Opera For Everyone

Ep. 43 Samson et Dalila by Saint-Saëns

Samson et Dalila is Camille Saint-Saëns’ magnificent three-act opera based on the biblical story of Samson and Delilah, with a French libretto by Ferdinand Lemaire. It premiered in 1877 and remains the sole opera in the popular modern opera repertoire by this prolific composer. In the opera we see Samson struggle to not only to convince his people to remain true to their beliefs, but also struggle with himself to resist the temptations of the beautiful and seductive Delilah. Though you may know “how the story ends,” there is nothing to compare to the power of the operatic dramatization of the unfolding events. Hosted by Pat Wright and Keely Herron.

Ep. 42 Cavalleria Rusticana & I Pagliacci

Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni & I Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo are arguably Opera’s most well-known double-bill. Two verismo operas, they each present an unvarnished “slice of life” in small-town Italy of the late 19th century. Direct and compressed, the stories of both operas feature lust, infidelity, merriment and murder. Cavalleria Rusticana, “Rustic Chivalry” uses splendid music to amplify human passions, particularly those of a young man and young woman who never quite become a couple. I Pagliacci tells the tale of the man behind the clown’s mask, those in his orbit, and shows the danger of believing in simple characters we see on stage. Hosted by Pat Wright and Keely Herron.

Ep. 41 Aida By Verdi

Aida premiered in Cairo in December 1871. Giuseppe Verdi’s four-act opera, Aida, was commissioned for the newly constructed opera house in Cairo, following the celebrations for the opening of the Suez Canal. Taking inspiration from a third century story discovered by Egyptologist Auguste Marietta, librettist Antonio Ghislanzoni worked with Verdi to create a drama which is both grand and intimate, set in Egypt, “in the time of the Pharaohs.” The opera’s magnificent music depicts spectacle and triumph for the state, and praise for the gods. It also brings us close to all of the emotions of three people caught up in a high-stakes love triangle. Join us for a story of achingly beautiful tenderness, soaring triumph, and devoted resignation on this episode of Opera for Everyone. Hosted by Pat Wright and Keely Herron.

Ep. 40 Rodelinda By Handel

A Baroque-style opera by George Frideric Handel, Rodelinda premiered in 1725 in London. Considered by Beethoven to be “the greatest composer who ever lived,” Handel created operas which tug at our emotions and fill our senses. The title character of Rodelinda is a queen who is under house-arrest following the supposed death of her royal husband. She rebuffs the persistent advances of his usurper and his scheming advisor, all while bravely protecting her young son. Events do not go smoothly when her husband returns on the scene. Dare we hope for a happy ending? Find out on this episode of Opera for Everyone.

Ep. 39 La Rondine By Puccini

La Rondine, “The Swallow,” is an opera in three acts by the famed Italian composer Giacomo Puccini and librettist Giuseppe Adami which had its premiere in 1917 in Monte Carlo. Originally commissioned to write an operetta by the Carltheater in Vienna, Puccini decided in favor of a full opera. La Rondine refers to the title character, Magda, who opens the story as the glittering hostess of a lively Parisian party in the apartment she shares with a wealthy elder gentleman, Rambaldo. One of the guests, the poet Prunier, opines on romantic love, and Magda wistfully recalls a brief romance of her youth, and considers the possibility of finding romance once again, in spite of her very stable and practical current arrangement. Magda’s spunky maid, Lisette, announces the arrival of a young man from the countryside, and, well, you can imagine how events might unfold. . . Hosted by Pat Wright and Keely Herron.

Ep. 38 Il Trittico By Puccini

Il Trittico is a set of three one-act operas by Giacomo Puccini that premiered in 1918. The first opera, IlTabarro, centers on an evening in the life of river workers on a barge in Paris’s Seine of the early 20th century. The second opera, Suor Angelica, takes place entirely in a convent and features only female singers. It is set in the late 17th century, and give a glimpse into life of the convent sisters and how they manage their desires. The final opera, Gianni Schicchi, is comedic and cautionary tale. Inspired by Dante’s Canto 30 on falsifiers, Gianni Schicchi, shows a world of two emotions: greed and love. Love may triumph, but greed keeps us astonished and amused.

Ep. 37 Madama Butterfly By Puccini

Madama Butterfly is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini. It premiered at Milan’s LaScala in 1903, and with a few revisions by Puccini after its opening, it has become one of the most frequently performed operas in the world. Inspired to make the story into an opera after seeing David Belasco’s play Madame Butterfly in London, Puccini created one of the most beloved characters in the world of opera. The story focuses on a young Japanese woman, Butterfly, who marries and American naval officer, Pinkerton, who is stationed in Nagasaki. The two marry, but have a very different understanding of the meaning of this cross-cultural marriage. These different understandings have tragic results for Butterfly. Puccini’s music is lush and powerful, at times including influences from America and Japan. In this episode of Opera for Everyone we discuss both the opera, and the popular stories which led to its creation.

Ep. 36 Rigoletto By Verdi

Rigoletto is a three-act opera by Guiseppe Verdi, first performed in 1851 in Venice. In this episode we follow the story of Duke of Mantua's jester, Rigoletto. He gleefully mocks members of the court for the amusement of the Duke, earning the enmity of the courtiers, and the powerful curse of a father whose daughter the Duke has dishonored. However, the seemingly heartless Rigoletto hides a tender secret-- his lovely and innocent daughter Gilda. Her sweetness is no match for the crafty, carousing Duke and his courtiers. This opera has complex drama, and one of the all-time great opera tunes, La Donna è Mobile.

Ep. 35 Il Trovatore, by Verdi

il Trovatore is a powerful and tuneful opera in four acts by the great master, Giuseppe Verdi. Il Trovatore, "The Troubadour," premiered in Rome in January 1853. Set in 1409, during a period of civil war in Spain, Il Trovatore is a story that illustrates the mortal danger inherent in an unrelenting pursuit of vengeance. Alas, in this story, love does not triumph. It's strong human drama, heightened by Verdi's incomparable compositions.

Ep. 34 Ariadne auf Naxos, by Richard Strauss

Ariadne auf Naxos, an opera in German, is the creation of composer Richard Strauss and librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal. The original version of the opera premiered in 1912, following the enormous success that Strauss and von Hofmannsthal had with Der Rosenkavalier the prior year. This version, most commonly performed in modern times, is the second version by the duo, and was premiered by the Vienna state opera in 1916. The opera is, by turns, a serious treatment of an ancient myth, a sly social commentary, and a comedic mash-up of low and high art.