The #OperaTrash Podcast

As the title implies, Anna and Krista are once again setting sail for Wagner Land, this time exploring his opera Tannhäuser. Which version - the vanilla one or the Horny Jail one - is your favorite?

Is there an opera worse than The Exterminating Angel? Anna and Krista found it in The Ghosts of Versailles. How was such a good play ruined, and how can its wretchedness be used as punishment? Find out in this episode dedicated to two wonderful people and featuring a review of Faust from Covent Garden.

The Figaro saga continues with Mozart's contribution this week. There is talk of bootyholes, long-lost parents, unfaithful spouses and poor stupid Cherubino. There's also a lot of speculation about the next Met season and a tribute to Sir Sidney Poitier.

Anna and Krista start their two-episode arc on the Figaro trilogy (more on that in the podcast) with Rossini's The Barber of Seville. Hear Krista fail at words, learn how badass Betty White was and find out what they think of ranking Puccini operas. Watch out for exploding produce!

Benjamin Britten is back with his take on Melville's Billy Budd. Find out why Anna ragequit watching it, why Claggart might've hated the poor kid, and why Anna and Krista stan Melville and Hawthorne. Bonus lesson on Boxing Day for our American listeners!

The ladies are back with more Verdi! This time they tackle La Forza del Destino, and whoops, Krista shows us all the Pants Feels this week! There's also bitching about streaming accessibility and a mention of Jonas in tight pants. THANKS MARIE CALLENDER!

Anna's had a rough weekend of overtime, so the ladies have decided to pay homage to Jonas closing out his run as Otello at the Teatro San Carlo on December 14. Have a look back at their not-so-unfair comparison between him (as he'd already done two productions and a recording) and the notorious Don Faceplant aka Aleksandrs Antonenko.

What does it mean to be like George and Ira Gershwin? This week's episode is (almost) all about their opera Porgy and Bess, and Anna and Krista tell you just what they did that was so groundbreaking for their time. They also shoutout Krista's co-workers, celebrate the homecoming of Anna's little nephew and air their grievances about yet another criticism connected to Jonas.

Why do Anna and Krista like Richard Strauss? Aside from his music, he hated Nazis too! As they talk about his last opera Capriccio, they tell the story of Strauss dealing with their crap while still writing some gorgeous music. He is definitely NOT a Bitch Lasagna.

The ladies are very much WTF this week as they discuss Meyerbeer's epic Robert le diable. There's a Stefon homage, a nakey scale, 80s flashbacks and another reason to really, really hate Richard Wagner (as though you needed another one, right?).

The ladies present a 20th century opera this week with Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes. Get angry at the townsfolk, find out why Auntie isn't an actual auntie, and get ready for The Wien's production in the new year. Bonus review of Jonas' recent recital in Geneva, because why the hell not?

An extra hour means more time for the ladies to talk about Richard Strauss' Elektra, featuring Ancient Greek mommy issues. They also talk about RuPaul's Drag Race, another "Here Comes the Bride" parody, a nasty old lady and a few plans for the next few months.

The ladies are officially back from two weeks of illness, and they're celebrating with their Halloween tradition, Tanz der Vampire. Learn all about the douchebaggery that tanked the Broadway production, the gloriousness that is Jim Steinman, and settle in for Krista's 'rona saga.

Now Anna is down for the count with Caffeine Overload, but we're giving you ANOTHER bonus: the origins of our beloved Farter. Come for the candy, stay for the never-ending fart jokes and yelling about JUST FUCKING DIE ALREADY.

With Krista recovering from the flu, the ladies decided to send you back in time to their most epic episode ever - their very first review of Tristan und Isolde. This is where they reveal the whole sordid tale of the opera and its origins, and there's more drama than a Real Housewives show. Kick back and enjoy!

This week, Anna and Krista explore Puccini's first opera. Along the way, they discuss how not to be a dick at a recital, an opera-ballet connection and a hair-raising opera ending!

This week's opera is based on a true story: it's Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera. Come for the commentary, stay for the Supernatural references, and enjoy the story of why Verdi considered the writing of this to be a total shitshow.

Anna and Krista head back to Russia for this week's opera by Shostakovich. Why did Stalin hate it? Why did the ladies hate it? And what's John Malkovich doing in this week's news dump?

The ladies are back and are talking about a non-opera for a change: J.S. Bach's Coffee Cantata. The review is short, but they fill the rest of the time talking about coffee, of course! And Anna's in stereo this week!

Anna and Krista return to the land of Verdi to talk about Macbeth. Come for the hot Anna Netrebko action, stay for Stupid Sexy Banquo! Bonus review of another Tristan production (spoiler alert: the ending was trash)!

After an unscheduled break, Anna and Krista are back with more Wagner nonsense in the form of his longest opera, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Hey, there's a fight in this one!

We have a one-hit wonder from Cilea this week - Adriana Lecouvreur. It's "based on actual events", but it's very over-the-top in drama. And if you find the right production, you'll see Piotr Beczala's infamous pornstache!

Anna and Krista are joined this week by Cara, who gives us a new look at Shostakovich's opera The Nose. Who knew that a WTF opera would hold such a commentary on disability rights? Sit back and have your mind blown.

As promised, Krista tells us all about the highly anticipated livestream of Tristan und Isolde from Munich. Was it as expected? How did Jonas do in Act 3? And how would she stage T&I if she were an opera director? Tune in and find out!

More Wagner? Why not! This week, the ladies tackle one of his early operas, The Flying Dutchman. Learn its not-surprising backstory, its connection to Star Trek and what the "treasure" in the Met production really was!