VOICEWISE Podcast: The Chorus

VOICEWISE Podcast: The Chorus

Author: Seattle Opera July 29, 2020 Duration: 42:58

Many of opera's greatest and most overwhelming moments happen thanks to the chorus. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces many of the typical functions of the opera chorus, such as saluting a leader, singing in praise—or fear—of God, providing local color, intensifying the drama, and embodying the multitude. Musical excerpts from three decades of Seattle Opera productions feature the work of Seattle Opera Chorus Masters George Fiore, Beth Kirchoff, and John Keene, in Seattle Opera's 2015 Nabucco, 2012 Turandot, 2000 Boris Godunov, 2015 Semele, 2007 Iphigénie en Tauride, 2019 Il trovatore, 2014 Tales of Hoffmann, 2013 La bohème, 2011 Porgy and Bess, 1998 Faust, 1994 Lohengrin, 1994 Norma, 2007 Flying Dutchman, 2012 Fidelio, 1989 Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and 1990 War and Peace, plus a Decca recording of Die Entführung aus dem Serail conducted by Sir Georg Solti, the Leipzig Radio Chorus and Staatskapelle Dresden performing the Tannhäuser Pilgrims' Chorus conducted by Silvio Varviso, and the Decca recording of Peter Grimes conducted by Benjamin Britten.


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
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:12
Figaro! Figaro! Figaro! Rossini's cheerful comedy rounds out Seattle Opera's season in May 2024. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces THE BARBER OF SEVILLE with musical examples drawn from Seattle Opera archi…
X: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MALCOLM X 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:54
In 1986 composer Anthony Davis and librettist Thulani Davis created an opera about the civil rights activist, with a story by Christopher Davis. The revised version comes to Seattle for the first time in winter/spring 20…
ALCINA 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:44
In Fall 2023 Seattle Opera will present Handel's ALCINA, a magical opera seria about the vagaries of love, attraction, and gender. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces Handel operas and ALCINA, with musical e…
DAS RHEINGOLD 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:24
The introductory first opera of Wagner's RING cycle is a unique and fascinating work in its own right: both a lively fantasy and a trenchant satirical allegory. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces DAS RHEING…
A Buddhist Perspective on TRISTAN & ISOLDE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:43
Seattle Opera subscriber Dr. Chris Rebholz, a practicing Buddhist, discusses Wagner's Tristan with Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean. Fascinated by Buddhism when he wrote Tristan und Isolde, Wagner created an opera a…
The Wagner Problem: Performance and Programming in the 21st Century [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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…
Singing Like Germans with Kira Thurman & Naomi André [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:02
Join us for a conversation with Kira Thurman, author of Singing Like Germans: Black Musicians in the Land of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, and Seattle Opera scholar-in-residence Dr. Naomi André. Drawing on her experience…
MARY ELIZABETH WILLIAMS Discusses Isolde [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:42
American soprano Mary Elizabeth Williams, beloved in Seattle for performances such as Tosca, Abigaille in NABUCCO, and Serena in PORGY AND BESS, just made her role debut as Isolde, the first time she's ever sung a Wagner…
Wagner Reads Gottfried's TRISTAN (with Annegret Oehme) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:13
Annegret Oehme, Associate Professor of German Studies at the University of Washington, discusses TRISTAN UND ISOLDE with Jonathan Dean. Wagner's inspiration for this amazing opera was the 12th century poem by Gottfried v…
TESS ALTIVEROS & SHELLY TRAVERSE Discuss ELIXIR & More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:58
Sopranos Tess Altiveros and Shelly Traverse both have lots of Seattle Opera credits: mainstage productions (Tess sang Giannetta in this summer's ELIXIR OF LOVE; Shelly was Chan in CHARLIE PARKER'S YARDBIRD and Hero in BE…