Opera After Dark

This week we bring you another random and obscure opera, this time about King Arthur and his homie Merlin. Created by little-known composer Isaac Albeniz and the lesser-known Baron/librettist Francis Money-Coutts, it took over 100 years for this opera to actually be performed.

In this episode we talk about a composer that tried to usher in the apocalypse, but then died in the most random and unintimidating way. Listen in as we try to keep it together long enough to get through the life of this forgotten composer.

Happy Halloween to all of our listeners! To celebrate this most cherished holiday, the OAD team recorded a special episode to discuss our favorite scary and "Halloweeny" moments in opera. So grab a Bloody Mary and enjoy these wonderfully creepy operatic moments!

When it comes to classical music composers, a surprising number have had run ins with the law. Although occasionally for random and whimsical reasons, find out which of your favorite composers spent some time in the clink!

The third and final installment of OAD's current run of opera's badass women features Dame Ethel Smyth, who for over 100 years was the only female composer to have a work performed at the Met! Her badass-ness goes far beyond her compositions, and lead her into some interesting places like prison and the bedroom of a literary giant.

Our next installment of OAD's Bad Ass Women series features none other than the first woman to ever compose an opera: Francesca Caccini. It's time to get your baroque on as you learn about this composer that was, in a way, the "Beyonce of her time."

Today we introduce you to another badass lady of the classical canon: Barbara Strozzi! Incredibly prolific composer (much more prolific than most of her male contemporaries), famous singer of her time, wrote stunning and interesting music, published her music LONG before it was socially acceptable for women to do so.... basically kicking ass and taking names in 17th century Florence.

This week we take on another ridiculous and unknown opera plot in Ralph Vaughan William's The Poisoned Kiss. The fairytale libretto features an epic revenge plot and many other stock elements we love, including a trio ridiculously named Hob, Gob, and Lob. Sound familiar?

Today we dive into the glorious DINORAH by Meyerbeer - and we are joined by a guest who, we think, is the only soprano to have ever sung the title role in the past several decades on this continent, the wonderful Laura Strickling! The plot includes a goat, a mad scene, a run away groom, and so much more... this is an episode not to be missed!

As the 2017-2018 opera season is getting under way, we talk about what productions and casts around the world are getting us really excited for the coming year. We're joined by soprano Laura Strickling, and as you can imagine, this one is a little all over the place....literally.