San Diego Opera Podcast
316 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 20 ratingsGive us 15 minutes a week, we'll give you the operatic world! Learn all about the music and stories behind this great art form, and explore the San Diego Opera 2008 Season: Tannhauser, Maria Stuarda, Cavalleria rusticana, Pagliacci, Aida and The Pearl Fishers.
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Episodes
Meet Hansel: Mezzo-Soprano, Blythe Gaissert
January 27, 2020 21:44 - 8 minutes - 157 MB VideoBlythe Gaissert was last with us in 2017 in our Detour production of Laura Kaminsky's As One, and returns now as Hansel in Hansel and Gretel. In this interview with Nic Reveles, she tells us about the physicality necessary to play this very active role, as well as the vocal resources necessary to carry over Humperdinck's large, Wagnerian style orchestra! Enjoy this fun interview with this delightful artist!
Meet Gretel: Soprano, Sara Gartland
January 26, 2020 01:09 - 8 minutes - 156 MB VideoThe delightful Sara Gartland is back with us as Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, after having performed the role of Musetta for us in La boheme (2015). She's really thought a lot about Gretel and what makes her tick in this operatic version of the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale. Listen in as our Nic Reveles interviews her about this charming production and the challenges of the score by composer Englebert Humperdinck!
Meet the Witch: Tenor, Joel Sorensen
January 22, 2020 00:09 - 11 minutes - 218 MB VideoWe've done Humperdinck's wonderful opera Hansel and Gretel a number of times in our history of productions here at San Diego Opera, but we've never had a tenor play the role of the Witch! We're welcoming back tenor Joel Sorensen, who's been with the company a number of times since 1999 (Carlisle Floyd's Of Mice and Men). On top of singing the role, something of a challenge simply from the standpoint of musicality and vocalism, Joel has to manipulate a life-sized puppet as a costume, somethin...
Meet Radames: Tenor Carl Tanner
October 11, 2019 00:23 - 9 minutes - 109 MB VideoIt’s always great to welcome back friends who’ve sung with us before, and that’s certainly true of tenor Carl Tanner. Last with us as Calaf in Puccini’s Turandot, he now sings the role of Radames in Verdi’s Aida, a role with few parallels in the ‘big’ tenor repertoire! He reflects on his first-ever Radames which he sung with Mobile Opera in Alabama, a production story that includes an elephant, a horse and a python…not an especially good combination! Enjoy!
Meet Amneris: Oleysa Petrova
October 11, 2019 00:09 - 9 minutes - 107 MB VideoCheck out our latest SDO Podcast as Nic Reveles interviews our Amneris in Verdi’s Aida, Russian mezzo-soprano Olesya Petrova. Born in St. Petersburg, her love for her native city is palpable as she talks about the artistic atmosphere that surrounded her during her vocal studies. She has some wonderfully insightful things to say about the character of Amneris, one of the most challenging roles in the Verdi repertoire for mezzo. Enjoy!
Carmen: Meet Stage Director, Kyle Lang
March 28, 2019 01:22 - 13 minutes - 164 MB VideoThe wonderful young stage director Kyle Lang brought us terrific productions of The Pirates of Penzance and As One in the last couple of seasons. He's back for Carmen, and that's truly something to be excited about! Listen in as he tells us all about his approach to this classic opera and how each of the principal characters fit in the tragic story. Enjoy!
Carmen: Meet Robert Watson
March 27, 2019 03:42 - 14 minutes - 172 MB VideoTenor Robert Watson, our Don Jose in Carmen opening this week, has a lot to say about this character. Jose has one of the most interesting character arcs in all opera, moving from lyrical naif to obsessive lover with all of the musical changes that arc demands. The young singer talks about his beginnings as well, hailing from Kansas City (like colleague co-star Scott Conner, our Escamillo) and coming up through the ranks in the German fest system. Enjoy!
Carmen: Meet Sarah Tucker
March 21, 2019 22:35 - 9 minutes - 106 MB VideoSoprano Sarah Tucker sings the role of Micaela in our production of Bizet's Carmen, a role that fits her very well. Micaela is, of course, Don Jose's childhood friend who has come to Seville to bring memories of home and the love of his mother who awaits him in their village. The character as written is rather straightforward, but Sarah talks about how she will come across as somewhat more complex in this production, and how that complexity comes from Bizet's wonderful score. Enjoy.
Carmen: Meet Scott Conner
March 21, 2019 18:00 - 14 minutes - 172 MB VideoBass Scott Conner sings the role of Escamillo in our production of Carmen by Georges Bizet. Listening to this voice...even his speaking voice...you'll want to hear him let loose in the Civic Theatre with the wonderful Toreador Song, an entrance aria like no other! Scott hails from Kansas City and in this interview he talks about his background, his studies and the roles that he's portraying all over the world. On top of it, he's a delightful guy! Enjoy.
Carmen: Meet Ginger Costa-Jackson
March 19, 2019 00:11 - 13 minutes - 158 MB VideoMezzo-soprano Ginger Costa-Jackson obviously loves the opera Carmen, and has some definite viewpoints when it comes to the main character she portrays. It all boils down to being fully present, completely focused when playing this volatile character, she says. In this delightful interview she digs a little deeper for us and gives the audience a preview of what her Carmen will be! Enjoy.
Three Decembers: Adam Turner
March 04, 2019 22:26 - 14 minutes - 174 MB VideoConductor Adam Turner recently became the Artistic Director and Conductor for Virginia Opera, making him one of the youngest AD's in the American opera world. This is his third time at the helm for Jake Heggie's Three Decembers, and in this interview he reflects on the piece, on chamber opera generally, and on his career. Enjoy this fifth and final interview of the principals in this production!
Three Decembers: Meet Stage Director, Karen Tiller
March 02, 2019 23:58 - 13 minutes - 158 MB VideoDirector Karen Tiller has directed Three Decembers three times now, and obviously loves this opera by Jake Heggie. In this interview she talks about her love for the piece as well as for her deep appreciation for its connection between drama, text and music. At the heart of the matter, she says, the message of this opera is that "life is messy", a direct quote from the libretto. Spend a few minutes with this artist and you'll see why we're so excited to present this opera, opening March 8th!
Three Decembers: Meet Kristin Clayton
February 28, 2019 00:37 - 9 minutes - 114 MB VideoSoprano Kristin Clayton has had quite an eclectic career so far...singing roles like Mimi and Violetta, plus singing new roles and including working with a circus! She originated the role of Beatrice in Heggie's Three Decembers, and has an affinity for this wonderful character who is searching for memories of her father, being protective of her brother Charlie and dealing with the sometimes present, sometimes absent mother, Maddy. Join us for this fun conversation with a San Diego Opera debu...
Three Decembers: Meet Steven LaBrie
February 27, 2019 14:03 - 10 minutes - 125 MB VideoBaritone Steven LaBrie sings the role of Charlie in Jake Heggie's opera Three Decembers. Charlie is the gay son of Madeline Mitchell (mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade) and brother of Bea (soprano Kristin Clayton) in this intimate family drama. Steven hails from Dallas and has a charming story about his attraction to opera and, eventually, to singing as a career, in this lively interview in which he talks about his career and this wonderful chamber opera. Enjoy!
Three Decembers: Meet Frederica von Stade
February 26, 2019 17:18 - 19 minutes - 229 MB VideoWe already know what a delightful person and great artist Frederica von Stade is. We're welcoming her back to San Diego Opera in the role of Madeline Mitchell, the central character in Jake Heggie's Three Decembers. In this interview she talks about the opera and her role in it, with an additional few words about opera composer Dominick Argento who passed away just a few days before this interview (aged 91) and composed some lovely music for this singer. A wonderful few minutes with a charmi...
Rigoletto: Conductor, Steven White
February 01, 2019 19:18 - 15 minutes - 185 MB VideoMaestro Steven White is making his debut with San Diego Opera in this production of Rigoletto. (He also happens to be married to soprano Elizabeth Futral who has been with us on several occasions in the past, most notably as Violetta in our 2010 La traviata.) Steven is in love with this Verdi masterwork and has a lot of wonderful things to say about its musical structure in scintillating conversation with Nic Reveles. In fact, they both seem to enjoy "geeking out" over Verdi! Have fun with t...
Rigoletto: Stage Director, Michael Cavanagh
January 30, 2019 14:07 - 15 minutes - 189 MB VideoThis is Canadian stage director Michael Cavanagh's debut with San Diego Opera and he's made quite an impression on the cast and crew working on Rigoletto with his positivity, collegiality and generous support of everyone involved in this important project! Listen in to this conversation with Nic Reveles as he gives us his point of view on Verdi's masterpiece and an inside look at what opera stage directors do. Enjoy!
Rigoletto: Tenor, Scott Quinn
January 29, 2019 22:53 - 14 minutes - 168 MB VideoGet ready for a delightful conversation with tenor, Scott Quinn, singing the role of the Duke of Mantua in San Diego Opera's production of Verdi's Rigoletto. Scott is singing the role of a narcissistic, entitled nobleman who uses women for his own pleasure and has utterly no empathy for them. Yet, Verdi gives this character some of the most beautiful and voluptuous music in the opera! Scott discusses that, as well as his past journey into the opera world and a comment or two about how tenors...
Rigoletto: Soprano Alisa Jordheim
January 23, 2019 23:47 - 12 minutes - 143 MB VideoSoprano Alisa Jordheim is a wonderful young singer making her role debut as well as her company debut with us as Gilda in Rigoletto. In this conversation with Dr. Nic she talks about being a grad student and finding herself in a production of the same opera with Stephen Powell (singing Rigoletto in our production), as well as the challenges of the role. In a fascinating detour, she talks about the importance of breath and where a good singer's breath must emanate from. Listen in and enjoy!
Rigoletto: Interview with Stephen Powell
January 22, 2019 00:19 - 11 minutes - 139 MB VideoBaritone Stephen Powell is one of our favorite singers here at San Diego Opera, having sung ten productions with us over the years. He's bringing us his very special take on one of the strangest yet most powerful characters in all opera, and a favorite of the composer himself: Rigoletto. It's a role that demands absolutely everything: technique, musicality, a strong voice and physicality. In this conversation with Nic Reveles the singer shares his ideas about this role as well as some of the...
All Is Calm: Meet Stage Director, Alan Hicks
November 26, 2018 21:07 - 12 minutes - 142 MB VideoDirector Alan Hicks is new to San Diego Opera, holding a joint position as Assistant Stage Director for the company and as head of the opera program at San Diego State University. In this interview he shares his preparation for the WWI opera All Is Calm, and brings his insight to this intimate and stunning musical theatre experience. Enjoy!
All Is Calm: Meet Conductor Juan Carlos Acosta
November 13, 2018 22:32 - 14 minutes - 168 MB VideoJuan Carlos Acosta has a long-standing relationship with San Diego Opera, as a student at our Student Dress Rehearsals, as a subscriber, as a member of the San Diego Opera Chorus and now as conductor of our upcoming production: All Is Calm. In this interview he talks about the challenges of keeping a 16-member all-male chorus on track (and on pitch!) without the presence of an orchestra or some kind of instrumental accompaniment. This unique opera has got Juan Carlos and our Dr. Nic very exc...
The Marriage of Figaro: Meet Conductor John Nelson
October 15, 2018 23:18 - 11 minutes - 130 MB VideoIn this fascinating interview, Maestro John Nelson shares his thoughts about Mozart, the brilliant young cast of The Marriage of Figaro, Stephen Lawless' flawless production (which, according to Nelson is the most musically effective production of an opera that he's ever seen), and spirituality as communicated in the famous 'perdono' scene at the end. (No spoilers here!) Enjoy!
Meeting Cherubino: The Marriage of Figaro
October 10, 2018 22:50 - 10 minutes - 123 MB VideoMezzo-soprano Emily Fons is back with us in the trouser role of Cherubino for The Marriage of Figaro. She was last with us as Zerlina in Mozart's Don Giovanni, and her contribution to that show was simply fantastic! In this interview with Dr. Nic she talks about the nature of trouser roles (for those of us who don't know what that is or who need a 'brush up'!), about the character of Cherubino and about her experience with playing this fun part. This is an absolutely delightful interview, so...
Meet Susanna and the Countess: The Marriage of Figaro
October 09, 2018 22:24 - 14 minutes - 175 MB VideoSopranos Sarah Shafer and Caitlin Lynch sing the roles of Susanna and the Countess Almaviva, respectively, in our production of The Marriage of Figaro. Ms. Lynch catches up on Rosina a few years into her role as the wife of Count Almaviva and Ms. Shafer lets us in a bit on the back story of Susanna, the Count's current target for seduction. The plot thickens in this conversation with two wonderful debut artists in this Mozart classic. Enjoy!
Meet Figaro and the Count: The Marriage of Figaro
October 08, 2018 22:53 - 15 minutes - 183 MB VideoBass-baritone Evan Hughes and baritone John Moore play Figaro and Count Almaviva, respectively, in our upcoming production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. In this wonderful conversation with Nic Reveles they talk about their careers, their roles and the contributions of the author of the plays that this opera (and Rossini's The Barber of Seville) are based on: Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais. These singers also find a lot in this opera for us to think about in terms of current affa...
Carmen: Interview with David Bennett
August 06, 2018 22:19 - 14 minutes - 164 MB VideoBizet's opera Carmen is right up there with La boheme and Aida in terms of popularity, and so it returns to SDO with a new production for us, and a brilliant new cast of young singers. In this interview with General Director David Bennett, he talks about the return of opera's favorite femme fatale!
Three Decembers: Interview with David Bennett
August 06, 2018 22:12 - 14 minutes - 165 MB VideoJake Heggie's connection with Frederica Von Stade is well known, and this was the first complete operatic role that he created for her. We are honored that Ms. Von Stade will be with us again, along with this challenging work about family...the relationships we have as opposed to the ones we wish we had. Enjoy this conversation with General Director David Bennett!
Rigoletto: Interview with David Bennett
August 06, 2018 22:00 - 11 minutes - 138 MB VideoOne of Verdi's greatest creations, Rigoletto graces our stage again after a ten-year absence. The opera was a real experiment for the composer in that it breaks with so many operatic traditions, like giving the main character an aria or two...what Rigoletto gets are monologues, making him a kind of musical Shakespearean character. Enjoy what Mr. Bennett has to say about the singers and the production of this dynamic piece of musical theatre!
All Is Calm: Interview with David Bennett
August 06, 2018 21:52 - 8 minutes - 99 MB VideoAll Is Calm, a production originally conceived by Theatre Latte Da in Minneapolis, is a choral opera about a true story: the Christmas Eve cease fire in 1914, when the Allies and German troops in the trenches spent a few hours at peace, singing their favorite carols, sharing stories and even playing a soccer match. In this interview General Director David Bennett talks about the origins of this production from Bodhi Tree Concerts and the involvement of the choral group Sacra Profana. Enjoy!
The Marriage of Figaro: Interview with David Bennett
August 06, 2018 21:43 - 21 minutes - 221 MB VideoIn this conversation with David Bennett, General Director of San Diego Opera, you'll hear all about the singers, the director, the conductor and this wonderful new production of Mozart's masterpiece. Figaro is both a drama and a comedy with some of the most beautiful and engaging music ever written for the stage. Enjoy!
Florencia en el Amazonas: A Conversation with Andrea Catan
March 15, 2018 01:51 - 13 minutes - 163 MB VideoAndrea Catan, the widow of composer Daniel Catan, is a thoughtful and passionate advocate for her late husband's works, especially Florencia en el Amazonas. In this conversation with Dr. Nic, she talks about her husband's legacy, the music, its effect on the audience and her continuing joy in promoting the work of this master composer. We're honored that she took the time to spend with our audience, to give us an idea of what to expect when we see this wonderful piece. Enjoy!
Florencia en el Amazonas: Meet Hector Vasquez & Luis Alejandro Orozco
March 13, 2018 01:03 - 13 minutes - 163 MB VideoBaritones Hector Vasquez and Luis Alejandro Orozco have both been involved in previous productions of Florencia en el Amazonas. Vasquez created the role of Alvaro at the world premiere at Houston Grand Opera and has since taken on the role of The Captain. Orozco has covered Riolobo (at Washington National Opera) and sung the role at Arizona Opera. These two artists have a lot to say about the opera, its music and its challenges, but overall are just great people to listen to! Enjoy their con...
Florencia en el Amazonas: Soprano, Elaine Alvarez
March 10, 2018 23:03 - 13 minutes - 163 MB VideoSoprano Elaine Alvarez is singing the title role in Daniel Catan's Florencia en el Amazonas. In this conversation with Dr. Nic she talks about her exciting operatic debut at Chicago Lyric Opera as Mimi in La boheme, under the direction of renowned diva Renata Scotto, and her approach to the lyrical, challenging music of Daniel Catan. We can't wait to hear and see her at the opening of this wonderful opera on Saturday, March 17th!!
Florencia en el Amazonas: Meet Director, Candace Evans
March 07, 2018 01:53 - 12 minutes - 138 MB VideoStage director Candace Evans is making her San Diego Opera debut with Florencia en el Amazonas. In her mind, the characters in this opera are all looking for something that a trip into the river...dark, mysterious, filled with colorful but maybe dangerous creatures...challenges them to find. Every character in the opera comes away from the journey somehow changed, transformed. In a revealing interview with Dr. Nic she shares her excitement for this wonderful piece! Enjoy.
Florencia en el Amazonas: Meet Joseph Mechavich
March 06, 2018 14:24 - 8 minutes - 97.4 MB VideoIf you want to know more about Daniel Catan's music for Florencia en el Amazonas, GO NO FURTHER! In this brief conversation with the conductor Joseph Mechavich, who will lead the musical forces in this San Diego Opera production, we get a wonderful description of the music as well as the music's role in communicating the 'magical realism' of the story. Enjoy!
Florencia en el Amazonas: Meet Rosalba and Arcadio
March 02, 2018 23:39 - 11 minutes - 133 MB VideoWhile Florencia en el Amazonas is about a primary couple...the opera singer Florencia and her long-lost lover Cristobal...the secondary romantic couple Arcadio and Rosalba are just as fascinating! Sung here by soprano Maria Fernanda Castillo and tenor Paul Montenegro, this young couple spends the opera flirting, philosophizing and then finally connecting romantically as they grow together in love. Listen to these wonderful young singers talk about the opera, their roles, and the wonderful co...
Meet the Conductor: Valerio Galli
February 20, 2018 15:59 - 11 minutes - 88.1 MB VideoMaestro Valerio Galli makes his San Diego Opera debut conducting Puccini's Turandot. The opera is close to Galli's heart because he hails from Viareggio, the neighboring town to the composer's Torre del Lago, and also an area where Puccini built a beautiful villa. In fact, in departing, Galli mentioned that his grandfather had at one point met the composer who was looking for advice on fixing his motorboat (one of Puccini's prized possessions!) Listen in on this conversation with Dr. Nic and...
Meet Stage Director Keturah Stickann
February 17, 2018 00:16 - 12 minutes - 147 MB VideoKeturah Stickann has been with San Diego Opera for a good amount of time, as a dancer, choreographer, assistant director and now as the stage director of our latest production of Turandot. In this conversation with Dr. Nic, she explores production and costume elements of the show and talks about the ideas that helped her make a deep connection with this story. Again we're acquainted with the Persian roots of the story and the influence of the poet and mystic Rumi who Ms. Stickann found an im...
Meeting Calaf: Tenor, Carl Tanner
February 15, 2018 16:28 - 19 minutes - 195 MB VideoTenor Carl Tanner has been singing all the big, hefty Italian tenor roles: Otello, Manrico, Radames, Calaf. Otello has become a go-to role for him, an opera that he's appeared in many times. In this conversation with Dr. Nic he talks about how he got there, the challenges of these roles, how to deal with the ubiquitous sound of Pavarotti singing "Nessun dorma", and a fascinating side-career in jewelry design! Enjoy.
Meeting Liu: Soprano, Angel Blue
February 13, 2018 13:31 - 16 minutes - 187 MB VideoAngel Blue is one of opera's up-and-coming stars and is making her role (and house) debut as Liu in our production of Turandot. As a Southern Californian and University of Redlands graduate, she's practically a 'local' and, as she expresses in this interview, is delighted to be singing at home! She recently made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Mimi and is looking forward to upcoming appearances as Marguerite in Faust and Violetta in La traviata. Enjoy this conversation!
Meeting Turandot: Soprano, Lise Lindstrom
February 10, 2018 14:37 - 16 minutes - 198 MB VideoIn a free-wheeling conversation with Dr. Nic, soprano Lise Lindstrom discusses Wagner, performance prep, acting challenges, Wozzeck and Persian classical music! Yep, it was one of those conversations: delightful, insightful, fun, and reflective of the committed professional life of one of today's most successful singers, who also happens to be one of San Diego Opera's favorite people! Enjoy!
Maria de Buenos Aires: meet baritone Paul La Rosa
January 22, 2018 19:09 - 14 minutes - 170 MB VideoBaritone Paul La Rosa sings the payador, the minstrel or troubadour who plays many roles throughout the narrative of Maria de Buenos Aires. Normally Paul is singing the standard Italian and French repertoire, but in this conversation he makes a good case for the versatility that every opera singer needs in order to have a successful career. Enjoy!
Maria de Buenos Aires: Meet Maestro Bruce Stasyna
January 18, 2018 22:52 - 17 minutes - 205 MB VideoOn Tuesday, January 16, Bruce Stasyna, Chorus Master of the San Diego Opera Chorus and Music Administrator for San Diego Opera, gave a talk to donors and supporters about Astor Piazzolla's Maria de Buenos Aires. In his presentation he talked about the role of a conductor, how he approaches rehearsals with singers and orchestra, the origins of the tango, Piazzolla's role as a composer and why the conductor is relishing the opportunity to play and conduct from the piano in this production. Pun...
Maria de Buenos Aires: Meet John de los Santos
January 17, 2018 00:29 - 10 minutes - 122 MB VideoStage director and choreographer John de los Santos has come up with some terrific ideas about staging Maria de Buenos Aires which, in some ways, can be considered an elusive piece. But he's fashioned a narrative for it that will really help us, the audience, grasp it immediately, just as we will be quickly engaged by the music. Enjoy!
Maria de Buenos Aires: Meet Audrey Babcock
January 13, 2018 00:00 - 8 minutes - 93.6 MB VideoMezzo-soprano Audrey Babcock is singing her role debut in our production of Maria de Buenos Aires. A veteran singer of the role of Carmen, her voice and theatrical personality are perfect for Maria. In this podcast episode she talks about her take on the character and the fascinating libretto of Horacio Ferrer. Enjoy!
Tango in Maria de Buenos Aires
January 10, 2018 15:06 - 8 minutes - 91.1 MB VideoWho knew tango...the dance and the music...was so complicated?? The origins of the tango are disputed, confused and floating somewhere in the mists of time. And different styles of tango are so different that it is difficult to come up with a nice, clean definition of the art form. Yet, when we hear a tango we know what it is! Amazing. Check out this latest podcast on how Astor Piazzolla uses the tango in his operita, Maria de Buenos Aires. Enjoy!
Turandot: A Listener's Guide
December 19, 2017 17:19 - 22 minutes - 263 MB VideoIf you're new to Turandot, or just want to brush up your knowledge of the music in this beautiful score, here's just the thing for you. In today's podcast Dr. Nic briefly outlines the story and touches on some of the more important musical moments, the 'stand-out' places that we enjoy every time we encounter this special opera. Enjoy!
Maria de Buenos Aires: Astor Piazzolla
November 18, 2017 21:59 - 6 minutes - 68.8 MB VideoIt's taken awhile for the entrancing, intimate and alternative opera Maria de Buenos Aires to make it to San Diego Opera, but it's finally here and we're all very excited! This opera is infused with the spirit and melodic adventure of the tango, the cultural habitat of Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla. In this informative podcast, Dr. Nic gives you a bit of the story of this interesting artist with some suggestions about recordings that you might want to get in order to prepare for this ...
As One: Stage Director, Kyle Lang
November 07, 2017 14:45 - 11 minutes - 131 MB VideoKyle Lang has worked with the company for a few seasons now in the position of assistant director and, for The Pirates of Penzance, associate director. In this conversation with Dr. Nic he discusses his approach to the opera As One, especially the difference between preparing a standard repertoire item like Tosca or La boheme, and a relatively new opera. Enjoy!