OPERAWISE: OPÉRA COMIQUE

OPERAWISE: OPÉRA COMIQUE

Author: Seattle Opera April 29, 2020 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 dialogue, catchy tunes with easy-to-sing refrains, and middle-class values. Many of the opéra-comiques still performed today (including Carmen, The Daughter of the Regiment, and Beatrice and Benedict, as well as opéra-comique derivatives such as Faust and The Tales of Hoffmann) deal, sentimentally or ironically, with a way of life and a value system which now belongs mostly to ancient history.

Musical examples on this podcast drawn from Seattle Opera recordings of Carmen, 2019, conducted by Giacomo Sagripanti; Beatrice and Benedict, 2018, conducted by Ludovic Morlot; Les contes d'Hoffmann, 2014, conducted by Yves Abel and starring Leah Partridge, Alfred Walker, and Tichina Vaughn; La fille du régiment starring Spiro Malas, Monica Sinclair, Joan Sutherland, and Luciano Pavarotti and conducted by Richard Bonynge (Decca 1967); Richard Coeur de Lion starring Michel Trempont and conducted by Edgard Doneux (EMI Classics 1956); and Faust, starring Victoria de los Angeles and Boris Christoff, conducted by André Cluytens (EMI 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
Seattle's Queer Community Reacts to FELLOW TRAVELERS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:51
Last month Seattle Opera (finally!) presented its first-ever queer opera on the mainstage. Fellow Travelers, with its historical setting, offered the queer folks of Seattle an opportunity to look back at how things used…
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:…
FELLOW TRAVELERS 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:33
In February/March 2026 Seattle Opera premieres a new production of Fellow Travelers, an opera (based on the novel by Thomas Mallon) with music by Gregory Spears to a libretto by Greg Pierce that premiered at Cincinnati O…
DAPHNE 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:44
Daphne, by Richard Strauss, comes to Seattle Opera for two concert performances in January 2025. This gorgeous opera, based on Greek myth, is a splendid showcase for a fantastic orchestra. Jonathan Dean explains what Str…
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:08
Seattle Opera presents its first-ever Gilbert & Sullivan in October 2025: The Pirates of Penzance, in a charming, traditional production that has already delighted many American opera audiences. Jonathan Dean explains th…
2025/26 Season Preview with James Robinson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:17
James Robinson, new General and Artistic Director of Seattle Opera, introduces the 2025/26 season. The Pirates of Penzance promises a musically extraordinary operatic approach to Gilbert & Sullivan; come prepared to laug…
TOSCA 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:05
Seattle Opera concludes its 24/25 season in May 2025 with TOSCA, Puccini's beloved thriller. Jonathan Dean introduces the charismatic characters, cinematic music, and wild story that have made TOSCA one of the world's fa…
THE MAGIC FLUTE 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:01
Mozart's miraculous final masterpiece returns to Seattle Opera in February/March 2025. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces the beloved music of THE MAGIC FLUTE, with musical examples from archival Seattle Op…
LES TROYENS IN CONCERT 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:59
In January 2025 Seattle Opera will present two concert performances of LES TROYENS À CARTHAGE, the second part (Acts 3, 4, & 5) of Berlioz's monumental masterpiece LES TROYENS. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean intro…
JUBILEE 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:44
Seattle Opera presents the world premiere of JUBILEE, a new opera celebrating spirituals. Created by Tazewell Thompson, librettist of BLUE, JUBILEE tells the story of how a group of African American singers toured Americ…