Classically (Un)Trained

This is an episode of the old podcast, called Artists on the Verge. I decided to keep these conversations up in the feed because they are, in fact, part of what led me to create Classically (Un)Trained. I have taken down all except the artist interviews - but you can check out an expanded archive here: https://classicallyuntrainedpodcast.com/former-podcast-archive/

Check out the current podcast here: https://classicallyuntrainedpodcast.com/

Julia Mintzer is one of those artists who has been able to cultivate a dual career in more ways than one: first, she is both a performer and director. Second, she has worked on the "industry" side of opera as well as on "indie" projects. Julia and I talked about some of her directorial projects, about giving depth to two-dimensional operatic characters (especially soprano ones), performing in art galleries, her direction of the first fully-staged opera in London after the beginning of the pandemic, and the difference between directing for the stage and for video - among other things.   

Julia Mintzer's website: http://www.juliamintzer.com/ 

Music: 

"Si vuol di francia il rege" from Maria Stuarda (Donizetti) and prelude to Der Tod und das Mädchen (Schubert): http://www.juliamintzer.com/audio

Excerpt from /Bread and Circuses: The Wrestling Opera/: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAuBPpTRZ1M

La Bohème at Mass Opera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=datdy5oPEiE

Carmen instrumentals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCrKncOpE7Q 

Dana Varga's research into gender disparity in opera: https://theempoweredmusician.com/supply-and-demand-gender-disparity-in-opera-part-1/

💋👁👂🏼 Artists on the Verge website: ⁠www.artists-on-the-verge.com⁠

👀 Instagram: @artists_on_the_verge

This is an episode of the old podcast, called Artists on the Verge. I decided to keep these conversations up in the feed because they are, in fact, part of what led me to create Classically (Un)Trained. I have taken down all except the artist interviews - but you can check out an expanded archive here: https://classicallyuntrainedpodcast.com/former-podcast-archive/

Check out the current podcast here: https://classicallyuntrainedpodcast.com/

Omar Shahryar calls himself a composer, facilitator and peace-maker. We talk about the meaning and importance of an education in the arts, letting go of the perfection and expectations drilled into academically-trained artists, re-thinking the idea of an audience and – don’t worry – we also talk about getting that all-important funding for indie projects. 

Links: 

Omar's website: http://omarshahryar.info/

Opera Schmopera's website: http://www.operaschmopera.co.uk/

Channel 4 News report on the children's opera Shoe Full of Stars: https://www.channel4.com/news/students-stage-opera-about-terrorism-threat

Music on this episode: 

NELV collective: "Trust the Person": https://soundcloud.com/user-126957820/trust-the-person

Excerpts from the children's opera A Shoe Full of Stars

(Words by Ed Harris

Music by Omar Shahryar and students from North Huddersfield Trust School

Ensemble: Dark Inventions

Conducted by Christopher Leedham 

Soprano: Lizzie Holmes

Baritone: Neil Balfour)

All 4 minutes of our improv are available to patrons of the On the Verge Series! You can sign up for a free trial here: https://steadyhq.com/en/opera-on-the-verge

💋👁👂🏼 Artists on the Verge website: ⁠www.artists-on-the-verge.com⁠

👀 Instagram: @artists_on_the_verge

In this episode, I introduce the podcast (why I started it and what I indent it to be) and tell my own life story so far. 

Music on this episode: 

Emma Earmes sings Vissi d'Arte from Puccini's Tosca 

Leoš Janáček's String quartet No. 2 ("Intimate Letters") 

Ella Fitzgerald sings "Fascinating Rhythm" (the Gershwins) 

Jarmila Novotná sings "Ach synku, synku" 

Ella Fitzgerald sings "Angel Eyes" (Matt Dennis) 

"Maldau (Vltava)" by Bedřich Smetana 

The "voices of the forest" scene (Act II) from Leoš Janáček's Cunning Little Vixen 

About the On the Verge Series:

💋👁👂🏼 On the Verge Website: https://onthevergetrilogy.com/

💌Newsletter (best way to stay in touch): https://mailchi.mp/79f46429dcce/operaontheverge

💋Blog: https://soprano-on-the-verge.blogspot.com/

👁 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/operaontheverge

👂🏼Podcast: https://anchor.fm/convoontheverge

👀Instagram: @soprano_on_the_verge

🐦 Twitter: @SopranoVerge

😇 Become a patron and gain access to "backstage" videos: https://steadyhq.com/en/opera-on-the-verge

🪙Tips: https://ko-fi.com/operaontheverge

🎵My "professional" self (not to be mixed with my On the Verge self): www. emakatrovas.com