The Ghost Light Podcast (Utah Symphony | Utah Opera)

A favorite of opera audiences for over 170 years, Giuseppe Verdi's La traviata is undoubtedly THE archetypal Italian operatic tragedy. In the final opera prelude of season 10, Jeff and Carol discuss consumption, courtesans, and catastrophic romance. Visit www.usuo.org for information on upcoming concerts and performances at our venues across Utah. To submit a question to our team, or suggest a topic for an upcoming episode, send an email to [email protected] USUO’s Ghost Light podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson.

We recently sat down (virtually) with Grammy Award–winning composer and electric guitarist Steve Mackey. His inventive, genre-bending work is heard in concert halls across the country, and this May, Abravanel Hall will resonate with his electric guitar concerto Aluminum Flowers. Jeff and I had a genuinely delightful time talking with Steve about everything from skiing to musical underdogs to the compositional process, with plenty of unexpected turns along the way. For more information on Steve’s journey and works, go to https://stevenmackey.com/ or follow him on Instagram @steven_mackey. To listen to his compositions, go to Apple Music or Spotify. Here’s a link to Banana/Dump Truck to get your listening started https://open.spotify.com/album/0rcLidQQaOkBFzr9Vv3wbW?si=rQUi69HjTE6V2OLaBbTqug Visit www.usuo.org for information on upcoming concerts and performances at our venues across Utah. To submit a question to our team, or suggest a topic for an upcoming episode, send an email to [email protected] USUO’s Ghostlight podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson.

O Fortuna-you know it the moment it begins. Carmina Burana has become one of the most recognizable works in classical music, echoing far beyond the concert hall into film, television, and pop culture. In this episode, Jeff and Carol explore the musical and thorny political legacy of Carl Orff and dig into the music, text, and structure of this choral bacchanal. From rowdy drinking songs to moments of unexpected lyric beauty, Carmina Burana is a mosaic of the human experience, earthy, ecstatic, and unapologetically bold. To explore a few of our favorite pop culture moments 2007 Gatorade commercial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIlEv34dKVI O Fortuna misheard lyrics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y88vF0l8FDo Trailer to the 1989 film Glory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OS-OE1EcHI Visit www.usuo.org for information on upcoming concerts and performances at our venues across Utah. To submit a question to our team, or suggest a topic for an upcoming episode, send an email to [email protected] USUO’s Ghostlight podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson.

To borrow a familiar saying, all roads, and this week, all podcasts, lead to Rome. Jeff and Carol take us on a virtual tour of the Eternal City as they explore Respighi’s orchestral showpiece, The Pines of Rome. With its brilliant orchestration, virtuosic writing, and vivid musical postcards of Roman landmarks, this tone poem has long been a favorite of audiences and orchestral musicians alike. Visit www.usuo.org for information on upcoming concerts and performances at our venues across Utah. To submit a question to our team, or suggest a topic for an upcoming episode, send an email to [email protected] USUO’s Ghostlight podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson.

For more than three decades, Utah Opera’s Resident Artist Program has been an important part of the company’s work on stage and in the community. Based in Salt Lake City, these young artists travel throughout Utah performing in schools and community settings, sharing their passion for opera with audiences across the state. The program also provides a bridge between academic training and a professional career. Alumni now perform on stages around the world and pursue careers across the musical field as educators, performers, and administrators. Today Jeff and Carol sit down with tenor Daniel O’Hearn, currently performing Nemorino in The Elixir of Love. to reflect on life after the Resident Artist program and the journey from young artist to working professional. Follow Daniel’s career at https://www.danielohearntenor.com/ or on Instagram @danielohearntenor. His short album “Un doux clair de lune,” featuring Utah Opera’s Principal Coach Deborah Robertson, can be streamed on Spotify at https://bit.ly/4ltDVs2 Visit www.usuo.org for information on upcoming concerts and performances at our venues across Utah. To submit a question to our team, or suggest a topic for an upcoming episode, send an email to [email protected] USUO’s Ghostlight podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson.

What happens to a shy, lovelorn tenor when his soprano crush gets distracted by a swaggering baritone? Well, one thing is for sure...it’s going to take to a fast-talking con man and his magical “love potion” to save the day and give us a happy ending. Underneath all the laughter and farce lies a surprisingly tender story of longing and sincerity, delivered in Donizetti’s quintessential bel canto style. In this latest Ghost Light Opera Prelude, Jeff and Carol uncork Donizetti’s effervescent comedy and explore why this sparkling gem continues to intoxicate audiences nearly two centuries later. Visit www.usuo.org for information on upcoming concerts and performances at our venues across Utah. To submit a question to our team, or suggest a topic for an upcoming episode, send an email to [email protected] USUO’s Ghostlight podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson.

Claude Debussy’s lifelong obsession with the sea found its voice in La Mer, three orchestral sketches that depict the shifting moods of the ocean. Though he chafed at the title, Debussy was a musical Impressionist to match the Impressionists of the visual art world, rendering his sound images through orchestral colors and expanded harmony, rather than oils and watercolors. In one of their Deep Dives, Jeff and Carol talk about how this “anti-symphony” overcame its inauspicious debut to become one of the seminal works of the twentieth century. Visit www.usuo.org for information on upcoming concerts and performances at our venues across Utah. To submit a question to our team, or suggest a topic for an upcoming episode, send an email to [email protected] USUO’s Ghostlight podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson.

Beloved in Utah and around the world, Sir Stephen Hough is a multi-dimensional artist, excelling as pianist, composer, and writer as well as being a pretty talented avocational painter. In advance of his seventh collaboration with the Utah Symphony, we were delighted to welcome him for a delightful conversation. In just under twenty minutes, Sir Stephen offers philosophical gems, observations on the creative process, and life advice for artists of all persuasions, delivered with humility, wit, and charm. Follow Sir Stephen Hough on Instagram @houghhoughx2 or explore the many facets of this artist at www.stephenhough.com. Sir Stephen’s music (both as composer and performer) is widely available on Spotify and Apple Music. Visit www.usuo.org for information on upcoming concerts and performances at our venues across Utah. To submit a question to our team, or suggest a topic for an upcoming episode, send an email to [email protected] USUO’s Ghostlight podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson.

In this episode, we take a look at composer, violinist, and cultural figure Joseph de Bologne, also known as the Chevalier de Saint-Georges. Long overlooked in traditional narratives of eighteenth-century music, de Bologne’s influence on Parisian musical life rivaled that of his more frequently programmed contemporaries. Conductor, pianist, and art song expert Tyson Deaton joins us to discuss the challenging process of creating modern scholarly editions of de Bologne’s works. Whether you’re a performer, educator, or curious listener, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how scholarship can restore a vital musical voice—and why Joseph de Bologne’s music deserves a place on today’s concert stages. For more information on Maestro Deaton and his work on Joseph de Bologne, consult https://www.tysondeaton.com/. To purchase any or all of the five volumes of de Bologne’s vocal works, go to Classical Vocal Reprints at https://bit.ly/4b2ngZr. Visit www.usuo.org for information on upcoming concerts and performances at our venues across Utah. To submit a question to our team, or suggest a topic for an upcoming episode, send an email to [email protected] USUO’s Ghostlight podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson.

Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio, invites us into a timeless story of bravery, love, and moral resolve. Its themes of political freedom and courage feel just as urgent in 2026 as they did 220 years ago in French-occupied Vienna. We welcome opera director Tara Faircloth to the podcast to discuss her fresh take on this work whose central ideas still speak powerfully to us today. To see more about Tara Faircloth’s recent and upcoming directing work, check out https://tarafaircloth.com/. Visit www.usuo.org for information on upcoming concerts and performances at our venues across Utah. To submit a question to our team, or suggest a topic for an upcoming episode, send an email to [email protected] USUO’s Ghostlight podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson.

Modern life feels increasingly complex, and many of us struggle to stay balanced amid a constant swirl of competing expectations. Last season USUO introduced a series of Well-Being Concerts, each designed to offer Utah audiences a space for restoration through music’s unique capacity to calm, center, and heal. In this episode, Ben Kipp, Vice President of Education and Community Engagement, joins Jeff and Carol to reflect on the vision behind this initiative and to share how these concerts are already making a meaningful impact in people’s lives. To find out more about USUO’s Well-Being Concerts or to register for an upcoming concert, visit utahsymphony.org/education/well-being-concert-series. Carnegie Hall has been a leader in developing Well-Being Concerts. To see more about their current season and partnerships such as theirs with USUO, go to www.carnegiehall.org/Events/Well-Being-Concerts or visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po6QTj98p2o to view a video about the experience. Visit www.usuo.org for information on upcoming concerts and performances at our venues across Utah. To submit a question to our team, or suggest a topic for an upcoming episode, send an email to [email protected] USUO’s Ghost Light podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson.

Richard Strauss’ tone poems represent the zenith of orchestral storytelling, and in Ein Heldenleben, the story gets personal. Over the course of fifty vivid minutes, Strauss sketches a musical self-portrait of a composer battling critics, finding lifelong love, contemplating his musical successes and ultimately settling into a vision of hard-won peace. Join Jeff and Carol for a Deep Dive into this epic work, as they share the history behind the work, and examine whether Ein Heldenleben is full of self-deprecating irony or a composer’s ultimate ego trip. Visit www.usuo.org for information on upcoming concerts and performances at our venues across Utah. To submit a question to our team, or suggest a topic for an upcoming episode, send an email to [email protected] USUO’s Ghost Light podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson.

Classical music has long been shaped by the traditions, and occasional barriers, of the concert hall and theater. Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson welcome USUO Opera Education Manager Kevin Nakatani and Front of House Manager Melissa Robison to explore how we can reimagine those spaces to be more inclusive, responsive, and welcoming to people with diverse abilities and needs. Join us for a timely conversation about making opera and symphony performances a richer, more accessible experience for all audiences. To learn more about or register for Access to Music, visit https://usuo.org/education/access-to-music/ Explore this list of resources on accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Visit www.usuo.org for information on upcoming concerts and performances at our venues across Utah. To submit a question to our team, or suggest a topic for an upcoming episode, send an email to [email protected] USUO’s Ghostlight podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson.

When the Utah Symphony introduced German conductor Markus Poschner as Music Director Designate last fall, it marked an exciting new era for the orchestra—just the eighth music director in its 85-year history! Renowned for his dynamic artistry and contagious enthusiasm, Maestro Poschner is already transforming the connection between the orchestra and its audiences. He spoke with Carol and Jeff from Linz, Austria, about his vision for what comes next.

Two little pieces of gristle in our throat - they produce amazing sounds that represent our identity as speakers and maybe even singers, and they are remarkably durable, until they aren't. Vocal injury is often discussed in hushed and secretive tones, and we’re bringing the conversation into the open. Singer and USUO Board Chair Annette Jarvis and Vocologist Dr. Lynn Maxfield join Jeff and Carol to tell an inspiring story of determination, discipline, and a voice reborn.

At just 28, Gustav Mahler redefined the symphony with his bold and deeply personal Symphony No. 1. From the stirrings of nature to the depths of human sorrow, Mahler poured his heart into this work—revising it several times as he refined this symphonic debut. Avid Mahler enthusiasts Jeff and Carol take a Deep Dive into this monumental piece, setting the stage for Music Director Designate Markus Poschner’s return to the Utah Symphony podium.

It’s October, which means it’s time for the second annual Bloodcurdling Opening Opera, (aka BOO). This week, in Jeff and Carol's first Utah Opera Prelude of the podcast season, they discuss Paul Moravec and Mark Campbell’s chilling adaptation of Stephen King’s novel The Shining, based on the 1977 bestseller penned by the “King of Horror.” What does it take to turn such an iconic book into a riveting operatic thriller? Join us to find out!

From its dramatic opening that gave its composer “no peace,” to its sparkling finale, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor has been delighting listeners for almost two centuries. To open the USUO Ghost Light Podcast’s tenth season, Jeff and Carol uncover the artistic partnership behind this landmark (and revolutionary) work and consider why it remains a cornerstone of the concerto repertoire.

What does it take to reimagine "Madame Butterfly" for today’s stage? Director Matthew Ozawa and mezzo-soprano Nina Yoshida Nelsen join us for a candid conversation about creativity, representation, and reshaping a classic from the inside out.

If at first you don’t succeed, rewrite it four times—just ask Puccini. In this season’s final opera prelude, Jeff and Carol explore Madame Butterfly, from its rocky premiere to eventual triumph. They delve into the opera’s complex cultural backdrop, examine its literary roots, and confront the tension between the troubling elements within its story and its lasting popularity with opera audiences.

Mysterious cloaked figures, thoughts of poisoning, and genius cut off at its prime...the lore surrounding Mozart's Requiem, unfinished at his untimely demise, is substantial, but the truth is even more compelling. Jeff and Carol, joined by special guest Utah Symphony Chorus director Austin McWilliams, dive deep to uncover the real story behind the music.

Jeff and Carol invite musicologist Catherine Mayes to help unpack the thorny topic of exoticism and colonialism in Western Music. This is part one of a three-episode introduction to Utah Opera's upcoming production of Puccini's Madame Butterfly.

You've heard the aria and you've seen the iconic sad commedia clown face. Now join Jeff and Carol as they look beyond the greasepaint into the bleeding heart of Ruggero Leoncavallo's visceral opera.

This week Jeff and Carol sit down with Utah Symphony's Music Director Emeritus Thierry Fischer to talk about his upcoming Mahler mini-festival. Thierry also catches us up on his life since leaving Salt Lake City (hint: busy and fulfilling), his passion projects, and his new role of grandfather!

From riots to radicalism to Disney and dinosaurs, Igor Stravinsky's ballet "The Rite of Spring" blasted on the classical music scene in May of 1913 and has been captivating audiences ever since. In one of their Deep Dives, Jeff and Carol talk about the man behind the music, the stories around the premiere, and the music that still sounds modern more than a century later (even though it isn't).

Though there is a children’s chorus, a children’s ballet, and adults playing children, "Hansel and Gretel" is much more than a children’s opera. In preparation for Utah Opera’s presentation of this beloved fairytale, Jeff and Carol talk about the opera’s backstory and why it’s one of the more underrated and sophisticated scores of the late nineteenth century.

For over 50 years, John Williams has delighted millions of listeners with his epic film music. Compositionally sophisticated and melodically inventive, his more than one hundred cinematic scores are masterpieces of virtuosic story-telling. In one of their patented Deep Dives™️, film score devotees Jeff and Carol talk about John Williams' life and amazing body of work, while sharing their personal experiences of Williams' music, both as listeners and performers. For tickets to Utah Symphony's January 2025 performance of the Film Music of John Williams, visit: https://utahsymphony.org/event/id/33383/

From Salsa to Symphony—get to know newly appointed Utah Symphony Assistant Conductor Jessica Rivero Altarriba. The Ghostlight Team welcomes Maestra Altarriba to Utah and learns about her path to the podium. With a joyful commitment to audience engagement and a vision for the future of symphonic programming, she's a vibrant addition to our organization and our community.

Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson share background information about the upcoming Utah Symphony performance of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. For tickets to Utah Symphony's November 2024 performance of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, visit: https://utahsymphony.org/event/id/33379

The Ghost Light team sits down with Leslie Peterson (Vice President of Development, USUO) to discuss arts funding in America. She shares insights from her experiences at Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, and the organization's support for the local Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) program in Salt Lake County.

Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson share background and behind-the-scenes information about the upcoming Utah Opera production of Sondeim’s Sweeney Todd. In short, Sweeney Todd is a vengeance story in the vein of so many of the tragedies Utah Opera has staged in recent years. Although there is a high body count in this production, it’s about more than just murder. The complex stories and motives of both the principal and chorus characters are intricately weaved together with musical motifs that add depth to their respective roles in a way that only Sondheim could achieve. The original production featured an industrial set and staging with turntable and trap doors. Early reviews claimed the combination of music and theater “magic” of the now beloved work was almost too much for its own good. Utah Opera’s production is cast with opera singers that are able to vocally straddle the fine divide between opera and music theater. For tickets to Utah Opera's October 2024 production of Sweeney Todd visit: utahopera.org/sweeney

The Ghost Light team sits down with Maestro John DeMain (Music Director, Madison Symphony) to discuss the intersection of Opera and Musical Theater. He shares insights from his experiences conducting Houston Grand Opera, his conversations with Stephen Sondheim regarding Sweeney Todd, and what subject he would like to see be made into an opera. To get tickets to the upcoming Utah Opera performance of Sweeney Todd visit https://bit.ly/3XANdH3

Co-hosts Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson sit down to discuss Scheherazade, Utah Symphony’s May performance featuring both Rimsky-Korsakov's famous orchestral suite as well as Ravel’s lesser-known Shéhérazade (a lovely song cycle originally inspired by Rimsky-Korsakov's version sung by Utah Opera Favorite Wendy Bryn Harmer). These two evening concerts perfectly captures the sultan’s savagery, the storyteller’s mesmerizing quality, and the exotic tales Scheherazade weaves over the course of 1001 Arabian Nights.

Hosts Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson preview the upcoming Utah Opera presentation of Massenet's "Thaïs." Giving you a behind the curtain look into this grandiose production, what to expect, and the history of Massenet's timeless work.

The Ghost Light Podcast sits down with guitarist Gretchen Menn and USUO VP of Education and Community Outreach Ben Kipp to discuss the upcoming Guitar Celebrations Festival featuring Another Night On Earth guitar ensemble with the Utah Symphony.

Hosts Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson preview the upcoming Utah Opera presentation of Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro." They discuss why this opera is among the most performed operas worldwide, what to expect with THIS production, and the history of Mozart's timeless work.

Hosts Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson give an in-depth look into Utah Opera's upcoming production of Rachel Portman and Nicholas Wright's "The Little Prince." The opera is based on the children's book of the same name by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Originally debuted in 2019 by Utah Opera, this colorful instant classic returns to the Capitol Theatre stage with a whole new cast.

Hosts Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson take a deep look into the origins of film music. From silent films to the first "talkies" and to the modern epic scores. What are their favorite movie scores? Who are their favorite creative partners? How does movie music fit in with the modern symphony orchestra? and finally, how do movie score composers stack up against the great composers in history?

Carol Anderson and Jeff Counts sit down with the newly appointed Utah Symphony Creative Partner, David Robertson, to discuss the genesis of his new role, the challenges and opportunities of programming a compelling concert, and what it's like being a part of a very musical family.

From the confused cosmos of the opening movement, to the folky and athletic scherzo, to the glorious finale. Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson take you deep into the history and subtle details of Beethoven’s magnum opus. Learn about Beethoven’s personal life at the time of writing, the contemporary reaction to the work, and what Symphony No.9 means in modern culture. And finally, why do “war horse” pieces like Beethoven’s Ninth get played so often? And how does it stay fresh to the listener?

To kick of the 8th season of the Ghost Light Podcast, co-hosts Carol Anderson and Jeff Counts take you behind the music and production of the upcoming Utah Opera presentation of Puccini's La bohème. Discover the historical origins of the famed opera and why it's among the most performed operas world-wide. Jeff and Carol also give you some insider details of this production, and discuss La bohème's contribution to pop culture.

Now at the end of his tenure as Music Director of the Utah Symphony, Thierry Fischer sits down with hosts Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson to reflect on his time with the orchestra. What are his favorite memories? What travel advice would he give to a newcomer to Utah? Maybe most importantly of all, will he remain a fan of the Utah Jazz? Find out all of this and more with the latest episode of the Ghost Light Podcast!

A modern opera about Steve Jobs? Ghost Light Podcast hosts Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson take you behind the scenes of the next Utah Opera production: The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs. From electric guitar and techno sound patches combined with a full orchestra, complicated characters, and big voices get the inside scoop behind this Grammy Award winning opera. Learn why this production shows the future of what opera can and WILL be!

Composer Mason Bates shares insight into his creative process as he sits down with co-hosts Carol Anderson and Jeff Counts to discuss the upcoming Utah Opera production of Grammy Award winner - The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs. What elements are considered when creating a new opera? What sound elements are considered with each character? And why write an opera about a tech giant? Find out in the latest episode of Utah Symphony Utah Opera’s Ghost Light Podcast.

Among the many facets of creating a new opera, librettist Mark Campbell feels that the most important element is starting with heart. Hear insight into his creative process as he sits down with co-hosts Carol Anderson and Jeff Counts to discuss the upcoming Utah Opera production of Grammy Award winner - The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.

Ghost Light hosts Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson give you a preview of the upcoming Utah Opera production of Verdi's “Rigoletto.”

Ghost Light hosts Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson give you a preview of the upcoming Utah Opera production of Donizetti’s “The Daughter of the Regiment.”

Recently hired Costume Director, CeeCee Swalling joins the podcast to discuss what goes on behind the scenes in an opera costume shop. Find CeeCee on instagram @costumesbyceecee Or online at https://www.costumesbyceecee.com

In the first episode of The Ghost Light Podcasts seventh season, Hosts Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson preview the upcoming Utah Opera performance of Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman." Find tickets for the production here: https://bit.ly/3M4lfgK

A Pirate King and “Modern Major-General” are just the beginning of the farcical fun in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. From patter songs to anecdotes about Savoy operas and the premiere of this cult classic, the Ghost Light Podcasts co-hosts Carol Anderson and Jeff Counts give you what you need to know about the upcoming Utah Opera production.