A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS 101

A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS 101

Author: Seattle Opera May 4, 2022 Duration: 21:36

A brand-new opera based on Khaled Hosseini's best-selling novel, with music by Sheila Silver, libretto by Stephen Kitsakos, and directed by Roya Sadat, premieres at Seattle Opera in February 2023. In this podcast Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces A Thousand Splendid Suns, with musical examples from a 2016 workshop performed by NOVUS NY orchestra, with Steve Gorn on bansuri and Jonathan Singer on tabla, conducted by Sara Jobin and featuring Lucy Fitz Gibbon as Laila, Vira Slywotzky as Nana, Aleksandra Romano as Mariam, Thor Arbjornsson as Tariq, and Ron Loyd as Rasheed.


Ever wondered how a grand opera production comes together, or what it feels like to stand in the wings just before the curtain rises? The Seattle Opera Podcast pulls back the velvet curtain on this intricate world. From the company that has been a cornerstone of the Pacific Northwest arts scene since 1963, this series offers a genuine backstage pass. You’ll hear directly from the singers, conductors, directors, and designers who bring these powerful stories to life, discussing everything from vocal technique and set construction to the emotional core of a character. Episodes might delve into a beloved European classic one week and a groundbreaking new American work the next, reflecting the company’s dynamic repertoire. This isn't just a lecture about music and drama; it's an immersive audio experience where you can listen to artists explain their craft, hear snippets of rehearsals, and gain a deeper appreciation for opera as a living, collaborative art form. Tune in to this podcast for conversations that are as passionate and detailed as the productions themselves, all brought to you directly from the heart of Seattle's opera community.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Seattle Opera Podcast
Podcast Episodes
IL TROVATORE 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:25
Are you ready for this weekend (May 23)'s KING FM rebroadcast, the wildest opera by the person many consider opera's greatest composer? Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces Il trovatore, with musical examples…
OPERAWISE: OPERETTA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:45
In this series of podcasts, Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean gives listeners a taste of nine different types of traditional opera. Operetta is a delightful kind of entertainment resembling opera, but different; wher…
OPERAWISE: SINGSPIEL [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:59
In this series of podcasts, Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean gives listeners a taste of nine different types of traditional opera. Singspiel (that's German for SongPlay) mixes songs, dialogues, choruses, and marvelo…
OPERAWISE: OPÉRA COMIQUE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:19
In this series of podcasts, Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean gives listeners a taste of nine different types of traditional opera. Opéra comique, a native French form of lower-brow musical theater, features spoken d…
OPERAWISE: OPERA BUFFA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:04
In this series of podcasts, Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean gives listeners a taste of nine different types of traditional opera. Opera buffa, the beloved old Italian tradition of opera comedy, is what you get by a…
OPERAWISE: VERISMO [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:44
In this series of podcasts, Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean gives listeners a taste of nine different types of traditional opera. Verismo was a late nineteenth-century reaction against the excesses of the great tra…
Opera and Literature: PUSHKIN (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:32
Dacia Clay, KING FM Creative Director and host of the Classical Classroom Podcast, chats with Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean about Pushkin, the great Russian poet, novelist, and playwright. Pushkin's brilliant wor…
OPERAWISE: MUSIC DRAMA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:57
In this series of podcasts, Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean gives listeners a taste of nine different types of traditional opera. Music Drama was the personal solution to the problems of presenting opera in ninetee…
Opera and Literature: PUSHKIN (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:44
Dacia Clay, KING FM Creative Director and host of the Classical Classroom Podcast, chats with Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean about Pushkin, the great Russian poet, novelist, and playwright. Pushkin's brilliant wor…
OPERAWISE: BEL CANTO MELODRAMA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:24
In this series of podcasts, Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean gives listeners a taste of nine different types of traditional opera. Bel Canto Melodrama refers to for serious Italian opera from the first part of the n…