In this episode, Connects affiliated scholar Dr. Kristi Brown-Montesano takes us on a romp through the romantic relationships of the upcoming season, from tragic bohemians to passionate Egyptians (with more than a few nods to Shakespeare). LA Opera's 40th Anniversary productions have more steamy intrigue than an episode of—well, we'll let Dr. Brown-Montesano tell you about that. Get your tickets to romance at LAOpera.org, and get ready to feel the love.

As we joyfully prepare for our 40th Anniversary Season, which includes an original LA Opera production of La Bohème, we're going into the vault to bring you a special episode from 2016: a La Bohème talk by Duff Murphy. Here, he shares fascinating knowledge about Puccini, La Bohème's reception in its time, who the opera is dedicated to, and how the lush, enduring classic almost didn't come to be. How well do you know La Bohème? Listen in and get your tickets now to La Bohème, playing this November 22 through December 14. Tickets available at LAOpera.org.

For our historic 40th anniversary season, LA Opera brings back the world's most delightful opera, the Magic Flute playing May 2026. In this special episode we flash back to a 2019 conversation between Brian Lauritzen and former resident conductor Grant Gershon. Together, they discuss all things Magic Flute, including the secrets of performing on high platforms, staging an opera with animations, and why it's such a clever choice to stage the production as a silent film.

Celebrate 40 years of bold storytelling with LA Opera and don't miss the world's most popular opera, The Magic Flute, tickets are on sale now at LAOpera.org.

As we approach the 4th of July, we’re turning our attention to the bold, ever-evolving world of American opera. In this special episode, Dr. Tiffany Kuo explores what makes an opera “American,” highlighting works that span ragtime, hip hop, minimalism, and the avant-garde. It’s a powerful reminder that American opera is not one sound—but many.

From thrilling drama to laugh-out-loud comedy, celebrate 40 years of bold storytelling with LA Opera this season, starting with the American classic, West Side Story. Tickets for LA Opera's historic 40th Anniversary Season are on sale now at LAOpera.org.

This February 2026, Akhnaten returns to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for the first time in a decade. In this special episode, we rewind to a 2017 conversation between Akhnaten's composer, Philip Glass, and LA Opera’s then-artist-in-residence, Matthew Aucoin. Together, they explore the radical reign of the pharaoh Akhnaten, the revolutionary vision that reshaped ancient Egypt, and the hypnotic score that continues to captivate audiences around the world.

Celebrate 40 years of bold storytelling with LA Opera. Tickets to our historic anniversary season, including Akhnaten, West Side Story, The Magic Flute, and more are on sale now at LAOpera.org.

This episode is an in-depth analysis of the music of Rigoletto, with LA Opera Chorus Director Jeremy Frank. From his piano, Jeremy takes us on a journey through the music of Rigoletto, providing context from the end of the bel canto period into Verdi's early, middle, and late periods. This episode was recorded as part of LA Opera's learning series, now known as Exploring Opera. Tickets for Rigoletto are available now at LA Opera.org.

In this episode, LA Opera Chorus Director Jeremy Frank sits down with Rigoletto star Quinn Kelsey to discuss the baritone's artistic journey, his experience of embodying one of Verdi's most iconic roles, and how his Hawaiian cultural heritage has influenced it all. Playing now through June 21, tickets to Verdi's Rigoletto are available at LAOpera.org.

In this episode, musicologist Dr. Holley Replogle-Wong illuminates the women of Rigoletto and their archetypes, drawing on history, literature, and fine arts. This lecture was recorded as part of Opera for Educators, LA Opera Connects' professional development series for teachers and anyone interested in a deeper dive. Tickets to Verdi's Rigoletto are available now at LAOpera.org.

In this episode, Richard Seaver Music Director James Conlon walks us through the history, the plot, and, of course, the music of Verdi's Rigoletto. Don't miss this heart-pounding drama playing May 31-June 21. Tickets are on sale now at LAOpera.org.

In this episode, mezzo-soprano Sarah Saturnino, alumna of the LA Opera Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program, shares the synopsis for Rigoletto, with annotated musical notes from musicologist Dr. Tiffany Kuo.