The Commonweal Podcast

Ep. 115 - An Opera for ‘Life People’


Listen Later

Dead Man Walking, based on the acclaimed memoir by Sr. Helen Prejean, may be the world’s most popular contemporary opera. But it had never before been performed on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City—until now. 

On this special episode, in anticipation of the Met Opera’s Live-in-HD broadcast in cinemas on October 21, host Dominic Preziosi is joined by bass-baritone Ryan McKinny, who plays the condemned murderer Joseph DeRocher, and Sr. Helen Prejean herself. 

Together, they discuss the significance of this new production of Dead Man Walking, and why its message of mercy, forgiveness, and redemption continues to resonate with audiences today.


For further reading: 

  • Commonweal’s review of Dead Man Walking
  • An interview with the composer, Jake Heggie
  • Sr. Helen Prejean remembers her 1950s novitiate
  • ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    The Commonweal PodcastBy Commonweal Magazine

    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6

    4.6

    121 ratings


    More shows like The Commonweal Podcast

    View all
    The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

    The New Yorker Radio Hour

    6,699 Listeners

    The Gray Area with Sean Illing by Vox

    The Gray Area with Sean Illing

    10,731 Listeners

    On Being with Krista Tippett by On Being Studios

    On Being with Krista Tippett

    10,253 Listeners

    Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso by Lemonada Media

    Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

    1,409 Listeners

    Jesuitical by America Media

    Jesuitical

    1,001 Listeners

    Preach: The Catholic Homilies Podcast by America Media

    Preach: The Catholic Homilies Podcast

    293 Listeners

    Interesting Times with Ross Douthat by New York Times Opinion

    Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

    7,062 Listeners

    Inside The Vatican by America Media

    Inside The Vatican

    398 Listeners

    Know Your Enemy by Matthew Sitman

    Know Your Enemy

    2,039 Listeners

    Turning to the Mystics with James Finley by Center for Action and Contemplation

    Turning to the Mystics with James Finley

    1,842 Listeners

    No Small Endeavor with Lee C. Camp by Tokens Media

    No Small Endeavor with Lee C. Camp

    538 Listeners

    The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

    The Ezra Klein Show

    16,097 Listeners

    The Interview by The New York Times

    The Interview

    1,546 Listeners

    Everything Belongs: Living the Teachings of Richard Rohr Forward by Center for Action and Contemplation

    Everything Belongs: Living the Teachings of Richard Rohr Forward

    646 Listeners

    The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. by America Media

    The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.

    1,020 Listeners