Seattle Opera Podcast

This episode discusses Seattle Opera's production of Anthony Davis's opera 'X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X', featuring interviews with the composer and conductor.

This episode introduces Richard Strauss's 1938 opera Daphne, describing it as a bucolic tragedy that highlights Seattle Opera's orchestra and tells the story of a young woman connected to nature.

This podcast introduces Puccini's popular opera Tosca, highlighting its enduring appeal, thrilling story, gorgeous music, and significance as Seattle Opera's first production.

This episode features an interview with musicologist Dr.

This episode introduces Das Rheingold as a standalone opera, exploring its dual nature as a mythological adventure story and a revolutionary work of music theater that critiques 19th-century political economy.

Mary Elizabeth Williams discusses her role debut as Isolde in Seattle Opera's production of Tristan und Isolde, reflecting on her preparation and emotional journey through the performance.

Jonathan Dean introduces Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde, exploring its themes of love and death and its unique musical approach.

This podcast provides a music lesson to help modern listeners understand how Mozart used 18th-century musical forms like marches, minuets, and accompanied recitative to tell the story in The Marriage of Figaro.

This podcast episode features a conversation with the creative team behind Seattle Opera's new intimate chamber production of Gluck's opera Orpheus and Eurydice, exploring themes of love, loss, and letting go.

This podcast introduces Camille Saint-Saëns' opera 'Samson and Delilah,' discussing its musical style, historical context, and Seattle Opera's upcoming concert performance in January 2023.

This podcast introduces Fellow Travelers, a new American opera premiering at Seattle Opera in 2026 that centers on a same-sex relationship.

This podcast introduces Seattle Opera's upcoming production of The Pirates of Penzance, explaining its nature as a light comic operetta and addressing why an opera company would stage such a work.

Jonathan Dean introduces Mozart's opera The Magic Flute, highlighting its music and popular characters like the Queen of the Night and Papageno.

This podcast introduces Seattle Opera's upcoming concert performance of Hector Berlioz's French grand opera Les Troyens, based on Virgil's Aeneid, featuring conductor Ludovic Morleau and star singers Jenny Bridges and Russell Thomas.

This podcast introduces Jubilee, Seattle Opera's fall 2024 production celebrating African American spirituals as America's first musical contribution and foundation for all later American music.

This episode explores the Barber of Seville as a beloved comic opera that combines broad humor with exceptional vocal music, highlighting its accessibility and the skill required for performance.

This episode features backstage interviews with four Seattle Opera professionals discussing their roles in the production of La Boheme, focusing on costume and wardrobe differences.

This episode introduces the beloved opera La Boheme, discussing its timeless music, characters, and themes of youth and nostalgia.

An interview with conductor Giacomo Sagripanti discussing his work on Rossini's opera Contori and other productions in Seattle.

This episode features an intermission interview with Phil Kelsey, Seattle Opera's assistant conductor, discussing his role and extensive experience working on multiple Ring Cycle productions since the 1980s.

Two Seattle Opera stage managers share their experiences working on the 2005 Ring Cycle production, discussing their roles and reminiscing about performers.

This episode features a conversation between lighting designer Connie Yoon and master carpenter Tim Buck discussing their technical roles and experiences working on Seattle Opera's 2005 Ring Cycle production.

This podcast introduces Verdi's beloved opera La Traviata, explaining its popularity and the emotional context behind its familiar melodies.

This episode explores Verdi's opera La Traviata through a sex-positive lens with guests Brick House and Muneca, discussing themes of sexuality, sex work, and pleasure.

This intermission chat features Seattle Opera dramaturg Jonathan Dean interviewing Melanie Ross about her childhood memories of moving to Seattle when her father became the founding General Director of Seattle Opera and her career rise within the company.

This podcast features highlights from post-performance Q&A sessions with the cast and creative team of the world premiere opera adaptation of Khalid Hosseini's novel 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' at Seattle Opera.

This podcast introduces the music and background of the upcoming world premiere opera 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' at Seattle Opera, based on Khaled Hosseini's novel.

James Robinson, General and Artistic Director of Seattle Opera, announces the 2025-26 season lineup featuring The Pirates of Penzance, Daphne in concert, Fellow Travelers, and Carmen, highlighting new productions and musical excitement.

This episode introduces the upcoming Seattle Opera production of 'X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X', detailing its history from the 1980s creation by composer Anthony Davis to its recent revival and co-production with major opera companies.

This episode introduces Seattle Opera's production of Donizetti's charming opera 'Elixir of Love', highlighting its lighthearted romantic comedy and family-friendly appeal.

Jonathan Dean introduces Handel's opera Alcina, explaining Baroque opera differences like castrato singers and repetition for newcomers.

This podcast introduces the opera Pagliacci, exploring its themes of reality versus artifice, societal roles, and its dramatic elements of passion and murder.

A Seattle Opera dramaturg interviews a Buddhist psychologist to explore Buddhist perspectives on Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde.

Stephen Stubbs discusses Christoph Willibald Gluck's opera Éphigénie, highlighting Gluck's historical significance between Baroque masters and Mozart, and how this work represents the culmination of his career.

This episode features an interview with Professor Annegret Oehme about Gottfried von Strauss's medieval Tristan poem, which served as the primary source for Richard Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde.

This episode introduces listeners to the opera Carmen, highlighting its popular tunes and cultural impact through examples from The Muppet Show and Gilligan's Island.

Two Seattle Opera staff members share behind-the-scenes insights and personal highlights from working on multiple productions of Wagner's Ring Cycle.

This episode features an interview with musician Vanessa Vo about her role playing Vietnamese instruments in the chamber opera 'Bound', which tells the true story of a Vietnamese-American individual.

Seattle Opera announces its 2024-25 season lineup of five main stage operas, including Pagliacci, Jubilee, Le Troyen Carthage, Magic Flute, and Tosca, with insights into artistic planning and production details.

This episode introduces Handel's opera Alcina and argues for his recognition as a major composer alongside 19th and 20th-century giants.

This podcast episode explores the vocal roles and singers in Wagner's opera Das Rheingold, highlighting the diverse voice types and characters.

This episode explores the Barber of Seville as a beloved comic opera that combines broad humor with exceptional vocal skill, highlighting its accessibility and the challenges of performing it.

This episode explores the complex relationship between modern opera companies and the legacy of Wagner, focusing on Seattle Opera's production of Tristan und Isolde and broader industry reflections on problematic European works.

This episode features an interview with musicologists Naomi André and Kira Thurman discussing Black opera, German musical identity, and the intersection of race, music, and national identity in Central Europe.

Two sopranos from Seattle Opera discuss their favorite moments and experiences from the production of The Elixir of Love.

This episode discusses Seattle Opera's upcoming performance of Wagner's Die Walkur and explores the complex legacy of the controversial composer through a conversation with scholar Naomi Andre.

Seattle Opera General Director Christina Scheppelmann announces the 2022-23 season lineup including five operas and provides details about the opening production of Elixir of Love.

This episode features an intermission chat with musicians Paul Raffinelli and Jeannie Wells-Jablonski, who discuss their experiences performing in Seattle Opera's 2005 Ring Cycle, including the challenges and memorable moments under conductor Armin Jordan.

Violinist Kathy Boyer and horn player Mark Robbins share behind-the-scenes stories from Seattle Opera's Ring Cycle, including technical challenges, humorous mishaps, and memorable moments like the Siegfried horn call and a real bear cub on stage.

This episode celebrates the life and career of bass singer Arthur Woodley, who passed away in November, featuring archival recordings from Seattle Opera that highlight his multilingual performances and global impact in the opera world.