Ep. 84: This vs. That - Aida vs. Aida

Ep. 84: This vs. That - Aida vs. Aida

Author: Opera After Dark February 26, 2019 Duration: 1:14:17
This is the episode you have all been waiting for: when our obsession with "Elaborate Lives" is explained, and we deep dive into AIDA by Elton John and Tim Rice, comparing it to the original AIDA, a beloved opera classic by Giuseppe Verdi! Listen all the way to the end, and not only will you get a great reprise of "Elaborate Lives" with a dark minor turn, but you will ALSO learn all about Michael Bolton's secret passion...

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. 102: Lucia di Lammermoor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:31
Over a year ago, the OAD team was in Scotland for the wedding of our very own Elspeth. Of course, when an opera fan hears Scottish wedding only one thing should come to mind: Lucia di Lammermoor. In this episode, recorde…
Ep. 101: Tudor Mania! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:31
Everyone loves a British Queen, especially Italians composing opera in the early 1800s! On this episode, we talk about bel canto tudor mania, and a present day parallel coming to Broadway this spring!
Ep. 100: Lulu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 ope…
Ep. 99: Handel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:12
This episode, and its horrible puns, are almost too much to Handel. We talk all about the most prolific opera composer of the Baroque period, George Fridric Handel, and the near-death experience that almost ended his car…
Ep. 98: Salome [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:16
When thinking of a scandalous opera, Salome is usually the first to come to mind. In this episode we talk about Salome's success from scandal, and exactly what makes this opera so challenging in every sense of the word.
Ep. 97: The summer that was, and the year ahead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:43
Opera After Dark is back for a fourth season! To kick things off, we recount the summer's adventures and look ahead at exciting productions to come in the 19-20 opera season.
Bonus: As One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:56
In a bonus mini-episode, we talk about As One, a modern opera by Laura Kaminsky, Mark Campbell, and Kimberly Reed. This comes ahead of our meet up on June 4 prior to seeing a performance of the opera at Merkin Concert Ha…
Ep. 96: Season 3 Finale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:43
The 18-19 opera season is coming to a close, so we're wrapping season 3 of Opera After Dark with a look back at our favorite operatic moments from the past year. Also, we hint at some exciting new content and live events…
Ep. 95: Götterdämmerung [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:28
We have come to the end of the Ring with an epic, over-an-hour-long episode on the final opera in the cycle: Götterdämmerung! In this episode, we talk about more tarnhelm shenanigans, magic potions, disguises, revenge, m…
Ep. 94: Siegfried [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:52
This week, we're back to Wagner's Ring Cycle, but still talking about a super hero origin story of sorts. A young man who knows no fear, the reforging of magical and powerful weapon, slaying a dragon, rescuing a woman fr…