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
CARMEN 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:45
Why has Carmen been, since 1875, one of the world's most popular operas? Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces this beloved masterpiece with musical examples from Seattle Opera's archival recordings of Carmen:…
THE (R)EVOLUTION OF STEVE JOBS 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:59
Learn more about this fresh, fascinating, and wholly operatic new work, which audiences have been consuming like a new Apple product. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, the o…
IL TROVATORE 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:14
Are you ready for the wildest opera by the person many consider opera's greatest composer? Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces Il trovatore, with musical examples from Seattle Opera's archival recordings of…
VOICEWISE Podcast: Sopranos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:25
Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean leads a tour through the land of soprano, from dazzling coloratura acrobats to fearsome goddesses whose roar sets the opera house aflame. Includes musical examples featuring many fav…
A Child Therapist Goes to THE TURN OF THE SCREW [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:40
Nitara Dandapani, a clinical social worker and youth mental health therapist with Childhaven, discusses THE TURN OF THE SCREW with Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean. Headquartered in Seattle, Childhaven heals childre…
VOICEWISE Podcast: Trebles & Countertenors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:31
Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean investigates two voice types infrequently encountered in opera: trebles (boy sopranos and adolescent female sopranos) and countertenors. Features conversation with Seattle Opera coac…
AIDAN LANG's British Take on TURN OF THE SCREW [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:55
Seattle Opera General Director Aidan Lang checks in, midway through our run of THE TURN OF THE SCREW, with some nuanced reflections on this enigmatic piece from the point of view of someone born and bred in England. With…
Meet our TURN OF THE SCREW Singers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:33
Meet the cast of Seattle Opera's TURN OF THE SCREW in this downloadable podcast! Singers Marcy Stonikas (Miss Jessel) and Ben Bliss (Peter Quint) introduce themselves and their colleagues: Elizabeth Caballero (the Govern…
[not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Stage director, tenor, and all-around Seattle Opera MVP Peter Kazaras discusses THE TURN OF THE SCREW and the operas of Benjamin Britten with Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean. In addition to explaining how the compo…
TURN OF THE SCREW 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:12
Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces the eerie musical world of Britten's THE TURN OF THE SCREW, with special focus on the opera's theme-and-variation structure. Musical examples from Seattle Opera's 1994 per…