Nicolas Reveles and Writing Trauma

In Words First: Talking Text in Opera, stage director Keturah Stickann pulls back the curtain on the most fundamental, yet often overlooked, element of the art form: the words themselves. This isn't a historical survey or a review show. Instead, each episode is a focused, revelatory conversation that digs into the craft of putting language to music. Keturah sits down with the people who shape opera's narratives-librettists wrestling with poetic meter and dramatic structure, lyricists adapting contemporary stories, producers championing new works, and singers who must embody this text night after night. They discuss the unique challenges and quiet triumphs of storytelling in a musical medium, exploring how a single word choice can alter a character's entire journey or how a phrase must bend to fit a composer's line. The podcast lives in the specifics, offering a rare glimpse into the collaborative alchemy between page and stage. You'll hear about the meticulous work that happens long before the first orchestral rehearsal, gaining a deeper appreciation for opera as a living, breathing form of drama. It's for anyone curious about the mechanics of artistic creation, whether you're a seasoned opera-goer or simply fascinated by how stories are built from the ground up. Join Keturah and her guests for these intimate, insightful dialogues that truly put the words first.