The #OperaTrash Podcast

Hearken back to Episode 69 (how appropriate) where we discuss Jim Steinman's musical that is actually a musical and not an album. Sing along with Anna and Krista when they hear "Totalis Finsternis" (totally not Total Eclipse of the Heart) because of course Jim Steinman would put that melody in a musical, are you silly?

This is just a little check-in to let you know that we're still kicking. We also wanted to give you a Halloween gift that keeps on giving - a flashback of our review of Tanz der Vampir!

Anna and Krista are back with their review of the biopic Maria, starring Angelina Jolie as La Divina herself. If you want to wreck yourself even after you check yourself, watch this movie and be utterly devastated.

Oh, the saga continues... this time, Angela Gheorghiu gave an interview in which she outright LIES about the Korea Incident and about the VIenna Incident. Did we mention that she also lies about Jonas? Yeah, she went there. This will not stand, and Krista and Anna (mostly Krista) give her the Brandy Rhodes Treatment.

Get ready to Netflix and chill! Anna and Krista give you the details on the upcoming biopic (BYE-oh-pick) on La Divina herself, Maria Callas, starring Angelina Jolie. And while you wait for that to premiere, check out the Oscar-nominated biopic on Leonard Bernstein, directed by (by orders of Steven Spielberg himself) and starring Bradley Cooper. Hey, make it a double feature!

Angela Gheorgiu is at it again! Anna and Krista tell you all about a recent incident in Seoul that remids them of the infamous Tosca encore involving Jonas back in 2016. Speaking of Jonas, Krista gives us a review of his new panty-melting album Puccini: Love Affairs.

Four years ago, two wise-ass ladies with smart mouths and a juvenile sense of humor started a podcast about opera. On the anniversary of their first episode, they offer a special retelling of the messiest opera ever - Richard "Bitch Lasagna" Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. Here's to more shenanigans!

With their guest Dr. Nyri Bakkalian, Anna and Krista discuss a funny yet problematic PDQ Bach piece that opens up a beautiful discussion on reclaiming and refreshing works that wouldn't fly in today's society. Is it possible? Absolutely, and it's starting to happen.

Website malfunctions have not kept Anna and Krista from reviewing Carrie Cracknell's production of Carmen, which just closed at the Met. Even though Anna wasn't able to spend the time in Horny Jail, Krista gives the rundown of the modern take on Bizet with a bit of a twist ending. Then they plunge into ramblings on the Royal Rumble, give a birthday shoutout to Ol' Slapnuts and revisit the tale of...

Anna and Krista have returned! After catching you up with all the lastest news and gossip, they reflect on the career of Peter Schiekele, the creator of P.D.Q. Bach and a great musician in his own right, who passed away on January 16. They also tell you what to expect in the next few weeks!

Anna and Krista return with a lot on the agenda: a review of Jonas in a new production of Schubert, a lengthy rant about gatekeeping in opera and a review of Jonas' new album The Sound of Movies. And what would this podcast be without the usual shenanigans!

After a hiatus, Anna and Krista have returned! Krista recounts her trip to Munich, the ladies pay tribute to Paul Rubens aka Pee Wee Herman, and they cover some pretty big news. They know you missed them, and they missed you!

Anna and Krista haven't been around lately, and they were hoping to get back on track. But things happen, and they sure as hell have this time.

Hap Anniversmas! Anna and Krista celebrate three years of shenanigans by hosting an anniversary afterparty that doubles as a "you're so fucked" afterparty for a certain Cheeto Man. They also demonstrate the term "f*ck around and find out" and review Bellini's opera I puritani, because they love those historically inaccurate operas.

You would think the story of King Arthur would warrant a great opera production, right? Well, Anna and Krista found a version of Henry Purcell's semi-opera that made no sense whatsoever. But that's after some very special dedications to a modern composer and two legends.

When Anna digs up an old Italian TV production of Turandot starring Franco Corelli, you know it's going to be good. The voice of Maestro Corelli will caress your ears and make you weep. Hey, they don't call him the Prince of Tenors for nothing! As a bonus, Krista gives her review of the Met's new production of Don Giovanni starring dad-looking baritone Peter Mattei.

Anna and Krista decided to watch the Benoit Jacquot production of Massenet's Werther (aka Farter) from 2016 to see how another tenor approached the role of the Emo King. The inevitable comparison to Jonas came about, as well as calling out Vittorio Grigolo for lack of emo yeeting. Along the way they discussed drag performers, LGBTQ+ rights, email sign offs and Sylvester Stallone's porn movie. It's...

Do you want to be extremely emotionally wrecked? Anna and Krista point you toward Kevin Puts' The Hours, based on the novel and movie. From the libretto and music to the acting, it takes hold and doesn't let go till the end. And you thought Terrence Blanchard had that market cornered...

CONTENT WARNING: discussions of homophobia and sexual assault. Terrence Blanchard has done it (made Anna and Krista cry) again, this time with his first opera Champion. From the choreography to the gorgeous and heartbreaking performances by Eric Owens and Ryan Speedo Green, the opera was incredibly powerful and moving. The ladies give you their take on it and their thoughts, along with a lengthy d...

On the heels of Jonas Kaufmann's opening night in Naples as Siegmund, Anna and Krista review the 2019 staging of the production in which he got glowing reviews. Some things were good, some things were bad, and Wotan got labeled as a chronic masturbator. And the ending... well, let them tell you about that.

The Salzburg Easter Festival is over, but Krista was privileged to listen to a recording of Jonas in the title role of Wagner's Tannhäuser this past weekend on Austrian radio. Was he as bland as those first reviews claimed? What's with the feet in Act 2 and 3? Why did some weird schmutz monster maul Jonas in Act 2? And why is Krista's audio being a pain in the ass? (Everything except the last ques...

Think of it as Slapnuts: The Early Years! Anna and Krista tackle Il re pastore (The Shepherd King), written by everyone's favorite poop king. While the music is great, the staging they saw was... well, let them tell you. They also dedicate the episode to Al Jaffee and drop some very happy news.

Some historically-based operas play fast and loose with facts, but Anna and Krista found one that is pretty much on point: Verdi's I vespri siciliani. Settle in for some medieval shenanigans, a discussion of nerddom and even updates on the BBC Singers and our Auntie Sonya Yoncheva. Oh, and the Pittsburgh Opera drops their 2023-24 season!

No swans were harmed in the making of this week's episode reviewing the Met's new production of Lohengrin. Join Anna and Krista as they talk about Piotr's "'sup Carmen" moment, starfish costumes and unintentional parallels. But first, a series of short rants kicks off the shenanigans.

Just when you thought Anna and Krista couldn't find another pop culture tie-in to opera, they found one! This time, they present Puccini's 3-for-1 opera Il Trittico. You'll gasp, you'll cry, you'll laugh, you'll wonder why Puccini's original wishes weren't honored (just like a writer of certain Hobbit-centric books). They also pay homage to the late Chaim Topol and stand up for Sonya Yoncheva, who...