Ep. 31 Semiramide by Rossini

Ep. 31 Semiramide by Rossini

Author: Opera for Everyone April 10, 2018 Duration: 1:54:23
On this episode of Opera for Everyone we listen to Semiramide by Gioachino Rossini which is based on Voltaire's tragedy Semiramis, which in turn was based on the legend of Semiramis of Assyria. This is an opera in two acts set to an Italian libretto by Gaetano Rossi. The story is set in the ancient kingdom of Assyria and the action takes place in Babylon around the Eight Century BCE. Semiramide is a queen whose husband, King Ninus, died 15 years prior to the action of this story. The opera begins as Semiramide is about to announce who will be Assyria's next King. The queen's covert lover, Assur, is certain his loyalty over the past 15 years will be rewarded with a crown. Several hopeful candidates have arrived including Arsace, who is later revealed to be Nino - the long lost son of Semiramide and King Ninus. Arsace is in love with the princess Azema, who is also in love with him. We learn that before the King was killed and Arsace/Nino was taken away, that he and Azema were betrothed. Although it's unclear why they have such strong feelings upon first encountering one another their destiny together seems sealed. The story follows the twists and turns of several hopeful Kings jockeying for position, and the appearance of the ghost of King Ninus who reveals that Arsace is his son and that he must avenge his death by killing Semiramide or Assur who conspired to kill the King 15 years ago. In the end, Nino, Semiramide, and Assur descend into the tomb of King Ninus, and Nino is compelled to avenge his father's death. In the dark of the tomb, Nino takes aim and strikes - only to learn that he has killed his mother when he intended to kill Assur. The opera ends on a happier note with the marriage of Nino and Azema. Hosted by Keely Herron and Pat Wright.

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: 139

Opera For Everyone
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 25 Otello By Verdi With Lester Lynch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:33
On this episode of Opera for Everyone we listen to the Opera Otello by Guiseppe Verdi, and also continue our conversation with dramatic baritone Lester Lynch, who plays Iago in this production. Otello is an opera in four…
Ep. 24 On My Journey Now / Otello with Lester Lynch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:33
On this episode of Opera for Everyone, we welcome special guest Lester Lynch, who is a baritone opera singer performing with some of the world's leading operas. He discusses his album "On My Journey Now" a collection of…
Ep. 20 Mozart & Salieri by Rimsky-Korsakov broadcast 12.17.17 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:59:07
Mozart & Salieri is an opera in one act by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov set to a Russian libretto taken almost verbatim from a novella of the same name by Alexandr Pushkin. It's based on the oft-disputed legend that Salieri p…
Ep. 23 Manon by Massenet broadcast 1.7.18 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:03
On today's episode we listen to Manon by Jules Massenet, an opera in five acts set to a French Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille. The story is based on the 1731 novel "L’histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de…
Ep. 19 The Magic Flute by Mozart broadcast 12.10.17 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:59:11
On today's episode of Opera for Everyone we listen to The Magic Flute, also known as Die Zauberflöte, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It's an opera in two acts, first performed in Vienna in 1791. In this opera the Queen of t…
Ep. 18 LesDanaides by Salieri broadcast 12.3.17 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:00
If you’ve never experienced an opera by Antonio Salieri, now is your chance. You may have seen the movie Amadeus, or heard that Salieri was the Austrian court composer whose jealousy was whispered to have played a part i…
Ep. 17 Le Nozze di Figaro by Mozart broadcast 11.26.17 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:59:11
Mozart’s comic yet profound look at human nature and one crazy day in a wealthy Spanish household. The Marriage of Figaro, is an opera buffa (comic opera) in four acts composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with an…
Ep. 15 Norma by Bellini broadcast 11.12.17 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:00
In this episode of Opera for Everyone we listen to Norma, an opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini with libretto by Felice Romani after 'Norma, ou L'infanticide' by Alexandre Soumet. It was first produced at La Scala in…
Ep. 14 Les Pêcheurs de Perles by Bizet Broadcast 11.5.17 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:00:57
This episode of Opera for Everyone features Bizet's Les Pêcheurs de Perles - The Pearl Fishers - which debuted in Paris at the Théâtre Lyrique, on September 30, 1863. It's an opera in three acts with a French libretto by…