LA Opera Podcasts: Behind the Curtain

Spanish conductor Jordi Bernàcer and opera super-fan Duff Murphy discuss Manuel Penella's "El Gato Montés: The Wildcat" during a pre-show conversation prior to LA Opera's performance on May 11, 2019. Want more info on LA Opera's production of "El Gato Montés: The Wildcat"? Visit our website: www. LAOpera.org

Renown Mexican music critic Gerardo Kleinburg explores Manuel Penella's "El Gato Montés" ("The Wildcat") during his pre-show talk prior to LA Opera's opening performance on May 3, 2019.

Ana María Martínez, quien interpreta el papel de Soleá en la producción de "El Gato Montés" de Los Ángeles, nos lleva a través de una descripción escena por escena de la ópera. Esta ópera presenta un triángulo amoroso, un torero, un bandido y una mujer hermosa (por supuesto). La ópera está llena de pasión, música preciosa y coreografía, y es considerada una de las mejores obras maestras del teatro...

Ana María Martínez, who plays the role of Soleá in LA Opera’s production of “El Gato Montés" (“The Wildcat”), takes us through a scene-by-scene description of the opera. It has a love triangle, a bullfighter, a mountain dwelling bandit, and a beautiful woman (of course). The opera weaves a quintessentially Spanish tale with all the passion, beautiful music, and choreography you'd expect. Never hea...

Ever wanted to know how our Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artists became participants in this renowned program? Joshua Winograde, LA Opera’s Senior Director of Artistic Programs, sits down with two of these talented folks for this week's podcast: soprano Liv Redpath and baritone Michael Hawk. The trio discuss their artistic journeys, the incredible family support they both had and continue to have,...

For over two decades soprano Ana Maria Martinez has been featured on LA Opera’s stage. Back in the fall, when she was in Los Angeles for “Don Carlo”, Ana Maria and President & CEO Christopher Koelsch sat down for a chat in front of a live audience. Listen in as the two have an open and genuine conversation ranging from her thoughts about her thriving career, advice for young singers, the inspirati...

Thanks to our friends at the Hammer Museum, we are able to share this fun and freewheeling conversation between composer, conductor, pianist, and writer Matthew Aucoin and comedy writer and performer Megan Amram. Best known for his operas, Aucoin is LA Opera’s first artist-in-residence and has been commissioned by the Company as well as the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Lyric Opera of Chicago...

Listen in as Vice President of Education and Community Engagement Stacy Brightman chats with Composer Henry Mollicone and Librettist Shishir Kurup on the creation of LA Opera’s Community Opera: “Moses”. “Moses” has its world premiere at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Downtown LA on March 22 and 23, 2019. Henry and Shishir talk with Stacy about how they each first came to opera, the dev...

Music Director James Conlon and opera super-fan, actor and opera stage director Christoph Waltz chat about Waltz’s relationship to opera (saw his first opera at 10 in Vienna), his experience directing opera, and his inspiring ideas about securing the future of opera. Recorded after the March 10, 2019 performance of "The Clemency of Titus".

Listen in on a fascinating conversation between Thaddeus Strassberger - stage director and scenic designer for our production of “The Clemency of Titus” – and President and CEO Christopher Koelsch. They discuss Mr. Strassberger’s general philosophy as a director and designer, as well as how this brand-new production (a "feast for the eyes" says the LA Times) - came to be.

LA Opera's Richard Seaver Music Director James Conlon explores Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "The Clemency of Titus" during his pre-show talk prior to LA Opera's opening performance on March 2, 2019.

Thaddeus Strassberger, stage director and scenic designer for LA Opera’s production of “The Clemency of Titus,” takes us through a scene-by-scene description of the opera. In Mozart’s final masterpiece, the most powerful civilization in the world falls vulnerable to the machinations of power players seeking glory. In a drama marked by shifting layers of morality and loyalty, Mozart’s unmistakable...

There's no room for mistakes with Mozart's music. Renowned tenor Russell Thomas talks with LAO President and CEO Christopher Koelsch about the joy and challenges of singing the composer’s music and specifically the role of Titus in our upcoming production of Mozart’s "The Clemency of Titus". The two also discuss his process of preparing a role, his ideal rehearsal environment, and the complicated...

LA Opera is proud to share this special conversation recorded on November 9, 2015 between renowned opera artist Maria Ewing and Michael Hackett of UCLA. Throughout her remarkable career, Ms. Ewing has astonished audiences with her searing performances in both soprano and mezzo-soprano roles. As one of the early leading artists at LA Opera, she spoke with Dr. Hackett as part of LA Opera’s oral hist...

Special Edition! LA Opera announced it’s 2019/20 season today (we are so excited to share it with you, we couldn't wait until Tuesday). In this podcast, Christopher Koelsch - LA Opera’s President and CEO - sits down with Classical KUSC’s Gail Eichenthal to preview the upcoming operas and concerts.

Joshua Winograde, LA Opera’s Senior Director of Artistic Programs, sits down with Dr. Stephen King, Head of Vocal Instruction for the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program, to discuss his career teaching young opera singers on the verge of a major career, in both Los Angeles and Houston (attention aspiring opera singers).

On December 2, 2018, The Kennedy Center held its 41st annual national celebration of the arts — The Kennedy Center Honors. Celebrated composer Philip Glass was one of the honorees. In honor of Philip Glass’ recognition by The Kennedy Center and the broadcast of the awards last week (December 26), this "From the Vault" episode features LA Opera's Artist-in-Residence Matthew Aucoin in conversation w...

Composer David Lang sits down with Classical KUSC’s Brian Lauritzen to discuss his opera “the loser”, which will be presented with LA Opera in February 2019 at the Theatre at Ace Hotel. They talk about “solving musical problems”, what draws him to compose, and how opera in the 21st century is a lot like experimental theater.

On November 3, 2018, UCLA Professor of Musicology Mitchell Morris spoke on "Hansel and Gretel" to a group of educators. Dr. Morris answers the question, is “Hansel and Gretel” Wagner for kids? Some adult themes are briefly discussed in this podcast.

Artistic Adviser to LA Opera’s Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program and opera superstar Susan Graham sits down with Classical KUSC’s Brian Lauritzen in a conversation about her role debut as The Witch in LA Opera’s production of “Hansel and Gretel” and how she approaches learning new parts.

Composer Ellen Reid sits down with Classical KUSC’s Brian Lauritzen to discuss her opera “p r i s m”, which premieres with LA Opera on November 29, 2018 at REDCAT. The opera is about the boundaries we create to around ourselves to separate us from our own darkness or trauma, and the lengths we go through to keep those boundaries up. CONTENT WARNING: This podcast and the opera contain information a...

LA Opera's Richard Seaver Music Director James Conlon explores Engelbert Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel" during his pre-show talk prior to LA Opera's opening performance on November 17, 2018.

Opera producer Beth Morrison sits down with Classical KUSC’s Brian Lauritzen in a conversation covering what led Morrison to create her company, Beth Morrison Projects; the BMP productions LA Opera is presenting this season; how BMP and LA Opera formed their artistic partnership; and the relationship between new work and the standard opera repertoire.

Composer Joby Talbot and Classical KUSC's Brian Lauritzen talk about the many different compositional hats Talbot wears, writing operas, ballets, concert music and film scores. Just in time for Halloween, they discuss Talbot’s current project commissioned by LA Opera for the Off-Grand series: a new score for the 1931 German film “Vampyr” performed at the Theatre at Ace Hotel.

On Saturday, October 13, 2018, Dr. Vinay Lal, UCLA Professor of History and Asian American Studies, spoke as a part of LA Opera’s Opera for Educators professional development for teachers on Philip Glass’ “Satyagraha”. Dr. Lal’s presentation covered a brief overview of Gandhi’s life, the birth of satyagraha (the movement), the philosophical foundations of satyagraha and the idea of nonviolence, th...