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.

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. P

On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, hosts Merrin Lazyan and Mike Shobe get you ready for the brand new Met 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.

On the premiere episode of He Sang/She Sang, hosts Merrin Lazyan and Mike Shobe discuss the plot, characters, and music of Puccini's Manon Lescaut with principle stage director of Regina Opera Linda Lehr, and WQXR morning host Jeff Spurgeon. Anna Netrebko joins us to talk about playing Manon Lescaut, and the panel discusses their YouTube recommendations.