Ep. 182: Great Divas I Have Seen Part II with Ira Siff
In today’s episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, join Ira Siff as he discusses diva powerhouses like Maria Callas, Renata Scotto, and the incomparable Leontyne Price.
Met Opera Guild Podcast
Behind the grand curtain of the Metropolitan Opera lies a world of artistry, history, and sheer human endeavor. The Met Opera Guild Podcast, presented by the Metropolitan Opera Guild, offers an intimate microphone to that world. This isn't just a series of interviews or plot summaries; it’s a backstage pass to the conversations that define opera today. You’ll hear from the singers who breathe life into iconic roles, the directors who envision bold new productions, and the craftspeople whose meticulous work builds the magic. Each episode delves into the creative process, exploring the technical demands and emotional depths of the repertoire, from beloved classics to contemporary works. The discussions go beyond performance to touch on the musicology, the stagecraft, and the very business of keeping this grand art form vital and accessible. For anyone curious about the voices behind the voices, or for the seasoned fan seeking a deeper connection, this podcast provides a rich and engaging audio companion. It captures the passion and expertise of the Guild’s community, transforming the monumental experience of the opera house into something personal and immediate, one conversation at a time. Tune in to discover the stories that make every night at the Met an event, and to understand the continuous collaboration that opera, at its heart, truly is.
Episodes
Ep. 181: Great Divas I Have Seen Part I with Ira Siff
Worshipped, adored, and celebrated for their singing, the operatic diva has been thrilling audiences since the beginning of opera as an art form. In today’s episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, we join lectur…
Ep. 180: Opera and the Sea with Desirée Mays Part II
Whether you consider yourself a Wagnerian, or perhaps you are more drawn to the 20th Century nature of Benjamin Britten’s music, the sea has inspired some of opera’s most creative works. On this episode of The Metropolit…
Ep. 179: Opera and the Sea with Desirée Mays Part I
The sea provides a vast array of opportunities for storytelling in operas. Despite being composed at different times and locations, composers and librettists have adapted the theme of the sea in unique ways. On this epis…
Ep. 178: Maria Callas Course Promo Episode
How did Maria Callas become a household name, and what happens when a singer’s vocal powers diminish? Who were Maria Callas’s contemporaries, and what stars have carried on her vocal legacy? Today lecturer Matthew Timmer…
Ep. 177: Opera in England Part II
Known for operatic works such as Peter Grimes, Turn of the Screw, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Benjamin Britten drastically modernized opera in England, evolving it to become incredibly important in the operatic canon.…
Ep. 176: Die Frau ohne Schatten Talking About Opera
“Die Frosch” is the German word for “The Frog.” While Strauss may have playfully given this unfavorable nickname to Die Frau Ohne Schatten due to the many difficulties in staging the opera, he also regarded it as one of…
Ep. 175: Opera in England Part I
John Blow, Thomas Arne, Henry Purcell, and George Fredric Handel all had great success composing in England. They all also have music strongly associated with British Monarchy - Blow, Arne, and Purcell all wrote Coronati…
Ep. 174: Jazz and Opera Part II with Deidre Bird
Featuring jazz rhythms, blues, banjos, and African American spirituals, Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess challenged pre-existing notions of what an American opera could be. Although Porgy and Bess has a complicated history, Ger…
Ep. 173: Jazz and Opera Part I with Deidre Bird
In recent years, DiDonato, Racette, and Upshaw have all released jazz albums, such as Songplay, Diva on Detour, and Winter Morning Walks. Sometimes we think that singers are either categorized as opera singers, or as sin…
