IU Classical Connections

In this episode, we discuss the current Indiana University Opera production, H.M.S. with music composed by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W.S. Gilbert. This time, Elizabeth got the chance to speak with doctoral student Benjamin Czarnota who is singing the role of Sir Joseph Porter in this production, along with musicology master’s student Maggie Eronimous. Put on your top hats and let's explore the Victorian world of Gilbert and Sullivan.

The opera La Rondine by Giacomo Puccini is a story of a Parisian courtesan named Magda who longs for a life of freedom and true love. Magda becomes La Rondine, or The Swallow, as she is forced to decide whether she will fly away with her lover Ruggero, or migrate back to the safety of her nest in Paris.In this episode, first we’ll hear from master’s musicology student Kristin Rasmussen who wrote the program notes and will be giving pre-opera lectures for IU’s production in the coming weeks.Then we’ll hear from the stage director Crystal Manich, as she talks about her approach to directing for stage and her relationship to other Puccini operas.Finally, I got the chance to talk to the two women sharing the leading role of Magda. This isn’t the first time that these two have shared a role --- Tiffany Choe, who you’ll hear from first, and Rebecca Achtenberg, who you’ll hear from second, both starred as Mimi in IU’s 2021 production of La bohème.

Elizabeth talks to doctoral violin performance student Sofia Kim about her recent dissertation project about music and the 1918 influenza virus!

In this episode, we discuss the upcoming Indiana University Opera production, Falstaff composed by Giuseppe Verdi for its premiere in 1893. Over the last several weeks, I met with three individuals who have gotten close to the opera. First, we have IU doctoral musicology student, Meredith Michael, who will be giving pre-opera lectures later this week. Next, we have associate professor and resident IU stage director Michael Shell, who has worked with the IU Opera on both the Magic Flute and Falstaff this semester. And finally, we have Jeremiah Sanders, a doctoral student in vocal performance who will be performing the role of Falstaff on Friday, November 12th and 19th.

In this episode, we discuss the upcoming Indiana University Opera production, The Coronation of Poppea, composed by Claudio Monteverdi for the Venetian premiere in 1643. Today, we have three guests who will help us to get closer to Monteverdi’s final opera. First, we have IU doctoral musicology student, Jackie Westerduin, who will be giving pre-opera lectures later this week. Next, we have internationally renowned director and choreographer Candace Evans, who is working with the IU Opera on this brand new production. And finally, we have Deepa Johnny, a master’s student in vocal performance who will be performing the role of Poppea on Friday, October 15th.

Later this week, the IU Opera and Ballet Theater returns to the Musical Arts Center present The Magic Flute, an opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart set to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikanader. In this episode of the IU Classical Connections Podcast, we decided to collaborate with 3 IU music scholars who are well-versed in the art and the lore of the Magic Flute: Doctoral Music Theory student Mitia d’acol, Doctoral Musicology student Miguel Arrango-Calle, and of course, our very own IU Classical Connections Vice President and Doctoral Musicology Student Mingfei Li, who will be giving the pre-opera lectures for The Magic Flute this month.

In this episode, Elizabeth welcomes IU students back to Bloomington by reflecting on the complicated life and musical representations of hometown pride created by Czech composer Bedřich Smetana.

In our second episode, Elizabeth discusses jazz giant and one of the most influential American composers of all time: Duke Ellington.