Ep. 100: Lulu

Ep. 100: Lulu

Author: Opera After Dark September 30, 2019 Duration: 55:34
For our 100th episode, we tackle one of the difficult operas to talk about concisely... Berg's LULU! It is NOT funny, it is NOT uplifting, it is NOT easy to talk about concisely... but it is one of the most important operas of the 20th century, and it was a listener request... so here we go! Thank you for listening, and here is to 100 MORE episodes to come! <3

The backstage world of opera and classical music is far stranger and more human than its polished, public facade suggests. Opera After Dark pulls back the velvet curtain, guided by the informal, wine-fueled conversations of hosts Naomi Barrettara, Elspeth Davis, and Kyle Homewood. This isn't a lecture hall; it's the feeling of lingering at a kitchen table after a show, dissecting the scandalous affairs, bitter rivalries, and outright bizarre true stories that fueled the creation of history's most revered music. Each episode feels like an intimate gathering where the "high art" is approached with genuine curiosity, irreverent humor, and a shared sense of discovery. You'll hear about composers' chaotic personal lives, the hidden meanings in iconic scores, and the moments where sheer genius collided with utter madness. The tone of this podcast is conversational and unpretentious, built on the idea that the most profound connections to this music often happen when we're relaxed enough to see the people behind the pedestals. Tune in for stories that are passionate, surprising, and deeply entertaining, all shared with the warmth and ease of friends who love pulling the thread to see what unravels.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Opera After Dark
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 132: Rage Arias [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:45
What do you do when you find yourself filled with rage? In the opera world, you sing an emotionally charged Rage Aria. In this episode, we're talking about some of opera's most rageful moments.
Ep. 131: Insertion Arias [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:36
What is a singer to do when the composer didn't right a banging aria for their character, or their aria leaves something to be desired? Insert a favorite aria of their choosing! It's hard to believe that this actually ha…
Ep. 130: Holiday Albums [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:25
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Ep. 129: The opera about the moon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:04
When you think about an opera about the Moon, does 20th-century music come to mind, or maybe the 21st? It turns out the first opera about space came way back in 1777. We hope you enjoy hearing about the Classical Era spa…
Ep. 128: Papa Haydn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:46
In the realm of classical music, there are few individuals as influential as Franz Joseph Haydn. Though not known for his operas, Haydn is the original master of the symphony and string quartet, and definitely lived an i…
Ep. 127: José Maurício Nunes Garcia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:06
Haven't heard of José Maurício? Neither had we! But it turns out he was a prolific Brazilian composer of the Classical Era, with over 200 published works and a Requiem that got the attention of Europe's best composers.
Episode 126: Duke Ellington and Queenie Pie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:04
In addition to his many accolades in the jazz world, Duke Ellington is another notable composer that tried his hand at opera. Though Ellington never finished his opera Queenie Pie, he definitely left us with some great t…
Ep. 125: Il Giasone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:55
Who knew that the most popular opera from the 17th-century was about some guy named Jason?! Apparently Elspeth did. Before you start imagining an opera about a '90s frat boy, you should know this opera is actually based…
Ep. 124: Scott Joplin & Treemonisha [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:35
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Ep. 123: Victoria and Albert [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:39
With Memorial Day upon us (USA) and Victoria Day (Canada) just passed, we are taking the opportunity to talk about Queen Victoria and her love of opera, which she shared with her husband Prince Albert.