Opera Box Score

Latest Episodes:

Happy Holidays from OBS! Dec 24, 2019

Show notes

Wherever you are, however you're listening, however you celebrate the holidays, do it with light, with love and with opera! The OBS-ers are back on Monday December 30 at 9 pm CT for the Best and Worst of 2019 in Operaland... only on WNUR 89.3 FM & HD1 Evanston-Chicago and streaming on wnur.org/popup.

A Very Special Special! Dec 18, 2019

Show notes

Team OBS bids farewell and good riddance to OBS co-founder and co-host Tobias Wright. They talk with Tobias about his career change, watch with horror as he inducts himself into the OBS Hall of Fame, listen to some of his favorite singers and recap the highlights and lowlights of his own checkered career on the airwaves... Plus, in ‘The Two Minute Drill’, who do you think gets paid more, Peter Gelb at the Met or Dominique Meyer at the Vienna State Opera...? www.facebook.com/OBSCHI1 www.operaboxscore.com www.wnur.org/popup

Annie Rosen Returns! Dec 11, 2019

Show notes

The OBS lads go ‘Inside the Huddle’ with American mezzo-soprano Annie Rosen, who just finished a run of Philip Glass’ “Akhnaten” at the Metropolitan Opera. They talk to her about performing in HD and why this show is returning to the Met so soon... South Korean conductor Eun Sun Kim was just appointed music director at San Francisco Opera. Hear how she got to SF and what her hire means for the company and for the art form... In ‘The Two Minute Drill’, “Porgy and Bess” is extended at the Met, and Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo is fired at the Met... www.facebook.com/OBSCHI1 www.operaboxscore.com www.wnur.org/popup

Kanye Dig It?! Dec 04, 2019

Show notes

Rapper Kanye West’s opera premiered in Hollywood a few weeks ago. The OBS crew are joined by guest co-host K. F. Jacques to take a closer look into the piece itself and if the harsh critical reception was justified... In ‘The Hometown Team': Lyric Opera of Chicago recently announced that it was getting new seats in its home. The OBS team spitballs about what sort of amenities their dream opera house would have... Then, they go on to make some predictions on the upcoming Grammy awards in the classical music division... In ‘The Two Minute Drill’, a legendary director exits stage right... www.facebook.com/OBSCHI1 www.operaboxscore.com www.wnur.org/popup

Thankful for Jessye! Nov 27, 2019

Show notes

It’s a Thanksgiving 'Chalk Talk'! The OBS-ers share what they’re grateful for in Operaland just in time for Turkey Day... But first, it’s a very special 'HOF' from Matt, where he brings you a long overdue tribute to the late, great Jessye Norman... In the 'Two Minute Drill', the Met’s credit rating gets downgraded, a Glyndebourne director gets fired, and the Vienna State Opera puts on an opera written by a woman... Hey, it only took ‘em 150 years... www.facebook.com/OBSCHI1 www.operaboxscore.com www.wnur.org/popup

Clay Hilley! Nov 20, 2019

Show notes

Oliver goes ‘Inside the Huddle’ with Clay Hilley who is quickly becoming known to Lyric Opera of Chicago audiences singing Father Grenville in Jake Heggie’s “Dead Man Walking”. The American heldentenor returns later this season to cover Siegfried in Wagner’s ‘Ring’ Cycle… Venice is underwater! At least, more underwater than usual. The OBS gents take you through why losing the city of bridges would be an irreplaceable loss for the world of opera... In the ‘Two Minute Drill’, you’ll never guess who’s written his first opera... www.facebook.com/OBSCHI1 www.operaboxscore.com www.wnur.org/popup

David T. Little! Nov 12, 2019

Show notes

The OBS crew go ‘Inside the huddle’ with composer David T. Little, whose works have been hailed by the 'New York Times' as “proving beyond any doubt that opera has both a relevant present and a bright future..." Ashlee plays 'Monday Evening Quarterback' on the production of Jake Heggie’s opera “Dead Man Walking” at Lyric Opera of Chicago... In the 'Two Minute Drill', opera singers get new bodies and opera houses get new seats... www.facebook.com/OBSCHI1 www.operaboxscore.com www.wnur.org/popup

Soloman Howard! Nov 06, 2019

Show notes

American bass Soloman Howard, winner of the 2019 Marian Anderson Vocal Award, joins the OBS crew 'Inside the Huddle' to talk about leading the way as a black artist at the apogee of American opera... Then, the team bring you their guide to Wagner's Ring Cycle! What is it? What does it take to survive four nights of opera? Why do us opera people like talking about it so much...? In the 'Two Minute Drill', figure out the value of a giant golden statue head... www.facebook.com/OBSCHI1 www.operaboxscore.com www.wnur.org/popup

Hallowe'en Spooktacular! Oct 29, 2019

Show notes

PROGRAM ALERT: There's a couple of scary loud audio levels in this week's show. Was it a ghost in the machine?! Get ready for some ghoulish high notes from a menagerie of monstrous co-hosts as Team OBS battles it out to see who’s got the spookiest opera with which to torment their audience...! But first, it’s the return of 'Monday Evening Quarterback' and Oliver’s got some terrifying opinions...! In the 'Two Minute Drill', the OBS zombies talk about ghosts! And other opera related things... www.facebook.com/OBSCHI1 www.operaboxscore.com www.wnur.org/popup

Lindsay Metzger Goes To Haymarket! Oct 23, 2019

Show notes

Team OBS goes 'Inside the Huddle' with American mezzo-soprano Lindsay Metzger, asking about her upcoming appearance in Haymarket Opera Company’s production of “The Dragon of Wantley"... Opera America preps for its 50th anniversary celebrations, asking what is it, why is it important, and what is its place in history... In the 'Two Minute Drill', Zubin Mehta retires, while two friends of the show win big at the Gramophone Awards... www.facebook.com/OBSCHI1 www.operaboxscore.com www.wnur.org/popup

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected