The Wagner Problem: Performance and Programming in the 21st Century

The Wagner Problem: Performance and Programming in the 21st Century

Author: Seattle Opera November 9, 2022 Duration: 1:17:35

Richard Wagner is once again making an appearance on the Seattle Opera stage, renewing questions about the controversial composer's compatibility with contemporary social values. Wagner's objectionable views and dominant position in the opera canon have long vexed opera lovers, prompting some to wonder what role Wagner should play for modern opera companies. 

Join esteemed musicologists and music critics from around the globe as they reflect on the ethics of performing Wagner in the 21st century and envision a more equitable model for classical music. The conversation will address how opera companies might present works by problematic artists, as well as what they can do more broadly to diversify programming. What gets the privilege of being called classical music, and what gets left out of that definition? What role should opera companies play in the cultivation of new music? And how can we find a balance between traditional works and overlooked voices?


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
EUGENE ONEGIN Q&A Highlights [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:21
After our performances of Eugene Onegin in January 2020 audiences stayed to discuss the show with cast, crew, and staff. Hear highlights from those post-show Q&As. In addition to audience members, voices include those of…
CHARLIE PARKER'S YARDBIRD 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:25
A new opera that combines jazz and classical? Charlie Parker's Yardbird is about music, creativity, communication, race and racism, drugs and addiction, and life and death and freedom. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan De…
TOSCA 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:36
Tosca is both a great opera for newbies to the art form and a rewarding piece to hear multiple times; it's accessible—a 'thriller' as cinematic as any Hollywood classic—and also stacked with layers of sumptuous artistry…
FLIGHT 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:32
One of late twentieth-century opera's great successes, Flight, with music by Jonathan Dove to a libretto by April DeAngelis, makes a long-awaited Seattle premiere in 2021. This "Marriage of Figaro for the 1990s" is a bol…
DON GIOVANNI 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:17
A new production of Mozart's classic promises a fresh look at the legendary seducer and how he is punished. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces the music and characters of Don Giovanni, with musical examples…
THE ELIXIR OF LOVE 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:44
A smile full of sunshine comes to Seattle Opera with the return of Donizetti's endearing comedy. The story of The Elixir of Love concerns the adventures of a bottle of Bordeaux; but the music is as sweet and gentle as th…
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:15
Together again at Seattle Opera after almost four decades, Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci comprise Italian opera's most beloved double-bill. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces C…
Introducing Naomi André, Seattle Opera's Scholar-in-Residence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:19
Naomi André, a professor at the University of Michigan, has been a familiar presence at Seattle Opera for a couple seasons now; she helped us explore racial representation, casting, and what it means to support storytell…
EUGENE ONEGIN 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:10
Tchaikovsky's most beloved opera is a breathtaking and unique work about the human heart. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces Eugene Onegin, with musical examples from Seattle Opera's 2002 archival recording…