Tonight, in a ‘Chalk Talk' double-header, we get you ready for Independence Day by honoring America and its contributions to opera, looking in-depth at the works and artists we think are uniquely “American” and how they define the role opera serves both in our country and worldwide...

And then, it’s the ‘Two Minute Drill’: everything you need to know from the past week in Operaland, plus our team’s hot takes on those stories...

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Tonight… Creative Consultant Oliver Camacho walks you down the hallowed corridors of the ‘OBS Hall of Fame’. Find out which opera singer’s picture he’ll tack to the wall in Studio Two, next to past inductees Leontyne Price and Luciano Pavarotti…

But first… In a ‘Chalk Talk’ field report, conductor and past OBS guest Catherine O’Shaughnessy joins Executive Producer George Cederquist in a lightning round recap of their whirlwind week at the 2018 Opera America conference in Saint Louis. They’ll reveal just how many hours of opera conversation one can actually absorb in a single day...

And then… It’s the ‘Two Minute Drill’: everything you need to know from the past week in Operaland, plus our team’s hot takes on those stories...

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Tonight... Tobias Wright walks you down the hallowed corridors of the OBS Hall of Fame with a look at the life and recordings of one of his favorite opera singers…

But first, it’s that time of year again… people scrambling for hotel rooms… folks grabbing tickets for sold-out shows… crowds gate-crashing invite-only events… Why, it’s the Opera America conference, of course. George previews the best sessions on the docket at next week’s annual meeting of opera’s movers and shakers...

Then… It’s the ‘Two Minute Drill’: everything you need to know from the past week in Operaland, and our hot takes on those stories...

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Tonight, in 'Chalk Talk'... Our guest is Santosh Venkataraman, a frequent contributor to the OperaWire website. We talk with him about diversity in all parts of the American opera house, and we get him to play 'Monday Evening Quarterback' and review a show...

Plus... Tenor Henry Pleas III joins us by phone to add to the conversation on diversity...

Then… It’s the ‘Two Minute Drill’: everything you need to know from the past week in Operaland, and our hot takes on those stories...

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Tonight… The first living singer to be inducted into 'The OBS Hall of Fame' is a beloved American soprano? Find out from Matt Cummings who receives this inimitable honor...

But first… Season ticket subscriptions to your local opera house have likely been the lifeblood of its existence. But is the importance of subscribers coming to an end? Our team scrambles for an aisle seat in our ‘Chalk Talk’ segment...

Plus... It’s the ‘Two Minute Drill’: everything you need to know from the past week in Operaland, and our hot takes on those stories...

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We introduce our new segment ‘The OBS Hall of Fame’, in which one of our team shares stories and clips about the ways in which one artist -- or one opera -- changed their life. Weston Williams kicks things off. Find out who -- or what -- he chose...

But first, we take a look at an article in last week’s Washington ‘Post’, in which music critic Anne Midgette wrote: “Every once in a while in the life of a critic, something one does on one’s beat comes to define them for some time to come. I had one such moment this spring. To the outside eye, the choice may not have seemed that momentous.” We’ll tell you what her decision was...

Plus, it’s the ‘Two Minute Drill’: everything you need to know from the past week in Operaland, and our hot takes on those stories...

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Tonight, it’s a ‘Chalk Talk’ double header. Our team responds to a recent article in ‘The New Yorker’ magazine on African-American countertenor John Holiday. And then, we look at why one of Britain’s most distinguished singers has accused fellow devotees of Richard Wagner of repeated attempts to undermine her position and “rewrite history”...

But first, we ‘Crunch the Numbers’ on English National Opera’s 2018 season on the Dodson Scale™. Find out how ENO stacks up against its European rivals...

Plus at 9.40 pm, it’s the ‘Two Minute Drill’: everything you need to know from the past week in Operaland, and our hot takes on those stories...

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Soprano Madison Leonard, a winner of the 2018 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, joins George, Tobias and guest co-host Catherine O'Shaughnessy 'Inside the Huddle' to talk through her big night at the Met, how she got there, and what happens next...

Then, George plays ‘Monday Evening Quarterback’ and reviews "Jesus Christ Superstar", now playing at Lyric Opera of Chicago, while Tobias and Cathy ‘Crunch the Numbers’ and look at Washington National Opera’s upcoming season.  Where will the District’s house fall on the Dodson Scale™...?

Plus, it’s the ‘Two Minute Drill’: everything you need to know from the past week in Operaland, and our hot takes on those stories...

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Creative consultant Oliver Camacho goes ‘Inside the Huddle’ with costume designer Meriem Bahri. Find out how the French biologist went from academia to being Haymarket Opera Company’s secret weapon...

But first, in ‘Chalk Talk’, we take you back. Way back. We’ll listen to some old school recordings made around the turn of the century using Thomas Edison’s wax cylinder equipment, and compare those to recordings of today’s opera singers using similar old-fangled technology...

And later, it’s the ‘Two Minute Drill’: everything you need to know from the past week in Operaland, and our hot takes on those stories...

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Facebook Live sensation Jakub Józef Orliński joins Oliver ‘Inside the Huddle’ to talk about how a video of the Polish countertenor went viral, and about just WHO is in charge of writing the ornaments for the Vivaldi and Handel da capo arias Orliński is singing all over the world, and now, as an exclusive recording artist for the Erato label.  (And yes, they do talk about the whole breakdancing thing...)

But first, the Deutsche Oper in Berlin recently announced its 2018-2019 season.  Weston and George ‘Crunch the Numbers’ and run the schedule through the Dodson Scale™.  Surely a German opera house will set a new high score, right…?

And later, it’s the ‘Two Minute Drill’...  We get you up to speed on everything from the past week in Operaland and our hot takes on those stories...

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