OPERAWISE: SINGSPIEL

OPERAWISE: SINGSPIEL

Author: Seattle Opera May 6, 2020 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 marvelous orchestral writing with fun and fantasy for a lowbrow, family friendly art form—the ancestor of today's Star Wars movies. Mozart's ever-popular Magic Flute is the perfect introduction to Singspiel, as well as one of the most beloved operas ever written. Another wonderful Singspiel, Weber's Der Freischütz, demonstrates the power of this form to send a wonderfully creepy chill down your spine.

Musical examples on this podcast drawn from Seattle Opera productions of The Magic Flute, 2017, conducted by Julia Jones and starring John Moore, Andrew Stenson, and Christina Poulitsi; Der Freischütz, 1999, conducted by Gerard Schwarz and starring Harry Peeters and Gabor Andrasy; Fidelio, 2003, conducted by Gerard Schwarz and starring Jane Eaglen and Kevin Langan; The Flying Dutchman, 2016, conducted by Sebastian Lang-Lessing; also Marschner's Hans Heiling conducted by Ewald Körner (Marco Polo 1992); Fidelio starring Lucia Popp, Adolf Dallapozza, Gundula Janowitz, and René Kollo and conducted by Leonard Bernstein (Deutsche Gramophon, 1978); Der Stein der Weisen, Jane Giering-De Haan and Kevin Deas conducted by Martin Pearlman (Telarc, 1999); and the 1993 EMI recording of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg conducted by Wolfgang Sawallisch.

Stay tuned for one more 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: 100

Seattle Opera Podcast
Podcast Episodes
RING Intermission Chat with PHIL KELSEY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:07
Phil Kelsey, Seattle Opera's Assistant Conductor, chatted during an intermission of GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG with Christina Scheppelmann when Seattle Opera re-broadcast its 2005 RING cycle on KING-FM in February. Phil, who can co…
RING Intermission Chat with musicians Kathy Boyer and Mark Robbins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:51
Violinist Kathy Boyer and horn soloist Mark Robbins chatted during an intermission of Siegfried when Seattle Opera re-broadcast its 2005 RING cycle on KING-FM in February. Listen to their stories of playing this brillian…
RING Intermission Chat with Tech wizards Connie Yun and Tim Buck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:55
Lighting Designer Connie Yun and Master Carpenter Tim Buck (who designed the RING's fire & flight effects) chatted during an intermission of DIE WALKÜRE when Seattle Opera re-broadcast its 2005 RING cycle on KING-FM in F…
Seattle Opera Celebrates ARTHUR WOODLEY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:24
At Seattle Opera we had the great good fortune to work with the late great bass Arthur Woodley many times over 25 years. In this podcast, which will also air on KING FM during the intermission of BORIS GODUNOV on January…
FLORENCIA EN EL AMAZONAS Intermission Chat with FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:16
Francesca Zambello recalled the extraordinary adventure of making an opera from the literary world of the great Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez during an intermission chat with Christina Scheppelmann. Zambello, G…
GIULIO CESARE Intermission Chat with DONALD BYRD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:38
Donald Byrd, Artistic Director of Spectrum Dance Theater, has choreographed several productions for Seattle Opera over the years. Just before the pandemic began he made valuable choreographic contributions to CHARLIE PAR…
ORPHÉE ET EURYDICE Intermission Chat with VINSON COLE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:27
Vinson Cole decided to be an opera singer when he was 9 years old. Beginning in 1988, with his spectacular debut as Gluck's Orphée (Seattle Opera's first-ever Baroque opera and first-ever modern dress production) the ten…
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE Intermission Chat with JANE EAGLEN [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:17
Seattle Opera General Director Christina Scheppelmann spoke with soprano Jane Eaglen when "Seattle Opera Mornings on KING FM" played TRISTAN UND ISOLDE, a 1998 production that featured role debuts for both Eaglen (as Iso…