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

Duration: 15:45
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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…