Met Opera Guild Podcast

In today’s episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, join Ira Siff as he discusses diva powerhouses like Maria Callas, Renata Scotto, and the incomparable Leontyne Price.

Worshipped, adored, and celebrated for their singing, the operatic diva has been thrilling audiences since the beginning of opera as an art form. In today’s episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, we join lecturer Ira Siff as he tells of the great divas, such as Dame Joan Sutherland, Renata Tebaldi, and Leonie Rysanek, that he has had the pleasure of seeing live on the operatic stage.

Whether you consider yourself a Wagnerian, or perhaps you are more drawn to the 20th Century nature of Benjamin Britten’s music, the sea has inspired some of opera’s most creative works. On this episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, we are excited to welcome back lecturer Desirée Mays for Part 2 of Opera and the Sea.

The sea provides a vast array of opportunities for storytelling in operas. Despite being composed at different times and locations, composers and librettists have adapted the theme of the sea in unique ways. On this episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, we begin the first of two episodes with Guild lecturer Desiree Mays as she takes a detailed examination of these operas relating to the sea.

How did Maria Callas become a household name, and what happens when a singer’s vocal powers diminish? Who were Maria Callas’s contemporaries, and what stars have carried on her vocal legacy? Today lecturer Matthew Timmermans discusses Maria Callas and the Metropolitan Opera Guild Online Learning course that aims to examine these enduring questions about La Divina herself.

Known for operatic works such as Peter Grimes, Turn of the Screw, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Benjamin Britten drastically modernized opera in England, evolving it to become incredibly important in the operatic canon. Today on the Metropolitan Opera Guild podcast, lecturer Dr. Naomi Perley will explore why the works of Benjamin Britten have had such tremendous popularity.

“Die Frosch” is the German word for “The Frog.” While Strauss may have playfully given this unfavorable nickname to Die Frau Ohne Schatten due to the many difficulties in staging the opera, he also regarded it as one of his greatest achievements, saying “it has succeeded nevertheless and has made a deep impression ... and music lovers, in particular, consider it to be my most important work.” On today’s episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, pianist Brian Zeger takes a closer look at this staple of the operatic repertoire.

John Blow, Thomas Arne, Henry Purcell, and George Fredric Handel all had great success composing in England. They all also have music strongly associated with British Monarchy - Blow, Arne, and Purcell all wrote Coronation Anthems and Arne wrote: “Rule Britannia”. Today we present the first of a two-part series on Opera in England. On this episode of the Metropolitan Opera Guild podcast, Stuart Holt explores these four composers in early British operatic history.

Featuring jazz rhythms, blues, banjos, and African American spirituals, Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess challenged pre-existing notions of what an American opera could be. Although Porgy and Bess has a complicated history, Gershwin’s innovative music has had a lasting impact on opera. I’m your host, Stuart Holt, and on today’s episode of the Metropolitan Opera Guild podcast, lecturer Deidre Bird will explore how jazz played a role in making Porgy and Bess such a successful work. Many thanks to composer and performer Matt Herskowitz for his gracious contribution of an entirely original and improvised cadenza for this episode of the Metropolitan Opera Guild's podcast - www.mattherskowitzpiano.com

In recent years, DiDonato, Racette, and Upshaw have all released jazz albums, such as Songplay, Diva on Detour, and Winter Morning Walks. Sometimes we think that singers are either categorized as opera singers, or as singers of popular music, including jazz. However, these two genres are actually very closely linked together and share a lot of similarities. I’m your host, Stuart Holt, and on today’s episode of the Metropolitan Opera Guild podcast, lecturer Deidre Bird will discuss how aspects of jazz, such as improvisation, have also had a long-standing history in other forms of vocal music.

Opera, like all art, is frequently a reflection of the current political and social climate, and operas composed during the Soviet Era were no exception. Despite the oppressive environment, composers like Prokofiev managed to be extremely prolific during those times.

In the 1930s there was a push to make Moscow the center of art and music, which started a cultural struggle between modern European innovation and the folk traditions of the past. On today's episode of the Metropolitan Opera Guild Podcast, guild lecturer Dr. Naomi Perley takes a closer look at the music of the Soviet era.

This classic tale of a man who makes an ill-advised deal with the devil has inspired many operas over the years, including Busoni’s Doktor Faust, Boito’s Mefistofele, and Lutz’s Faust et Marguerite. But no operatic version of this legend has come close to the instant success and enduring popularity of Gounod’s version. Today we have a pre-performance lecture from our “Talking about Opera” archives, featuring lecturer and writer Father Owen Lee, giving us an in-depth history and analysis of the music and creative inspiration behind this legendary work.

While the stage of the Met Opera may be dark we are excited to give you a sneak peak of the virtual content that will be coming in this new year as part of the Metropolitan Opera Guild's Season of Learning.

Whether you prefer operatic arias and classic carols, or more upbeat contemporary tunes, every home can hear holiday favorites sung by some of the worlds greatest opera singers. Today on the Met Opera Guild podcast, our Community Engagement staff will share highlights from their favorite albums from this time of the year.

Ludwig van Beethoven's only opera Fidelio had a long and complicated compositional history. In fact, Beethoven went through three different versions of the opera during his lifetime. No other composition gave him such frustration. So much so that he never attempted to write an opera again. Today we explore themes of freedom and love in Beethoven's only operatic work.

Born in 1770, this year marks the 250th birthday of Ludwig Van Beethoven. His influence in western classical music is unparalleled. His transformative works especially The Ninth Symphony took music in a new direction.

Perhaps best known for its popular Anvil Chorus, Giuseppi Verdi's opera Il Trovatore has dazzled audiences since its premiere in 1853. Its intricate plot and dramatic music have helped it become a staple of the operatic repertoire. In this episode, composer, conductor, and lecturer Victoria Bond guides us through this thrilling work.

In today’s episode of The Metropolitan Opera Guild podcast, we have lecturer Harlow Robinson discussing the intricacies of Wagner’s evergreen hit opera, Tristan und Isolde.

Here at the Guild we have been busy adapting our Fall programming to continue learning in the virtual classroom! We are thrilled to announce that two of the Guild’s most popular programs, our Opera Boot Camp and our Score Reading series will be presented via our online learning platform. On today’s podcast episode, we’ll learn a bit more about these exciting digital offerings!