LA Opera Podcasts: Behind the Curtain

Classical KUSC's Duff Murphy unpacks Philip Glass' "Satyagraha" during his pre-show talk prior to LA Opera's opening night performance on Saturday, October 20, 2018.

Sean Panikkar, who plays the role of Gandhi in LA Opera’s production of Satyagraha, takes us through a scene-by-scene description of the opera. Satyagraha focuses on the years Gandhi spent in South Africa from 1893 to 1914. The opera unfolds thematically rather than chronologically, in depicting the development of Gandhi’s philosophy of satyagraha, and is sung in Sanskrit.

Bass Morris Robinson, who takes on the role of Parsi Rustomji in LA Opera's upcoming production of “Satyagraha”, sits down with Classical KUSC's Brain Lauritzen. One of the most sought after basses performing today, Morris discusses his journey from playing college football to leaving a good corporate job for a career in opera.

Recorded following the October 7, 2018 performance of "Don Carlo", LA Opera Music Director James Conlon and Dr. Jeffery High, CSULB professor and renowned Friedrich Schiller expert, dive deeply into the connection between Schiller’s German play "Don Karlos", Verdi’s grand opera "Don Carlo", and the fascinating history which inspired them both.

Join Classical KUSC’s Brian Lauritzen in conversation with retired Major Nick Seidel, a childhood friend of composer David T. Little and one of the inspirations behind his opera "Soldier Songs".

Composer David T. Little sits down with KUSC’s Brian Lauritzen for a conversation about his opera "Soldier Songs", which will be presented October 13 at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood as a part of the Off Grand series. They discuss the opera and the role that arts organizations can play in welcoming home veterans after active duty.

LA Opera's Richard Seaver Music Director James Conlon delves deep into Verdi's "Don Carlo" during his pre-show talk prior to LA Opera's 2018/19 season opening performance on September 22, 2018.

LA Opera's President and CEO Christopher Koelsch and Classical KUSC's Brian Lauritzen discuss the operas that comprise the 2018/19 season, both productions on the mainstage at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and “Off-Grand” at venues such as the Theater at Ace Hotel and the Ford Theatre. Mr. Koelsch also talks about his vision for the Company, and how he and the team at LA Opera work to make opera a...

LA Opera's Resident Conductor Grant Gershon and Classical KUSC's Brian Lauritzen discuss the upcoming production of Philip Glass's "Satyagraha", which Gershon will conduct in October/November. The conversation begins with Gershon talking about his long history with LA Opera.

Opera superstar Susan Graham and Classical KUSC's Brian Lauritzen discuss her role as LA Opera's Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist program's Artistic Adviser, as well as her own experiences as a young artist and some key moments from the beginning of her career.

In May 2018, internationally acclaimed and award-winning poet, former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, and current poet laureate of California, Dana Gioia, discussed one of his heroes, Walt Whitman, Whitman's great love of opera, and how that influenced his work.

Classical KUSC's Brian Lauritzen has a conversation about LA Opera's youth Opera Camp with composer/director Eli Villanueva; the Autry Museum's Director of Education and Visitor Engagement, Erik Greenburg; and LA Opera's Vice President for Education and Community Engagement, Stacy Brightman.

This week in July 1966, "Candide" had its North American premiere in Los Angeles with the Center Theatre Group on campus at UCLA. In this "From the Vault" episode, LA Opera's Richard Seaver Music Director James Conlon gives his pre-show talk on Bernstein's "Candide" prior to the January 27, 2018 performance.

Duff Murphy of Classical KUSC gives his pre-show talk on Bizet's "Pearl Fishers" prior to the October 7, 2017 performance.

James Conlon, LA Opera's Richard Seaver Music Director, gives his pre-pre-show talk on Bizet's "Carmen" prior to the September 14, 2017 performance.

Mark Lamos, director of plays, musicals and opera, including LA Opera’s current production of “Rigoletto,” has a conversation with Classical KUSC's Brian Lauritzen.

Matthew Aucoin (LA Opera's Artist In Residence) discusses his own composition, “Crossing”, with Classical KUSC's Brian Lauritzen. Inspired by poet Walt Whitman’s experiences tending to wounded soldiers during the Civil War, “Crossing” explores the connections that come between us and pull us apart. Performances of this LA Opera Off Grand production take place at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the...

An introduction to the plot, characters and music of "Rigoletto" at LA Opera.

LA Opera Resident Artist Matthew Aucoin gives his pre-show talk on "Rigoletto" opening night (May 12, 2018).

Matthew Aucoin (LA Opera's Artist In Residence) discusses Verdi's cornerstone of opera repertoire, "Rigoletto", with Classical KUSC's Brian Lauritzen.

UCLA Professor of Musicology Mitchell Morris at Getty Villa on Sunday, March 11, 2018. Composers and artists of the 19th century embraced the iconic figure of Orpheus, portraying him as the passionate hero of symphonic poems and concerti, the ultimate poet as prophet, and the very model of the Romantic musician. This talk traces the continuing power of the myth in music by Beethoven, Liszt, and Sc...

On Sunday, March 25 following the closing performance of Orpheus and Eurydice, Stephen Fry - English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter, and film director — joined Maestro James Conlon in the Stern Grand Hall for a conversation about the Orpheus & Eurydice myth throughout literature and music.

On March 9, 2018, Christopher Koelsch, LA Opera’s President and CEO, interviewed John Neumeier, acclaimed Artistic Director and Chief Choreographer of the Hamburg Ballet as well as the Director, Choreographer and Designer of LA Opera’s Orpheus and Eurydice.

On Monday, February 5, 2018 international opera star Renée Fleming, neuroscientist Antonio Damasio, and LA Opera CEO and President Christopher Koelsch discussed the connections between music and the brain—and the very real possibility that music is part of the solution to intractable problems like chronic pain and cancer. Listen and learn about the role music and other arts can play in tackling th...

Maestro Conlon gives his pre-show talk on Orpheus and Eurydice opening night March 10, 2018.