OPERAWISE: MUSIC DRAMA

OPERAWISE: MUSIC DRAMA

Author: Seattle Opera April 8, 2020 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 nineteenth-century Europe developed by composer/librettist Richard Wagner, opera's ultimate mad genius. These long, loud, big works challenge artists, audiences, and the art form itself. Their complex music and unique spins on old stories continue to attract, repel, and provoke all who encounter them. Wagner's Tristan und Isolde (1865) serves as an example of the genre, as does the Richard Strauss opera Elektra (1909).

Musical examples on this podcast drawn from Seattle Opera productions of Lohengrin 1994, conducted by Hermann Michael; Parsifal 2003, conducted by Asher Fisch and starring Stephen Milling; Die Walküre, conducted by Robert Spano, 2005 (starring Jane Eaglen) and 2009; Siegfried, 2013, conducted by Asher Fisch; and Tristan und Isolde (1998, conducted by Armin Jordan and starring Jane Eaglen and Ben Heppner; 2010, conducted by Asher Fisch; opening and English horn solo from the 1966 Bayreuth Festival recording conducted by Karl Böhm; conclusion of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Karajan (Deutsche Gramophon 1977); Elektra, Astrid Varnay and Leonie Rysanek with the orchestra of West German Radio conducted by Richard Kraus (Melodram 1953).

Stay tuned for another podcast introducing another kind of opera next week!


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: 131

Seattle Opera Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Many CINDERELLAS with Michelle Martin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:04
Michelle Martin, Beverly Cleary Endowed Professor for Children and Youth Services at UW's Information School, discusses the world's many "Cinderella" stories with Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean. They talk about Ci…
LA CENERENTOLA 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:46
Rossini's La Cenerentola combines the human warmth of the beloved Cinderella story with the wit and sparkle of The Barber of Seville. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces La Cenerentola with musical examples…
A Feminist Director Takes On RIGOLETTO [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:49
This August Seattle Opera presents Lindy Hume's production of RIGOLETTO, originally created for New Zealand Opera in 2012. Designed by Richard Roberts and lit by Jason Morphett, this RIGOLETTO sets the Victor Hugo story…
RIGOLETTO 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:50
Verdi's unflinching tragedy about sexual politics is one of opera's greatest masterpieces. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces Rigoletto, with musical examples drawn from Seattle Opera's archival recordings…
VOICEWISE Podcast: Basses and Bass-Baritones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:31
Come down to the bassment and enjoy the deep sound of the bass and bass-baritone voices with Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean. Basses play dads, priests, kings, old bearded guys, God, and the Devil; they get to be e…
How an Opera Reaches the Stage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:47
There's a lot going on in a glorious opera like Carmen: principal singers, chorus, orchestra, dancers, actors, costumes, sets, lights, fight scenes, wigs, drama! How on earth does something with so many moving parts mana…
All About BIZET [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:31
CARMEN is probably the most popular opera ever composed. Alas, this masterpiece was the final work of Georges Bizet, who died a few weeks after its dismal world premiere. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean discusses B…
VOICEWISE Podcast: Mezzos & Contraltos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:22
Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces the mezzo and contralto voices. With their rich, creamy, dark sounds these lower-voiced ladies play opera's most luscious babes, as well as boys, old women, jealous wives,…
Youth & Today's Opera [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:56
While The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs was astonishing Seattleites at McCaw Hall, 72 young people involved with Seattle Opera's Youth Opera Project performed Odyssey, a new opera for young people, next door. High schoolers…
MASON BATES discusses THE (R)EVOLUTION OF STEVE JOBS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:59
Grammy-nominated composer Mason Bates is also a bona fide DJ. As DJ Masonic, he brings classical music and electronica together on the dance floor at clubs like San Francisco's Mezzanine. As a composer, he brings the sou…