Behind the Scenes and Into the Chorus of Puccini's 'La Bohème'

We're a Go for 'Manon Lescaut': On the premiere episode of the new podcast He Sang/She Sang, hosts Merrin Lazyan and Mike Shobe discuss the plot, characters and music of Puccini's Manon Lescaut with the principle stage director of Regina Opera, Linda Lehr, and WQXR's morning host Jeff Spurgeon. Plus, soprano Anna Netrebko joins us to talk about playing the title character, and the panel discusses their YouTube recommendations to get even more familiar with Manon Lescaut. Jeff Spurgeon's YouTube Pick (Jonas Kaufmann and Kristine Opolais): Linda Lehr's YouTube Pick (Kiri Te Kanawa and Placido Domingo): Merrin Lazyan's YouTube Pick (Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov): Mike Shobe's YouTube Pick (Jonas Kaufmann): This episode features excerpts from the following albums and performances: • Anna Netrebko, soprano; Yusif Eyvazof, tenor; and Brian Zeger, piano, recorded live at The Greene Space at WQXR (September 2016). • Puccini: Manon Lescaut (Decca Records, 1993) — Luciano Pavarotti, tenor; by He Sang/She Sang

45 min listen

Hansel and Gretel: Inside the Gingerbread House: On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, hosts Merrin Lazyan and Mike Shobe are joined by WQXR morning host Jeff Spurgeon to discuss Englebert Humperdinck's opera Hansel and Gretel. Hear how the Brothers Grimm's fairy tale became an opera, why it's often performed at Christmastime and which musical moments are truly magical. Also on the show, opera and theater director Mary Birnbaum shares how she first fell in love with Hansel and Gretel. Jeff Spurgeon's YouTube pick (Angelika Kirschlager, Diana Damrau, and Pumeza Matshikiza): Merrin Lazyan's YouTube pick (Alice Coote, Christine Schäfer, and Sasha Cooke): Mike Shobe's YouTube pick (Robert Brubaker): This episode features excerpts from the following album: Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel (Chandos, 2007) — Jennifer Larmore, mezzo-soprano; Rebecca Evans, soprano; Jane Henschel, mezzo-soprano; Rosalind Plowright, mezzo-soprano; Robert Hayward, baritone; Diana Montague, mezzo-soprano; t by He Sang/She Sang

34 min listen

L'Italiana in Algeri: Rossini's quest for Italy: L'Italiana in Algeri may seem like a classic battle of the sexes story set in North Africa, but it's really all about Italy. At least that's one way to look at it. On this episode of He Sang/She Sang, author Fred Plotkin, soprano Ying Fang and mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb discuss the politics, patriotism and musical brilliance of Rossini's escape-story masterpiece. Fred Plotkin's YouTube pick (Marilyn Horne, Pablo Montarsolo, Myra Merritt, Douglas Ahlstedt, Spiro Malas) Merrin Lazyan's YouTube pick (Anna Goryachova, Alex Esposito, Yijie Shi, Mario Cassi) This episode features excerpts from the following album: Rossini: L'Italiana in Algeri (Erato, 1981) — Marilyn Horne, mezzo-soprano; Samuel Ramey, bass; Kathleen Battle, soprano; Clara Foti, mezzo-soprano; Nicola Zaccaria, bass; Ernesto Palacio, tenor; Domenico Trimarchi, baritone; I Solisti Veneti conducted by Claudio Scimone by He Sang/She Sang

41 min listen

Up Close with 'L'Amour de Loin': On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, hosts Merrin Lazyan and Mike Shobe get you ready for the new Metropolitan Opera production of L'Amour de Loin. We'll discuss the plot, characters and the music from this 12th century story about a long-distance relationship. Plus, we'll hear from bass-baritone Eric Owens, soprano Susanna Phillips and composer Kaija Saariaho. Mike and Merrin's YouTube picks to get even more familiar with L'Amour de Loin: The Met's trailer for the opera featuring Susanna Phillips, Eric Owens and Tamara Mumford. The Pilgrim (mezzo-soprano Monica Groop) and Clémence, Countess of Tripoli (soprano Dawn Upshaw). This episode features excerpts from the following album: • L'amour de Loin (Harmonia Mundi, 2009) — Daniel Belcher, tenor; Ekaterina Lekhina, soprano; Marie-Ange Todorovitch, mezzo-soprano Like what you heard? Subscribe to He Sang/She Sang on iTunes. by He Sang/She Sang

41 min listen

Behind Salome's Seven Veils: Lust, Murder and Mutilation: On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, hosts Merrin Lazyan and Mike Shobe are joined by soprano Patricia Racette and music writer Paul Thomason to discuss Salome. Hear how an innocent princess transforms into a deranged psychopath, the scandals surrounding the opera's premieres and why it's more fun to play a nasty character than a nice one. Plus, hear all about these YouTube picks of the week: Nadja Michael, the Royal Opera, London: Lubja Welitsch, Fritz Reiner, Met Opera Orchestra: Salome directed by Götz Friedrich, starring Teresa Stratas and Bernd Weikl, Karl Böhm conducts the Vienna Philharmonic: This episode features excerpts from the following album: • Salome (London/Decca, 1995) — Catherine Malfitano, soprano; Bryn Terfel, bass-baritone; Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Christoph von Dohnányi by He Sang/She Sang

37 min listen

Nabucco: Verdi's Triumphant Return: Nabucco is the opera that got Verdi back in the game after a long time away from composing, but its premiere almost didn't happen. Hear how it was saved and in an ironic twist of fate, how the opera shortened the career of the soprano who saved it. On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton and dramaturg Cori Ellison discuss Verdi's connection to the plight of the Hebrew slaves, why this year's revival at the Metropolitan Opera is so special and the cultural significance of "Va, pensiero." Cori Ellison's YouTube pick (Riccardo Muti, Opera di Roma) Merrin Lazyan's YouTube pick (Plácido Domingo and Liudmyla Monastyrska, The Royal Opera) This episode features excerpts from the following album: Verdi: Nabucco (Deutsche Grammophon, 1983) — Piero Cappuccilli, baritone; Plácido Domingo, tenor; Evgeny Nesterenko, bass; Ghena Dimitrova, soprano; Lucia Valentini Terrani, mezzo-soprano; Chorus and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berl by He Sang/She Sang

36 min listen

Behind the Scenes and Into the Chorus of Puccini's 'La Bohème': On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, soprano Ailyn Pérez and bass Edward Hanlon discuss one of the best-loved operas in the world, Puccini's La Bohème. Join us as we go behind the scenes into the life of a Metropolitan Opera chorister, hear why the Franco Zeffirelli production is so iconic and learn how you can go on a treasure hunt of sorts when you see it. We also take you to the Met to hear about what it takes to sing both of the female lead roles — Mimì and Musetta. Edward Hanlon's pick (Maria Callas Master Class at Juilliard) Merrin Lazyan's pick (Rolando Villazón) This episode features excerpts from the following album: Puccini: La Bohème (London/Decca, 1987) — Luciano Pavarotti, tenor; Mirella Freni, soprano; Rolando Panerai, baritone; Elizabeth Harwood, soprano; Nicolai Ghiaurov, bass; Gianni Maffeo, baritone; Herbert von Karajan conducts the Berlin Philharmonic by He Sang/She Sang

32 min listen

Carmen: Bizet's Famous Femme Fatale: The 1875 premiere of Carmen at the Opera Comique in Paris was met with shocked gasps and raised eyebrows. Both the story and its seductive heroine were shockingly risque for the audience and the critics in attendance. But the genius of Bizet's music was irrepressible, and the opera was a resounding success within a few short months. It remains among the most-performed operas in history. On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, hosts Merrin Lazyan and Julian Fleisher speak with conductor Asher Fisch all about Bizet's masterpiece. We discuss why this opera is loved by opera newbies and connoisseurs alike, and Fisch shares a few of his tips and tricks for keeping an opera on track when it all starts to fall apart. We also speak with mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine, who is making her Metropolitan Opera debut as opera's famous femme fatale -- an independent, sexually liberated gypsy woman who trades her life for freedom. Julian's YouTube pick (f by He Sang/She Sang

42 min listen

Romeo And Juliet: All About The Love Duets: This week, the He Sang/She Sang team is joined by WQXR morning show host Jeff Spurgeon to discuss Charles Gounod's Romeo and Juliet. Hear how this opera is really a vehicle for four gorgeous love duets, how opera companies protect their "gazillion dollar voices" from dangers on stage and what makes the brand-spanking-new production at the Metropolitan Opera so great. He Sang/She Sang Bonus Episode: Head Over Heels with Diana Damrau Merrin Lazyan's Pick (Diana Damrau, "Je veux vivre") Jeff Spurgeon's Pick (Franco Corelli & Anna Moffo, "O nuit divine") Mike Shobe's Pick (Anna Netrebko, "Amour, ranime mon courage") This episode features excerpts from the following album: Gounod: Romeo et Juliette (EMI Classics, 1994) — Franco Corelli, tenor; Mirella Freni, soprano; Paris Opera Theater Orchestra conducted by Alain Lombard by He Sang/She Sang

26 min listen

Head Over Heels with Diana Damrau: This week on He Sang/She Sang, we have a special bonus episode! Join us at the Metropolitan Opera for a discussion with soprano Diana Damrau, who is making her role debut as Juliette in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette. In this episode, Damrau shares her insights on love, family and the secret to staying young at heart. by He Sang/She Sang

18 min listen

Rigoletto: Verdi's Tragic Jester: Even before Rigoletto's Venice premiere in 1851, Verdi knew that "La donna è mobile" would be a huge hit. He instructed the orchestra members not to whistle or sing the melody, and he even waited until the very last moment to give the music to the tenor. Verdi wanted to ensure that the third-act aria characterizing the Duke of Mantua's licentious treatment of women would have maximum impact on an unsuspecting audience. The opera was an immediate smash hit. It was one of the first of Verdi's operas to establish him as a great international composer, and its many memorable melodies still reverberate in opera houses across the globe. On this episode of He Sang/She Sang, we speak with Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer, who created this "Rat Pack" version of Rigoletto that opened at the Met in 2013. Updated to a 1960 Las Vegas casino setting, Mayer tells us that Frank Sinatra was the original model for the Duke of Mantua. We also speak with soprano by He Sang/She Sang

48 min listen

Humor and High Jinks in Rossini's 'The Barber of Seville': Despite its disastrous premiere in 1816 — complete with raucous heckling, a bloody nose and a stray cat scampering across the stage — Rossini’s The Barber of Seville quickly joined the ranks of the best-loved and most-performed operas in the world. Based on the first of a trilogy of plays by the French writer Pierre Beaumarchais (the second of which is The Marriage of Figaro), Barber is full of characters and tunes that have delighted audiences for centuries. In this episode, the He Sang/She Sang team talks with WQXR morning show host Jeff Spurgeon about why Figaro’s memorable aria “Largo al factotum” is a baritone’s “calling card” aria and how Rossini’s music has found its way into movies, TV commercials and everyone’s favorite Saturday morning cartoons. Jeff Spurgeon's YouTube pick: (Note: this podcast was recorded shortly before we learned of the death of soprano Roberta Peters. We mourn her passing and are grateful to remem by He Sang/She Sang

24 min listen

The Madness and Music of 'I Puritani': On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, Merrin Lazyan and Jeff Spurgeon speak with director Sarah Meyers about why, despite its utterly implausible plot, some consider Bellini's I Puritani to be among the greatest operatic masterpieces ever written. We also hear from bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni about his role debut as Giorgio, the best singing advice he's ever received, and the joys of traveling with his two dogs, Lenny and Tristan. Sarah's YouTube pick (Anna Netrebko, Eric Cutler, Franco Vassallo, John Reylea): Jeff's YouTube pick (Alexey Markov and Luca Pisaroni): Merrin's YouTube pick (Diana Damrau and Javier Camarena): This episode features excerpts from the following album: Bellini: I Puritani (Decca, 1987) — Joan Sutherland, soprano; Luciano Pavarotti, tenor; Nicolai Ghiaurov, bass; Piero Cappuccilli. baritone; the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Richard Bonynge by He Sang/She Sang

45 min listen

Nymphs, Witches and Gnomes: The Magic of 'Rusalka': Antonin Dvorak fell in love with the story of Rusalka as soon as he laid eyes on the libretto, and it was an immediate success when it premiered at the National Theater in Prague in 1901. Based primarily on two fairy tales (Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" and Friedrich de la Motte Fouque's "Undine"), it tells the story of a water nymph who falls in love with a prince and trades her voice to become human. Contrary to the Disney version, the story ends tragically for Rusalka. She is betrayed by the man she loves and she is doomed to spend the rest of her life trapped between the immortal world of the water nymphs and the mortal human world. Rusalka's journey is one of extraordinary transformation — from nymph to human, from mortal to immortal, from water to land, from family to isolation, from love to betrayal, and from longing to resignation. We hear it all in Dvorak's lush score and we quickly understand why this opera by He Sang/She Sang

48 min listen

Werther: Massenet's Lovelorn Hero: When Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's epistolary novel The Sorrows of Young Werther was published in 1774, it became an overnight sensation. Men wore yellow waistcoats and leather breeches to look like the novel's lovelorn hero, they carried vials of their own tears to display the depth of their feelings, and they even killed themselves in solidarity with the title character. The story of passionate, unrequited love was equally resonant when Jules Massenet's opera premiered a century later, and the glorious music is still just as heart-rending today. On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, Merrin Lazyan and Jeff Spurgeon speak with writer James Kuslan about Massenet's Werther. We also hear from mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard about the magnetic power of love at first sight. Kuslan's first YouTube pick (Tatiana Troyanos, 1982): Kuslan's second YouTube pick (Christa Ludwig and Franco Corelli, 1971): Spurgeon's YouTube pick (Lisette Oropesa and Jonas Kau by He Sang/She Sang

45 min listen

Love and Death in Wagner's 'Tristan und Isolde': Wagner's Tristan und Isolde is an extraordinary journey through the human psyche, and through the two most powerful forces guiding our lives: love and death. From the opening bars of the Prelude, the music draws us in with an intense and restless longing that doesn't loosen its grip until the final, transcendent moments of the opera. This week on He Sang/She Sang, Merrin Lazyan speaks with writer Paul Thomason about the intoxicating magnetism of Tristan und Isolde, and tenor Stuart Skelton compares singing the role of Tristan to climbing the Himalayas. Paul's YouTube pick (Kirsten Flagstad): Merrin's YouTube pick (Birgit Nilsson): This episode features excerpts from the following album: Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (EMI Classics, 2005) — Plácido Domingo, tenor; Nina Stemme, soprano; Mihoko Fujimura, mezzo-soprano; Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden conducted by Antonio Pappano by He Sang/She Sang

33 min listen

William Tell: Rossini's Grand Finale: Gioachino Rossini was only 37-years-old when he wrote his final opera, William Tell. Although he lived for another 40 years, this epic work would remain a swan song of sorts. The libretto — based on a French play by Friedrich Schiller — tells the story of a Swiss community fighting for political freedom under Hapsburg rule. Through the music, we understand Tell's struggle to keep his family together while serving the greater good, and we experience a love that transcends tribal and national boundaries. On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, hosts Merrin Lazyan and Julian Fleisher are joined by author Fred Plotkin to discuss the glorious music of Rossini's final opera, William Tell. We also speak with the Tony-nominated set designer George Tsypin about the themes of nature and freedom that inspired him. Fred's YouTube pick (Luciano Pavarotti): Merrin's YouTube pick (Mary Schneider): Julian's YouTube pick: This episode features excerpts fro by He Sang/She Sang

30 min listen

Into the Light With Beethoven's 'Fidelio': Revolutionary times call for revolutionary music, and Beethoven was living in revolutionary times. At the beginning of the 19th century, he quickly became disillusioned by Napoleon Bonaparte — a leader who initially seemed concerned with freedom but was ultimately obsessed with his own power. Beethoven's political anguish rang out in his music, as did his deeply-held beliefs about the heroic power of ordinary people. Beethoven spent more than 10 years revising Fidelio, the only opera he ever wrote. This was about more than music for the great composer. It was about freedom, devotion and the triumph of human dignity over tyranny. In this episode, host Merrin Lazyan speaks with Jessica Phillips, second clarinetist in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, about Beethoven's revolutionary sound. We also hear from soprano Adrianne Pieczonka, who sings the lead role of Leonora, about the most moving musical moments in Fidelio. “O namelose Freude!” (Adri by He Sang/She Sang

37 min listen

La Traviata: Verdi's Timeless Fallen Woman: On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, hosts Merrin Lazyan and Julian Fleisher are joined by dramaturg Cori Ellison to discuss Verdi's mythical and timeless masterpiece, La Traviata. We also speak with baritone Thomas Hampson, who has been singing the role of Germont for 25 years. Hampson tells us how the complex and beautiful dilemmas that we find in this opera help us to better understand who we really are. Cori's YouTube pick (Maria Callas and Ugo Savarese, 1953): Merrin's YouTube pick (Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón, 2005): Julian's YouTube picks (Joni Mitchell): This episode features excerpts from the following albums: Giuseppe Verdi: La Traviata (Deutsche Grammophon, 1992) — Cheryl Studer, soprano; Luciano Pavarotti, tenor; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra conducted by James Levine Verdi: La Traviata (Deutsche Grammophon, 2005) — Thomas Hampson; baritone; Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Carlo Rizzi by He Sang/She Sang

46 min listen

Fate and Forbidden Love in Mozart's 'Idomeneo': Idomeneo is considered Mozart's first "mature" opera — the first in which he displays his incredible talent as a vocal and dramatic composer. "Mature" also fittingly describes the central themes of the work, which include parental love, self-sacrifice, and the human struggle against the machinations of gods and fate. In light of the fact that Mozart was only 24 when he composed Idomeneo, his insight into the timeless questions we face is all the more striking. World-renowned mezzo-soprano Alice Coote joins host Merrin Lazyan to explore the themes of love and fate through the lens of Coote's character, Idamante. She also speaks candidly about the perils of dressing (and undressing) for a trouser role. Quartet from Act III (Matthew Polenzani, Alice Coote, Nadine Sierra, Elza van den Heever): This episode features excerpts from the following albums: Mozart: Idomeneo (Deutsche Grammophon, 1996) — Plácido Domingo, tenor; Cecilia Bartoli, mezz by He Sang/She Sang

28 min listen

Aida: Verdi's Most Intimate Spectacle: Pharaohs. Mummies. Pyramids. Hieroglyphs. The mystique of ancient Egypt never fades. For more than 2,000 years, Europeans have wondered at her mysteries, and not surprisingly, so did Giuseppe Verdi. Aida premiered in Cairo in 1871, as if to revive the grandeur of the Old Kingdom before the people who conjured it. One of the theater’s greatest spectacles, Aida is the definition of grand opera. Its cast is enormous — orchestra, singers, dancers, acrobats, horses, exotic animals — yet its story gives laser focus to the private anguish of just three people. This week on He Sang/She Sang, Merrin Lazyan speaks with stage director David Paul about the surprising intimacy of Verdi’s Aida. This week's YouTube picks: Triumphal March from Aida (Metropolitan Opera House, 1989): The final duet, "O terra, addio" (Aprile Millo, Plácido Domingo, and Dolora Zajick, 1989): This episode features excerpts from the following album: Verdi: Aida (Sony Classical, 199 by He Sang/She Sang

36 min listen

'The Flying Dutchman': Wagner's Eternal Wanderer: For his fourth full opera, The Flying Dutchman, Wagner chose a popular maritime legend as the basis for an eerie and evocative work. In it, we meet an archetypal character that appears time and again in art and literature: the eternal wanderer. Neither dead nor alive, the Flying Dutchman is cursed to sail the seas for all eternity, searching for true love to save him. This week on He Sang/She Sang, William Berger, author of the book Wagner without Fear, discusses one of history's most controversial and visionary composers. He explores the hit tunes and earworms, the power of transformation and the unexpected parallels between Wagner and The Beatles. Overture to The Flying Dutchman (Round Top Festival Institute): "Die frist ist um" (James Morris, bass-baritone): This episode features excerpts from the following album: Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer (Sony Classical, 1997) — James Morris, bass-baritone; Deborah Voigt, soprano; Ben H by He Sang/She Sang

36 min listen

Stopping the Clocks With Strauss' 'Der Rosenkavalier': Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier is an opera about the passage of time — what it means to grow older, what we lose and what we gain as the years pass, and how we know when it's time to let go of the people that we love. Mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča knows all about letting go, because after singing the role of Octavian for 17 years, she is giving her final performance as the passionate count this week. But Garanča has no regrets. She's learned to appreciate her life by accepting, and even enjoying, the passage of time. Elīna Garanča as Octavian and Erin Morley as Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier: This episode features excerpts from the following albums: Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier (Decca, 2009) — Renée Fleming, soprano; Sophie Koch, mezzo-soprano; Diana Damrau, soprano; Munich Philharmonic conducted by Christian Thielemann Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier (Deutsche Grammophon, 2010) — Diana Damrau, soprano; Elīna Garanča, mezzo-soprano; Staa by He Sang/She Sang

32 min listen

A Nose by Any Other Name: Franco Alfano's 'Cyrano de Bergerac': According to soprano Jennifer Rowley, there’s a little bit of Cyrano in all of us. When it comes to pathos, Franco Alfano’s opera based on Cyrano de Bergerac hits this sentimental story right on the nose. Premiered in 1936, Cyrano the opera brings rich and fragrant music—with hints of Puccini and Debussy—to Rostand’s exquisite poetry, which not only delights the audience but animates its title character, the swashbuckling rhapsodist Cyrano. Convinced that he couldn’t possibly deserve the love of the fair Roxane, Cyrano finds himself in the awkward position of helping an utterly unworthy suitor win her affections. You can practically hear Cyrano’s heart breaking from the back row. This week on He Sang/She Sang, we’ll chat with Jennifer Rowley about her role debut as Roxane at the Metropolitan Opera. She’ll tell us how she became the woman who casts a spell over nearly every male character, and how she learned to walk like a by He Sang/She Sang

30 min listen

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Behind the Scenes and Into the Chorus of Puccini's 'La Bohème'

Behind the Scenes and Into the Chorus of Puccini's 'La Bohème'

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