Central City Opera Podcast

We're back for Season Four! On this episode, I'm thrilled to talk to Alison Moritz and Adam Turner. Alison is the stage director of Madama Butterfly and Adam is the conductor. They share their insights into this masterpiece of an opera and talk about the process of putting it all together.

Have questions or want to provide feedback? Email us at [email protected]. Remember to subscribe to our podcast to get the latest episodes delivered directly to your device. To hear more stories from inside Central City Opera and buy tickets to the shows, visit us at centralcityopera.org.

On this episode, retiring Director of Education & Community Engagement Deborah Morrow reflects on her tenure at Central City Opera. Deb has done lot, from developing new shows for school and family audiences to touring all over Colorado and Wyoming, to commissioning a Spanish-English opera for middle-school students, to creating workshops for teachers and students that foster new opera composers. While her time at Central City Opera may be coming to an end, she will always be part of the family.

Have questions or want to provide feedback? Email us at [email protected]. Remember to subscribe to our podcast to get the latest episodes delivered directly to your device. To hear more stories from inside Central City Opera and buy tickets to the shows, visit us at CentralCityOpera.org

On this episode, meet baritone Curt Olds, here this season for our special performances of ENCORE - A MUSICAL REVUE on August 8, 9, and 11. Curt has a long history with Central City, last seen with the company as Frank Schultz in SHOW BOAT in 2013. Still performing nationally, he is also a director, producer, and artist manager. Curt describes ENCORE and the cool Central City history woven into it, plus shares how he, as a kid from Butte, Montana, got into opera and music theatre.

Have questions or want to provide feedback? Email us at [email protected]. Remember to subscribe to our podcast to get the latest episodes delivered directly to your device. To hear more stories from inside Central City Opera and buy tickets to the shows, visit us at CentralCityOpera.org.

On this episode, we go behind the scenes to the props department. Properties Master Kurt Tiede takes us into this fascinating area and tells us the secrets of props you'll see onstage this season at Central City Opera. He also shares how he has to know something about everything that happens on and off stage, from the acting and singing to scenic design, to electrics and costume design. He gives advice on how someone can get into this field, and also tells me about the most complicated prop he's ever seen. It involves a nursery and a jail.

Have questions or want to provide feedback? Email us at [email protected]. Remember to subscribe to our podcast to get the latest episodes delivered directly to your device. To hear more stories from inside Central City Opera and buy tickets to the shows, visit us at CentralCityOpera.org.

On this episode, I have the privilege of interviewing the mayor of Central City, Kathryn Heider. The first woman mayor of the 159-year-old town, Kathy shares how she got involved in city government, some cool stories about Central City and the historic home she lives in, how the opera and the city co-exist, and her hopes and dreams for Central City, including its recent acquisition of the historic Belvidere Theater.

Have questions or want to provide feedback? Email us at [email protected]. Remember to subscribe to our podcast to get the latest episodes delivered directly to your device. To hear more stories from inside Central City Opera and buy tickets to the shows, visit us at CentralCityOpera.org.

On this episode, meet bass-baritone (and my long-time friend) Ashraf Sewailam. Making his debut in our opera house this summer, Ashraf performs the roles of The Speaker in THE MAGIC FLUTE and Ferrando in IL TROVATORE. He tells us about these characters and their significance in the overall story arc of the operas, as well as what it's like juggling the roles in rehearsal. We also get into the importance of education, his experience growing up in Egypt, his recent foray into directing, and how much Central City Opera means to him.

Have questions or want to provide feedback? Email us at [email protected]. Remember to subscribe to our podcast to get the latest episodes delivered directly to your device. To hear more stories from inside Central City Opera and buy tickets to the shows, visit us at CentralCityOpera.org.

On this episode, we meet our Queen of the Night and Sarastro, principals in THE MAGIC FLUTE. Soprano Jeni Houser and bass Kevin Langan share their ideas of who these enigmatic characters are and how they are interpreted in this production. Jeni reveals how she approaches singing such famous music, and Kevin unpacks the opera's history and traditions. While they may not appear onstage together, the Queen and Sarastro represent the big powerful ideas governing THE MAGIC FLUTE.

Have questions or want to provide feedback? Email us at [email protected]. Remember to subscribe to our podcast to get the latest episodes delivered directly to your device. To hear more stories from inside Central City Opera and buy tickets to the shows, visit us at CentralCityOpera.org.

On this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with the two creative leaders of Verdi's IL TROVATORE - director and designer Joachim Schamberger and conductor John Baril. Joachim tells us about his production concept - how he stays true to the medieval setting of the opera while using 21st-century storytelling techniques - and John gets into what you should listen for and why Verdi is truly one of the greats.

Have questions or want to provide feedback? Email us at [email protected]. Remember to subscribe to our podcast to get the latest episodes delivered directly to your device. To hear more stories from inside Central City Opera and buy tickets to the shows, visit us at CentralCityOpera.org.

On this episode, we are reunited with soprano Alexandra Loutsion and tenor Jonathan Burton. They have both been busy since we last saw them in TOSCA in 2016! Back this summer as Leonora and Manrico in IL TROVATORE, Alex and Jon dive deep into the complexities of the opera's plot and music. And since they've known and performed with each other many times, this interview was a lot of fun.

Have questions or want to provide feedback? Email us at [email protected]. Remember to subscribe to our podcast to get the latest episodes delivered directly to your device. To hear more stories from inside Central City Opera and buy tickets to the shows, visit us at CentralCityOpera.org.

On this episode, we meet soprano Katherine Manley and tenor Joseph Dennis, the Pamina and Tamino in Central City Opera's production of THE MAGIC FLUTE. They delve into the characters, their relationship onstage, and this production, sharing their personal connections with the opera and the themes within. Joe tells us about his experiences as an ensemble member of the Vienna State Opera, and Kate shares what she loves about being a musical chameleon – and why Mozart petrifies her. I also discover that there is a sequel to THE MAGIC FLUTE! Who knew?! Turns out – our Tamino does.

Have questions or want to provide feedback? Email us at [email protected]. Remember to subscribe to our podcast to get the latest episodes delivered directly to your device. To hear more stories from inside Central City Opera and buy tickets to the shows, visit us at CentralCityOpera.org.