Seattle Opera Podcast

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OPERAWISE: BEL CANTO MELODRAMA Apr 01, 2020

Show notes

In this series of podcasts, Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean gives listeners a taste of nine different types of traditional opera. Bel Canto Melodrama refers to for serious Italian opera from the first part of the nineteenth century—when opera singing was about dazzling trapeze acts, and opera plots tended toward the wild, far-fetched, and grotesque. Inspired by their newfound obsession with Shakespeare, Europe's Romantic generation created some of opera's most enduringly popular works, including Verdi's Rigoletto and Bellini's Norma.

Musical examples on the podcast drawn from Seattle Opera recordings of Rigoletto: from 1995, conducted by Phil Kelsey and starring Harolyn Blackwell; and from 2019, conducted by Carlo Montanaro and starring Giuseppe Altomare and Yongzhao Yu: and Seattle Opera Normas, both conducted by Edoardo Mueller, from 2003 starring Sally Wolf; and from 1994 starring Jane Eaglen. Also, Verdi's Il trovatore conducted by Tullio Serafin (Deutsche Gramophon, 1962); and Rossini's L'assedio di Corinto, Marilyn Horne conducted by Henry Lewis (Decca, 1973).

Stay tuned for another podcast introducing another kind of opera next week!

OPERAWISE: GRAND OPERA Mar 25, 2020

Show notes

In this series of podcasts, Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean gives listeners a taste of nine different types of traditional opera. Grand opera developed in the mid-19th century and centered on performances at the Opéra in Paris. The roots of the genre stretch back to the opulent court of France's Sun King, Louis XIV, and continue to influence how opera is presented to this day. Verdi's Aida (1871) is probably the world's favorite grand opera (although it's not necessarily a textbook example of the genre, since it wasn't written for the Opéra, is sung in Italian, and is briefer and more straightforward than most grand operas). Another beloved masterpiece is Wagner's Tannhäuser (1845), a work retro-fitted in 1861 for performance at the Opéra.

Musical examples on the podcast drawn from recordings of Verdi's Don Carlos (first entrance of Philip II), Vienna Staatsoper performance conducted by Bertrand De Billy, (Premiere Opera Ltd. 2004); "Le divertissement royal – Danse de Neptune" from Lully: l'Orchestre du Roi Soleil, Le Concert des Nations led by Jordi Savall (Alia Vox Spain 1999); Don Carlos (conclusion), soloists, chorus, and orchestra of La Scala conducted by Claudio Abbado (Deutsche Gramophon, 1984); Seattle Opera's 2018 Aida, starring Alexandra LoBianco, David Pomeroy, Elena Gabouri, chorus and orchestra of Seattle Opera conducted by John Fiore; and Tannhäuser (Venusberg Ballet), Staatskapelle Berlin conducted by Daniel Barenboim (Teldec 2002).

OPERAWISE: Opera Seria Mar 18, 2020

Show notes

In this series of podcasts, Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean gives listeners a taste of nine different types of traditional opera. Opera seria, traditional Italian serious opera, developed in the mid-1600s and lasted into the early 1800s. Handel's Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar), an opera from 1724, is a great masterpiece and an examplar of the genre; another is Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice (aka Orphée et Eurydice, aka Orpheus and Euridice, 1762/1774).

Musical examples on the podcast drawn from recordings of Gluck's Iphigénie en Tauride, Les Musiciens du Louvre conducted by Mark Minkowski (Archiv 1999); Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea, Della Jones and Mark Tucker with the City of London Baroque Sinfonia conducted by Richard Hickox (Virgin Classics 1988); Gluck's Alceste, Kirsten Flagstad and Geraint Jones Orchestra conducted by Geraint Jones (Decca 1956); Ercole sul Termodonte, Topi Lehtipuu and Rolando Villazón conducted by Fabio Biondi (Virgin Classics 2009); Giulio Cesare, Anne Sofie von Otter, Marijana Mijanović, Magdalena Kožená, and Les Musiciens du Louvre conducted by Mark Minkowski (Archiv 2002); also Giulio Cesare, Derek Lee Ragin and Concerto Köln conducted by René Jacobs (Harmonia Mundi 1991); Gluck's Orphée et Eurydice, Maria Callas and Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française, 1961; and Seattle Opera's 2015 production of Semele conducted by Gary Thor Wedow.

LA BOHÈME 101 Mar 16, 2020

Show notes

"Men die and governments change, but the songs of La bohème will live forever," wrote Thomas Alva Edison to Giacomo Puccini. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces La bohème, with musical examples from Seattle Opera's archival recordings of La bohème: from 2007, with Rosario La Spina (Rodolfo) and Nuccia Focile (Mimì), conducted by Vjekoslav Sutej; and from 2013, with Andrew Garland (Schaunard), Arthur Woodley (Colline), Michael Fabiano (Rodolfo), Keith Phares (Marcello), and Jennifer Black (Mimì), conducted by Carlo Montanaro.

Joshua Stewart shares CHARLIE PARKER'S YARDBIRD with KNKX Feb 20, 2020

Show notes

Seattle's jazz community is getting excited about Charlie Parker's Yardbird. Tenor Joshua Stewart, who makes his Seattle Opera debut as Charlie Parker (a role he has now sung in many other cities), visited radio station KNKX, 88.5 FM, Seattle's connection to Jazz, Blues, and NPR. He brought with him David McDade, Seattle Opera's Head of Coach-Accompanists, and sang some of the arias he sings in this opera—as well as a special treat. Thanks to Robin Lloyd of KNKX for hosting this interview and sharing it with us.

How Daniel Schnyder & Bridgette Wimberly Created CHARLIE PARKER'S YARDBIRD Feb 15, 2020

Show notes

Daniel Schnyder and Bridgette Wimberly, composer and librettist of CHARLIE PARKER'S YARDBIRD, talked about this exciting new opera the other night with Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean and Abe Beeson of radio station KNKX, Seattle's connection to jazz and blues. An edited version of that interview, this podcast offers windows into how Wimberly found the story of several women who loved a musican, how Schnyder bridged the worlds of 'classical' music and jazz, and how their opera evolved. You'll hear brief excerpts from the opera (including a special example of Schnyder playing the role of Charlie on a soprano sax), a clip from Schnyder's oratorio "SUNDIATA KEITA," a snatch of Charlie & Dizzy jamming, and the voice of the real-life Charlie Parker.

EUGENE ONEGIN Q&A Highlights Jan 30, 2020

Show notes

After our performances of Eugene Onegin in January 2020 audiences stayed to discuss the show with cast, crew, and staff. Hear highlights from those post-show Q&As. In addition to audience members, voices include those of Tomer Zvulun (Original Production Director), Stephanie Havey (Associate Director), Aleksandar Marković (Conductor), Michael Adams (Onegin), Marina Costa-Jackson (Tatyana—bonus pinch of Miriam and Ginger Costa-Jackson singing Lakmé's Flower Duet also included!), David Leigh (Prince Gremin), Margaret Gawyrsiak (Mme. Larina), Meredith Arwady (Filipevna), and John Moore (Onegin). Christina Scheppelmann (General Director) and Jonathan Dean (Dramaturg) hosted the discussions.

CHARLIE PARKER'S YARDBIRD 101 Jan 27, 2020

Show notes

A new opera that combines jazz and classical? Charlie Parker's Yardbird is about music, creativity, communication, race and racism, drugs and addiction, and life and death and freedom. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces this new opera with music by Daniel Schnyder and a libretto by Bridgette A. Wimberly. Musical examples from an Opera Philadelphia performance, starring Lawrence Brownlee as Charlie Parker, Will Liverman as Dizzy Gillespie, Angela Brown as Addie, Emily Pogorelc as Chan, Elena Perroni as Doris, Chrystal E. Williams as Rebecca, and Tamara Mumford as Nica. The Opera Philadelphia orchestra is conducted by Corrado Rovaris.

TOSCA 101 Jan 02, 2020

Show notes

Tosca is both a great opera for newbies to the art form and a rewarding piece to hear multiple times; it's accessible—a 'thriller' as cinematic as any Hollywood classic—and also stacked with layers of sumptuous artistry to savor. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces Tosca, with musical examples from Seattle Opera archival recordings of Tosca made in 2001, 2007, and 2015 and featuring Stefano Secco and Frank Porretta, Jr. as Cavaradossi, Greer Grimsley as Scarpia, and Marcy Stonikas, Ausrine Stundyte, Lisa Daltirus, and Carol Vaness as Tosca. The chorus and orchestra of Seattle Opera were conducted by Antonello Allemandi in 2001, Vjekoslav Sutej in 2007, and Julian Kovatchev in 2015.

FLIGHT 101 Jan 02, 2020

Show notes

One of late twentieth-century opera's great successes, Flight, with music by Jonathan Dove to a libretto by April DeAngelis, makes a long-awaited Seattle premiere in 2021. This "Marriage of Figaro for the 1990s" is a bold and beautiful opera, with a message more pertinent than ever. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces Flight, with musical examples from the commercially available recording, available from Chandos records at https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2010197. David Parry conducted the Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra in 2003, and the cast includes Christopher Robson as the Refugee, Claron McFadden as the Controller, Richard Coxon and Mary Plazas as Bill and Tiny, Nuala Willis as the Older Woman, Ann Taylor and Garry Magee as the Stewardess and Steward, and Steven Page and Anne Mason as the Minskman and Minskwoman.

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