. In this episode, composer, conductor, and lecturer Victoria Bond guides us through this thrilling work.

Ep. 164: Exploring Tristan und Isolde with Harlow Robinson Oct 21, 2020

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In today’s episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild podcast, we have lecturer Harlow Robinson discussing the intricacies of Wagner’s evergreen hit opera, Tristan und Isolde.

Episode 163: New Fall Virtual Programming Announcement Sep 17, 2020

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Here at the Guild we have been busy adapting our Fall programming to continue learning in the virtual classroom! We are thrilled to announce that two of the Guild’s most popular programs, our Opera Boot Camp and our Score Reading series will be presented via our online learning platform. On today’s podcast episode, we’ll learn a bit more about these exciting digital offerings!

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