PODCAST · arts
Opera Apéro
by Sophia Makemson
The show to make you realize you are smart enough to understand opera. On each episode, host Sophia tells the story of an opera to a friend with little to no experience, accompanied by some inebriated chuckles and lively conversation about the themes and characters. Broadcasting biweekly from a blanket fort in Berlin, Germany.
Episodes
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Jenůfa with Maxwell
On this episode of Opera Apéro, I talk to my friend Maxwell (he/him) about Leos Janacek's opera Jenůfa. It's the story of a young woman in a small town in love and pregnant by a man who can’t commit. As time progresses, they face the consequences of the decisions made to avoid community shame. We...
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Pagliacci with Caitlin
On this episode of Opera Apéro, I talk to my friend Caitlin (she/her) about Ruggero Leoncavallo's opera Pagliacci. It's the story of a clown burying his feelings under his makeup and costume leading to an explosive ending. We talk about all kinds of clownery: toxic masculinity, the American…
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Going on an Opera Binge
On this episode of Opera Apéro, I'm talking about my recent opera "binge" where I attended 4 live operas in one month. They were all different and special in their own way: attending a local opera house vs one while traveling; going on a swanky Saturday vs a weeknight; seeing operas I've never…
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How to Attend the Opera
You never forget your first... On this episode of Opera Apéro, we're talking all about how to attend the opera. If you've ever wondered what it's like, listen in to hear all about how you can attend your first opera. We talk through everything from how to pick an opera to see, how to prepare…
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Iolanta with Nelly
On this episode of Opera Apéro, I talk to my friend Nelly (she/her) about Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's opera Iolanta. It's the story of a nobleman who falls in love with a young princess with a big secret that even she isn't aware of: she's blind. Mild spoiler, this is our second episode in a row...
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L‘elisir d‘amore with Lex
On this episode of Opera Apéro, I talk to my friend Lex (she/her) about L'elisir d'amore by Gaetano Donizetti. Unlike an earlier Donizetti opera episode (looking at you, Lucia), this opera is the 18th century version of a comforting romcom flick. It's the story of a rural worker longing for the...
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Tosca with Shaurya
Just like that, summer break is over and Opera Apéro is back with some fresh drama for your ears. On this episode, I talk to my friend and fellow Sagittarian, Shaurya (he/him) about Giacomo Puccini's famous stunner opera Tosca. This romantic tragedy tells the story of Roman opera singer Floria...
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Wozzeck with The Queer Communist Book Club
On this episode, I talk to my friends from the Queer Communist Book Club, Zoë (she/her) and Tom (he/him) about Alban Berg's opera Wozzeck. This is the story of a soldier in the early 1900s working to support his family all the while being tormented by his superiors and increasingly disturbing...
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Lucia di Lammermoor with Chris
On this episode, I talk to my friend Chris (he/him) about Gaetano Donizetti's opera Lucia di Lammermoor. It's the tragic story of a woman mentally strained by grief, heartbreak, and arranged marriage and the unfortunate outcome of these growing pressures. We talk about the uniqueness of the...
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The Nose with Alejandro
On this episode, I talk to my friend Alejandro (he/him) about Dmitri Shostakovich's opera The Nose. Originally based off a short story by Nikolai Gogol, it tells the story of a man who wakes up one morning with his nose missing and the ordeal of finding it again. It's a silly surreal opera that...
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Le Comte Ory with Marguerite
On this episode, I talk to my friend Marguerite (she/her) about Gioachino Rossini's opera Le Comte Ory. It's a wacky comedy about a licentious man scheming his way into a castle of women while the men of the area are gone on the Crusades. Just wait for the sexy surprise at the end. My guest...
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The Rake's Progress with Kristina
On this episode, I talk to my friend Kristina (she/her) about Stravinsky's English language opera The Rake's Progress. It's the story of one man's path from naive country man to disillusioned urbanite to doomed soul and all the people pulling him between good and bad along the way. Get ready for...
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Carmen with Ellen
On this episode, I talk to my first Berlin friend Ellen (she/her) about the super sexy opera Carmen by Georges Bizet. It's the tragic story of a young Spanish soldier seduced by a free-spirited gypsy woman Carmen, and what comes after the flames of passion have burned out. We discuss the...
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BONUS: How to Watch Opera for Free
It's a surprise bonus mini-episode! On the show, we talk so much about operas, the staging, the costumes, the acting. It's about time we talk about how to watch some of these magnificent productions. Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the options for streaming an opera at home are numerous. All...
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Opera Voice Types with Sophia
On this episode, I'm flying solo. We take a brief pause from working through operas to have an "Opera Appreciation" lesson on the different types of voices in operatic singing. These come from the German Fach system for categorizing voices by their range and depth. Beyond the currently sung voice...
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Salome with Aubrey
On this episode, I talk to Aubrey (they/them), friend and creator of our show art, about Strauss' opera Salome. In this second installment of Women's History Month, the story focuses on an evil woman, a femme fatale if you wish. She is female sexuality completely unhinged. We discuss art that is...
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La fanciulla del West with Theo
On this episode, to celebrate Women's History Month, I talk to my friend Theo (they/he) about Giacomo Puccini's La fanciulla del West. It's a love story set in the Wild West about Minnie, a saloon owner who gets caught up with a bandit on the run. We chat about the aesthetics of the West, how...
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Rusalka with Sophia
On this episode, I talk to my friend Sophia about Antonín Dvořák's Rusalka. It's the story of a water nymph who just wants to know human love and what she does to achieve that. We spend some time talking about just "Sophia" things, debating parental advice, and what Tinder would be like if we…
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Madama Butterfly with Zoë
On this episode, I talk to my friend Zoë (she/her) about Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly. It's a tragic romantic story of an American naval officer and his young Japanese bride. We discuss the delusions of love, how this story reflects the trend of orientalism, and how we personally hate and...
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ll Trovatore with Kyle
On this episode, I talk to my friend Kyle about Verdi's Il Trovatore. "Il Trovatore" translates to the troubadour, a person who sang lyric poetry in Medieval times. Fortunately, the plot of this opera is a lot more juicy than that might indicate. We've got love triangles! We've got dark family...
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Agrippina with Jake
On this episode, I talk to my friend Jake about George Handel's opera Agrippina. It's a long-winding story of politics, betrayal, love and lotsa scheming (my favorite!). Taking place during the Roman Empire, we follow along as a broad cast of characters including the Emperor Claudius and the...
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Thaïs with Natali
On this episode I talk to my friend Natali about Jules Massenet's Thaïs. In Ancient Egypt, a Christian monk, hoping to convert a courtesan who is also a devoted worshipper of the goddess Venus, runs into some unexpected consequences. Luckily, my guest just so happens to be a former Egyptology...
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Bluebeard's Castle with Ella
On this episode, I talk to my friend Ella about Béla Bartók's only opera Bluebeard's Castle. Incidentally, the Hungarian opera is based on a French folk tale from the Middle Ages. This is a two-for-one episode: an opera recap and a folk tale recap! We chat about the creepiness of emotionally…
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Der Rosenkavalier with Rachel
Today on Opera Apéro, we're going to learn more about Strauss' masterpiece Der Rosenkavalier. Get ready for some fun gender-bending shenanigans, German language laughs, and a lot of love triangle feelings.
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Welcome to Opera Apéro
Welcome to Opera Apéro: listen to hear more about what to expect from these opera story breakdowns and a little bit about why this Berlin-based lady is striking out into the opera podcast space.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The show to make you realize you are smart enough to understand opera. On each episode, host Sophia tells the story of an opera to a friend with little to no experience, accompanied by some inebriated chuckles and lively conversation about the themes and characters. Broadcasting biweekly from a blanket fort in Berlin, Germany.
HOSTED BY
Sophia Makemson
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Opera Apéro have?
Opera Apéro currently has 25 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Opera Apéro about?
The show to make you realize you are smart enough to understand opera. On each episode, host Sophia tells the story of an opera to a friend with little to no experience, accompanied by some inebriated chuckles and lively conversation about the themes and characters. Broadcasting biweekly from a...
How often does Opera Apéro release new episodes?
Opera Apéro has 25 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Opera Apéro?
You can listen to Opera Apéro on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Opera Apéro?
Opera Apéro is created and hosted by Sophia Makemson.
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