A Voice on Fire!
[@4 min] Later this month, Agnes Baltsa will celebrate her 80th birthday, and since her handlers won’t answer our interview request, we’ll offer you the next best thing and induct the grandiose Greek mezzo-soprano into t…
Opera Box Score
Imagine a place where the soaring drama of the opera house meets the passionate, stat-filled debates of the sports bar. That’s the unique territory covered by Opera Box Score. This isn't a stuffy lecture on classical music; it’s a lively, opinionated conversation that treats opera with the same fervent analysis you’d give to a championship game. Each episode digs into the performances, the vocal techniques, and the sheer athleticism required on stage, breaking it down in a way that’s accessible whether you’re a seasoned aficionado or just curious about what all the shouting is about. You’ll hear discussions that feel more like post-game commentary, debating the highlights and missteps from recent productions, legendary recordings, and current stars. The hosts bring a genuine, unfiltered enthusiasm to every topic, arguing over a singer’s top form with the same intensity as debating a player’s MVP season. By blending the worlds of music commentary and sports talk, this podcast reveals the unexpected thrill and competitive spirit at the heart of opera. Tune in for a fresh, engaging take that proves the drama in the pit and on the stage is every bit as gripping as any sporting event.
Episodes
Denyce Graves in a Pantsuit! ft. Kenneth Kellogg
Alright, this week…it’s the first week in November in America and the election is the only thing we can think about. We have no idea if America will still be a thing by the time you hear this…but we will try to continue…
Opera Creeps!
Alright, it’s Halloween, and we’re here to warn you about opera characters you don’t want to be alone with in the woods…and wouldn’t you know it, none of them are bears! Plus we have lots of listener mail, so we are goin…
Battle of the Butterflies! ft. Ermonela Jaho
[@ 1 min] It’s the return of TKO, when we pit two sopranos against each other, one American and one Italian, in the obstacle course that is Madama Butterfly… [@ 39 min] And then, Ermonela Jaho, one of the undisputed grea…
Unmixed Doubles! ft. Galeano Salas and Antonin Rondepierre
[@ 4 min] It’s a Tenor Double Header! We go inside the huddle with two singers making their North American debuts in lead roles. First up, Mexican-American tenor Galeano Salas, who is set to co-star in La Traviata in Det…
Nothing Compares 2 Sinéad Campbell Wallace!
[@ 3 min] Sinéad Campbell Wallace goes Inside the Huddle! The Irish soprano shares how she began her career singing Handel and Mozart then took a long break to start a family and returned to singing as a Jugendliche dram…
Sex, Drugs, and Opera! ft. Ricky Ian Gordon
[@ 2 min] We go Inside the Huddle with Ricky Ian Gordon. The prolific American composer of operas such as "A Coffin in Egypt," "The Grapes of Wrath," and "Orpheus and Euridice" has another credit to add: author! Ricky wi…
The Bonnie Banks of Mumbai! ft. Vanessa Becerra
[@ 4 min] We go Inside the Huddle with Vanessa Becerra. The Peruvian and Mexican American soprano is set to make her Chicago Opera Theater debut in the title role of Ferdinando Paer’s Leonora. She joins OBS for a frank c…
Shows We Want to See! ft. Huw Montague Rendall
[@ 2 min] t’s fall, time for pumpkin-spice and football, and the OBS team shortlists what we want to see in the 2024-2025 opera season... [@ 21 min] And speaking of people you’ll want to hear this season, we have a Free…
George’s Last Dance! ft. Javier Camarena
[@ 4 min] It’s time to retire George's number. That’s right, it’s his final episode after nine years as a cohost on the OBS. The team say their goodbyes and reminisce about the good times (and a few of the bad...) [@ 25…
