PODCAST · arts
Seattle Opera Podcast
by Seattle Opera
Explore and celebrate opera's unique fusion of music and drama with Seattle Opera's 101 series or any of our behind-the-scenes interviews. Founded in 1963, Seattle Opera presents both European classics and new works of American opera.
Episodes
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LAKMÉ 101
A podcast introducing Seattle Opera's opera in concert for 2026/27, LAKMÉ, a glorious French romantic fantasy with music by Léo Delibes. Musical examples from Seattle Opera's 1967 Lakmé, conducted by Richard Bonynge, with Dame Joan Sutherland (Lakmé) and Huguette Tourangeau (Mallika); and our…
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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO 101
A podcast introducing the exciting new Spanish-language opera with music by Gabriela Lena Frank to a libretto by Nilo Cruz: what would happen if the myth of Orpheus and Euridice were reenacted by the famous Mexican painters Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo? Some Seattle Opera personnel attended the...
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SALOME 101
A podcast introducing SALOME, narrated by Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean and considering the timely and timeless contributions to this shocker made by Oscar Wilde and Richard Strauss. Musical examples from Seattle Opera's 2002 production of Salome, conducted by Gerard Schwarz and starring...
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Seattle's Queer Community Reacts to FELLOW TRAVELERS
Last month Seattle Opera (finally!) presented its first-ever queer opera on the mainstage. Fellow Travelers, with its historical setting, offered the queer folks of Seattle an opportunity to look back at how things used to be, see how far we've come, and to talk about where we may be headed. This...
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CARMEN 101
Why has Carmen been, since 1875, one of the world's most popular operas? Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces this beloved masterpiece with musical examples from Seattle Opera's archival recordings of Carmen: from 1995, with Greer Grimsley as Escamillo (conducted by Steven Sloane)…
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FELLOW TRAVELERS 101
In February/March 2026 Seattle Opera premieres a new production of Fellow Travelers, an opera (based on the novel by Thomas Mallon) with music by Gregory Spears to a libretto by Greg Pierce that premiered at Cincinnati Opera in 2016. Jonathan Dean introduces this beautiful new American opera, a...
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DAPHNE 101
Daphne, by Richard Strauss, comes to Seattle Opera for two concert performances in January 2025. This gorgeous opera, based on Greek myth, is a splendid showcase for a fantastic orchestra. Jonathan Dean explains what Strauss learned from Wagner, tells this unfamiliar opera's story, and explores…
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THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE 101
Seattle Opera presents its first-ever Gilbert & Sullivan in October 2025: The Pirates of Penzance, in a charming, traditional production that has already delighted many American opera audiences. Jonathan Dean explains the difference between opera and operetta, shares a bit of the music and humor…
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2025/26 Season Preview with James Robinson
James Robinson, new General and Artistic Director of Seattle Opera, introduces the 2025/26 season. The Pirates of Penzance promises a musically extraordinary operatic approach to Gilbert & Sullivan; come prepared to laugh and to enjoy some familiar music as you've never heard it before. Daphne In...
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TOSCA 101
Seattle Opera concludes its 24/25 season in May 2025 with TOSCA, Puccini's beloved thriller. Jonathan Dean introduces the charismatic characters, cinematic music, and wild story that have made TOSCA one of the world's favorite operas. Musical examples from Seattle Opera archival recordings of…
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THE MAGIC FLUTE 101
Mozart's miraculous final masterpiece returns to Seattle Opera in February/March 2025. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces the beloved music of THE MAGIC FLUTE, with musical examples from archival Seattle Opera recordings made in 1999 (Daniel Beckwith conducts Nathan Gunn, Paul…
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LES TROYENS IN CONCERT 101
In January 2025 Seattle Opera will present two concert performances of LES TROYENS À CARTHAGE, the second part (Acts 3, 4, & 5) of Berlioz's monumental masterpiece LES TROYENS. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces the music of Berlioz and this full-length program, sharing musical...
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JUBILEE 101
Seattle Opera presents the world premiere of JUBILEE, a new opera celebrating spirituals. Created by Tazewell Thompson, librettist of BLUE, JUBILEE tells the story of how a group of African American singers toured America and Europe in the 1870s, using this wonderful music—America's first great...
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PAGLIACCI 101
For Summer 2024, Seattle Opera will present PAGLIACCI, by Ruggero Leoncavallo, a masterpiece of Italian opera all about lust and jealousy, passion and murder; a show about reality and artifice, comedy and tragedy, freedom and fate. (It's not about pizza.) Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean...
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THE BARBER OF SEVILLE 101
Figaro! Figaro! Figaro! Rossini's cheerful comedy rounds out Seattle Opera's season in May 2024. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces THE BARBER OF SEVILLE with musical examples drawn from Seattle Opera archival recordings from 1992 (conducted by Edoardo Mueller and starring John Del...
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The Music of X: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MALCOLM X with Anthony Davis & Kazem Abdullah
Composer Anthony Davis and Conductor Kazem Abdullah discuss X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X with KING FM's Myah Rose. Coming to Seattle Opera February 24 through March 9, Davis's first opera premiered at New York City Opera in 1986. Kazem Abdullah first discovered the opera when he found a...
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2024/25 Season Announcement
Enjoy this sample-platter of music and voices from Seattle Opera's 2024/25 season. Dramaturg Jonathan Dean and Aren Der Hacopian, Director of Artistic Administration and Planning introduce a mainstage season including Pagliacci (Aug '24), Jubilee (World Premiere, Oct '24), Les Troyens à Carthage…
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Handel: the Opera Titan You Don't Know
ALCINA, opening October 14th, will be only the fourth-ever Handel opera given at Seattle Opera. General Director Christina Scheppelmann, stage director Tim Albery, and conductor Christine Brandes discuss this great opera composer, and the rebirth of interest in his work, with Dramaturg Jonathan...
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SINGING DAS RHEINGOLD
Meet the characters and explore the rich vocal history of DAS RHEINGOLD with Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean. With recorded music examples ranging from 1904 to 2015, Dean considers how DAS RHEINGOLD challenges its singers to feats of lyrical and heroic singing—and even listens for the…
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Vanessa Vo and the Vietnamese Instruments of BOUND
In June Seattle Opera presents BOUND, a one-act chamber opera (music by Huang Ruo, libretto by Bao-Long Chu). This opera features Vanessa Vo playing đàn bầu (monochord) and đàn tranh (Vietnamese zither). In this podcast, Vo demonstrates and discusses these instruments with Dramaturg Jonathan…
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Looking at LA TRAVIATA Through a Sex-Positive Lens
In this conversation Briq House and Moonyeka share their perspective on Seattle Opera's La traviata. Speaking with Gabrielle Nomura Gainor, the two sex-positive artists and community leaders discuss the "fallen woman" archetype in Verdi's opera, the joy and challenges surrounding sex work—and…
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A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS Q&A Highlights
After our world-premiere performances of A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS in February and March, audiences stayed to discuss the show with cast, crew, and staff. Hear highlights from those post-show Q&As. In addition to audience members, voices include those of Christina Scheppelmann (General Director),...
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Opera and Imperialism: Saint-Saëns's Samson and Delilah and the Representation of the "Other"
Seattle Opera scholar-in-residence Dr. Naomi André, explores issues of orientalism, cultural representation, and musical exoticism in opera. French composer Camille Saint-Saëns wrote his biblical epic Samson and Delilah (1877) at a time when European powers were aggressively pursuing imperial...
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THE BARBER OF SEVILLE 101
Figaro! Figaro! Figaro! Rossini's cheerful comedy rounds out Seattle Opera's season in May 2024. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces THE BARBER OF SEVILLE with musical examples drawn from Seattle Opera archival recordings from 1992 (conducted by Edoardo Mueller and starring John Del...
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X: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MALCOLM X 101
In 1986 composer Anthony Davis and librettist Thulani Davis created an opera about the civil rights activist, with a story by Christopher Davis. The revised version comes to Seattle for the first time in winter/spring 2024, in a co-production shared with Detroit Opera, Opera Omaha, the…
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ALCINA 101
In Fall 2023 Seattle Opera will present Handel's ALCINA, a magical opera seria about the vagaries of love, attraction, and gender. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces Handel operas and ALCINA, with musical examples from recital albums by Andreas Scholl and Sarah Connolly as well as...
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DAS RHEINGOLD 101
The introductory first opera of Wagner's RING cycle is a unique and fascinating work in its own right: both a lively fantasy and a trenchant satirical allegory. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces DAS RHEINGOLD, with musical examples from previous Seattle Opera productions including...
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A Buddhist Perspective on TRISTAN & ISOLDE
Seattle Opera subscriber Dr. Chris Rebholz, a practicing Buddhist, discusses Wagner's Tristan with Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean. Fascinated by Buddhism when he wrote Tristan und Isolde, Wagner created an opera all about compassion, karma, desire, enlightenment, and the difficulty of...
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The Wagner Problem: Performance and Programming in the 21st Century
Richard Wagner is once again making an appearance on the Seattle Opera stage, renewing questions about the controversial composer's compatibility with contemporary social values. Wagner's objectionable views and dominant position in the opera canon have long vexed opera lovers, prompting some to...
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Singing Like Germans with Kira Thurman & Naomi André
Join us for a conversation with Kira Thurman, author of Singing Like Germans: Black Musicians in the Land of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, and Seattle Opera scholar-in-residence Dr. Naomi André. Drawing on her experience as a classically trained pianist who grew up in Vienna, Austria, Thurman…
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MARY ELIZABETH WILLIAMS Discusses Isolde
American soprano Mary Elizabeth Williams, beloved in Seattle for performances such as Tosca, Abigaille in NABUCCO, and Serena in PORGY AND BESS, just made her role debut as Isolde, the first time she's ever sung a Wagner opera. She discussed the character, the singing, and her two-and-a-half year...
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Wagner Reads Gottfried's TRISTAN (with Annegret Oehme)
Annegret Oehme, Associate Professor of German Studies at the University of Washington, discusses TRISTAN UND ISOLDE with Jonathan Dean. Wagner's inspiration for this amazing opera was the 12th century poem by Gottfried von Straßburg, a classic of medieval German literature. Wagner built on...
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TESS ALTIVEROS & SHELLY TRAVERSE Discuss ELIXIR & More
Sopranos Tess Altiveros and Shelly Traverse both have lots of Seattle Opera credits: mainstage productions (Tess sang Giannetta in this summer's ELIXIR OF LOVE; Shelly was Chan in CHARLIE PARKER'S YARDBIRD and Hero in BEATRICE AND BENEDICT), chamber operas (ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE, THE FALLING AND…
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LA TRAVIATA 101
Verdi's masterpiece returns to Seattle Opera May 2023. Initially this sumptuous, tuneful, utterly human tragedy sparked controversy, but it quickly became one of the world's most beloved operas. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces La traviata, with musical examples from previous...
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A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS 101
A brand-new opera based on Khaled Hosseini's best-selling novel, with music by Sheila Silver, libretto by Stephen Kitsakos, and directed by Roya Sadat, premieres at Seattle Opera in February 2023. In this podcast Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces A Thousand Splendid Suns, with...
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SAMSON AND DELILAH 101
Saint-Saëns' grand French opera, not heard in Seattle since 1965, returns January 2023 in a concert production showcasing the breathtaking music of this powerful Old Testament epic. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces Samson et Dalila, with musical examples drawn from recordings...
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TRISTAN UND ISOLDE 101
Wagner's revolutionary masterpiece, often considered the most Romantic opera ever written, returns to Seattle Opera in October 2022. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces Tristan und Isolde, with musical examples from Seattle Opera's 1998 (starring Jane Eaglen, Ben Heppner, and…
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THE ELIXIR OF LOVE 101
A smile full of sunshine comes to Seattle Opera with the return of Donizetti's endearing comedy. The story of The Elixir of Love concerns the adventures of a bottle of Bordeaux; but the music is as sweet and gentle as the lightest possible tiramisù. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean…
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FIGARO Music Lesson: Marches, Minuets, Accompanied Recitative, and the Pastoral
In this 'listener's guide' to one of opera's favorite comedies, Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean investigates Mozart's use of some eighteenth-century musical idioms in THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. Musical examples from Seattle Opera Marriage of Figaro productions in 1997 (conducted by Antonello...
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2022/23 Season Announcement with Christina Scheppelmann
General Director Christina Scheppelmann announces Seattle Opera's 2022/23 season, including the great singers who will be coming to Seattle and an exciting lineup of operas: Donizetti's Elixir of Love, Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, Saint-Saëns' Samson and Delilah, Verdi's La traviata, and the…
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ORPHEUS & EURYDICE: A Lesson on Love, Loss, and Letting Go
This conversation (recorded live, December 16, 2021) featured ORPHEUS & EURYDICE stage director Chía Patiño, choreographer Donald Byrd, and conductor Stephen Stubbs. The inspiration for the earliest operas, as well as numerous retellings in each new generation, the ancient myth of Orpheus and...
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STEPHEN STUBBS discusses Gluck
Stephen Stubbs, conductor of Seattle Opera's upcoming ORFEO ED EURIDICE, by Gluck, joined us last year for an intermission chat when we rebroadcast Gluck's IPHIGÉNIE EN TAURIDE. A native Seattleite, student (and professor) at University of Washington, Stubbs has been a leader in the world of…
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BACKSTAGE at LA BOHÈME
Opera is a big team effort. Every opera production puts hundreds of creative people to work, singing, playing instruments, acting, dancing, crafting and maneuvering sets, costumes, props, and lights and everything else. Backstage at Seattle Opera's recent LA BOHÈME, Dramaturg Jonathan Dean spoke...
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LA BOHÈME 101
"Men die and governments change, but the songs of La bohème will live forever," wrote Thomas Alva Edison to Giacomo Puccini. Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean introduces La bohème, with musical examples from Seattle Opera's archival recordings of La bohème: from 2007, with Rosario La Spina...
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Loving Wagner, Hating Wagner...and the Middle Path
Seattle Opera Scholar-in-Residence Naomi André and Dramaturg Jonathan Dean discuss the most controversial of all opera composers, Richard Wagner, whose DIE WALKÜRE the company will present, in concert (and abridged) at Fisher Pavilion on August 28. Wagner's astonishing masterpieces continue to...
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OF MICE AND MEN Intermission Chat with MELANIE ROSS
For KING FM's re-broadcast of Seattle Opera's 1976 OF MICE AND MEN, Dramaturg Jonathan Dean interviewed Melanie Ross about the early days of Seattle Opera and the work of her father, Seattle Opera founding General Director Glynn Ross. Melanie, who retired in 2017, worked behind the scenes at...
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COUNT ORY Discussion with Giacomo Sagripanti
Giacomo Sagripanti conducted Rossini's wicked French comedy, Count Ory, at Seattle Opera in 2016. He recently discussed this great work and Rossini with General Director Christina Scheppelmann.
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RING Intermission Chat with staff members Kristina Murti and Alicia Moriarty
Marketing Director Kristina Murti and Assistant Production Director Alicia Moriarty chatted during an intermission of GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG when Seattle Opera re-broadcast its 2005 RING cycle on KING-FM in February. Listen to their stories about how the RING changed their lives, and what it does for…
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RING Intermission Chat with PHIL KELSEY
Phil Kelsey, Seattle Opera's Assistant Conductor, chatted during an intermission of GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG with Christina Scheppelmann when Seattle Opera re-broadcast its 2005 RING cycle on KING-FM in February. Phil, who can conduct or play any moment from the RING on demand, has worked on Seattle's…
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RING Intermission Chat with Stage Managers Yasmine Kiss and Cris Reynolds
Stage Manager Yasmine Kiss and Assistant Stage Manager Cris Reynolds chatted during an intermission of Siegfried when Seattle Opera re-broadcast its 2005 RING cycle on KING-FM in February. Listen to their stories about what it's like backstage getting costumes, props, scenery, human beings, and...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Explore and celebrate opera's unique fusion of music and drama with Seattle Opera's 101 series or any of our behind-the-scenes interviews. Founded in 1963, Seattle Opera presents both European classics and new works of American opera.
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Seattle Opera
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Seattle Opera Podcast have?
Seattle Opera Podcast currently has 130 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Seattle Opera Podcast about?
Explore and celebrate opera's unique fusion of music and drama with Seattle Opera's 101 series or any of our behind-the-scenes interviews. Founded in 1963, Seattle Opera presents both European classics and new works of American opera.
How often does Seattle Opera Podcast release new episodes?
Seattle Opera Podcast publishes regularly with 130 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to Seattle Opera Podcast 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 Seattle Opera Podcast?
Seattle Opera Podcast is created and hosted by Seattle Opera.
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