Ep. 114 Amahl and the Night Visitors

Ep. 114 Amahl and the Night Visitors

Author: Opera for Everyone January 1, 2024 Duration: 1:58:27
In Amahl and the Night Visitors, a young boy and his mother unexpectedly play host to the Magi on their way to meet the infant Jesus.  Originally written for television, this opera uniquely bridges the ancient and modern in a heartfelt exploration of the meaning of hospitality. In the second half of this episode, we are joined by Grant to talk about the role of Epiphany in the Christmas story, and enjoy some of the more beloved songs associated with the timeless story of the Magi. Hosted by Pat and Kathleen. For more cultural and arts commentary by Kathleen Van De Wille, visit Constructive Criticism on Substack.

There’s a particular kind of magic that happens when the curtain rises, but you don’t need a ticket to experience it. Opera For Everyone is a conversation that pulls back the velvet rope, hosted by Pat Wright. It grew from her lively talks with Keely Herron after seeing performances together, sparking a mission to make this grand art form feel like a shared discovery rather than a distant spectacle. Each episode invites a guest co-host into the mix, where the focus is on connection-breaking down stories, history, and the sheer power of the human voice without relying on jargon or pretense. You’ll hear the music itself, of course, those moments where everything soars, but you’ll also find plenty of epiphanies and genuine hilarity along the way. It’s a reminder that opera is about raw emotion and dramatic storytelling, elements that resonate with anyone. Originally broadcast on 89.1 KHOL in Jackson, Wyoming, this radio show found its second life as a podcast, allowing these accessible and enjoyable discussions to reach listeners anywhere, anytime. Tune in and you might just find yourself swept up in a world you thought was meant for someone else.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Opera For Everyone
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 135 The Rake's Progress [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:18
Which is stronger: the temptations of a shadowy wish-granter, or the love of a virtuous woman? In The Rake’s Progress, Tom’s true love Anne seeks to save him from himself, seeking to unwind the schemes of the literal dev…
Ep. 134 King Arthur by Henry Purcell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:57:51
King Arthur stands astride the intersection of history, myth, legend, and politics. In every age of the history of Britain, he is reinterpreted for new audiences and new purposes. When composer Henry Purcell and poet-lib…
Ep. 133 Semele by Handel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01:42
It might at first sound like it would be nice to be the lover of the king of the Olympian gods, attended by divine spirits, and living in a luxurious palace among the clouds. But this happily-ever-after turns sour after…
Ep. 132 Verdi's Aida [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:36
The young Aida loves the dashing military commander Radamès, and he adores her with a burning passion.Their mutual love is, however, somewhat complicated by the fact that Aida is a slave, enslaved by a princess who is eq…
Ep. 131 Wagner's Tannhäuser [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:02:08
If you’re going to have a love triangle, why not have a singing knight, a literal saint, and the Goddess of Love herself? Come and enjoy the kind of sweeping, romantic, metaphysical yet dramatic opera that could only com…
Ep. 130 Orlando Furioso by Vivaldi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:43
Once upon a time, there was a heroic knight, the greatest of Charlamagne’s famed paladins, and his name was Orlando (or Roland, depending on whom you ask.) Among his many heroic deeds and great journeys was this: a quest…
Ep. 129 Roméo et Juliette by Berlioz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:30
You’ve never heard the story of Romeo and Juliet told like this! Not even if you have listened to the three previous episodes in which Pat and Kathleen discuss three operas based on the enduring tale of the “star-crossed…
Ep. 128 Médée (Medea) by Charpentier [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:59:21
What can one woman do, when set against the entire world? Quite a lot, if she happens to be the sorceress Medea. This French Baroque opera written by Marc Antoine Charpentier takes on the ancient tale of Medea’s struggle…
Ep. 127 Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:34
Can a young man win a wife through a singing competition? He just might, if he’s in Richard Wagner’s romantic comedy (yes, you read that right, “Richard Wagner’s romantic comedy,”) Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Young W…
Ep. 126 Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:37
Ill-fated lovers caught up in a world incapable of supporting love not sanctioned by officialdom… it’s a story for the ages. Join Pat and Kathleen for their third look at the Romeo and Juliet story in operatic form, I Ca…