Muhly's Marnie

Muhly's Marnie

Author: The Metropolitan Opera October 31, 2018 Duration: 12:43

Theft, denial, deceit, and a captivating, enigmatic heroine. Learn more about composer Nico Muhly and librettist Nicholas Wright's new opera Marnie with our In Focus podcast, hosted by Met radio commentator and staff writer William Berger.


Behind the grand curtain and beyond the final bow, there’s a world of stories waiting to be told. The Met: In Focus is that rare backstage pass, a series that delves into the operatic masterpieces featured in the Metropolitan Opera's celebrated Live in HD cinema broadcasts. Guiding each episode is the knowledgeable and engaging William Berger, a familiar voice to Met audiences as a radio commentator and staff writer. He doesn't just present the plots; he unravels the rich tapestry of history surrounding each work and its composer, offering a deeper understanding of why these pieces endure. You’ll hear thoughtful analysis that connects the dramatic tension on stage to the musical genius in the pit, all brought to life with carefully selected audio excerpts from historic Met performances. This podcast is for anyone curious about the layers beneath the spectacle, whether you're a seasoned opera-goer or encountering these powerful stories for the first time. Tune in to discover the context, the creativity, and the sheer human drama that makes each production resonate, long after the last note has faded.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 17

The Met: In Focus
Podcast Episodes
Wagner's Der Fliegende Holländer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:55
A spectral sea captain, cursed to wander the open ocean for eternity—unless the true love of a woman can save him. Learn more about Wagner's Der Fliegende Holländer with our In Focus podcast, hosted by author, Met radio…
Handel's Agrippina [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:27
Powerful men and—especially—women deceive and seduce one another to achieve their selfish ends, in a political satire as relevant now as ever. Learn more about Handel's Agrippina with our In Focus podcast, hosted by auth…
Berg's Wozzeck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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An ordinary soldier is driven to madness and murder by an intolerable cocktail of humiliation, jealousy, and the indignities of daily life—his suffering made visceral by one of opera's most powerful scores. Learn more ab…
Glass's Akhnaten [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:17
A young pharaoh transforms ancient Egypt with his revolutionary religious ideas—a tale made modern through Philip Glass's mesmerizing and distinctive musical style. Learn more about Akhnaten with our In Focus podcast, ho…
Puccini's Madama Butterfly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:46
A clash of cultures and the heartless abandonment of a naïve young Japanese geisha lead to one of opera's most devastating and emotionally direct tragedies. Learn more about Puccini's Madama Butterfly with our In Focus p…
Massenet's Manon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:22
A beautiful ingénue with a taste for the finer things makes her way to Paris, where she becomes irresistible to the men around her—including the passionate Chevalier des Grieux, whose all-consuming love for her leads to…
Puccini's Turandot [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:20
In ancient China, a princess tests the worthiness of her suitors by posing a series of riddles—killing those who answer incorrectly—until a brave warrior proves he's up to the challenge. Learn more about Puccini's Turand…
Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmélites [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:03
From a convent in northeastern France, amid the chaos of the Revolution, an order of nuns commit the ultimate act of martyrdom, giving opera one of its most devastating and unforgettable final scenes. Learn more about Fr…
Wagner's Die Walküre [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:50
A gallant warrior-goddess bravely defies her father to save a mortal from certain death. Her sisters chime in with one of music's most famous battle cries. Learn more about Wagner's Die Walküre with our In Focus podcast,…
Donizetti's La Fille du Régiment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:47
She's a spunky orphan brought up by an army regiment in the Alps. He's the local country boy who falls in love with her. Together, they deliver unforgettable vocal fireworks, in Donizetti's bel canto charmer. Learn more…