Opera Plot Happy Hour

"Whatever happened to Jonathan Taylor Thomas?"

This week's episode is sponsored by Flying Dutchman Spirits. The delicious cocktails make up for the less-than-satisfying opera plot. Also: tangents about Norway, fangirl crushes, and opera characters in therapy.

"I'm sure Wagner would be the president of his own fan club"

To talk about a Wagner opera, we need to talk about Wagner himself...and he requires an entire episode to himself (and then some).

Who is the best? To find out, our world-class podcast hosts are testing history's most popular opera subjects. Using 20th Century composition, we'll see what happens when the two opera types go toe-to-toe. No rules, no safety, no mercy. It's a duel to the death to decide who is the best Opera Plot.

Let go of your Election Week stress and join Amanda and Tina on a journey through a Russian Fairy Tale Opera...again, we promise we're not talking about American politics here.

"We talk out of our asses and drink wine through our mouths."

Spoiler Alert!

Tina and Amanda talk about 3 related plots in this episode: Benjamin Britten's "The Turn of the Screw," the Henry James novella it's based on, and the Netflix series "The Haunting of Bly Manor," and they will spoil every ending for you. You've been warned.

Opera Plot Happy Hour is Back!

Special guests Colleen Meier and Anna Hashizume join Amanda to talk about Turandot, an opera where the riddles aren't great, the misogyny isn't great, and the racism...also isn't great. But the music is lovely and the conversation is lively!

#dopehaircutsforeveryone.

This week, Amanda and Tina welcome their first ever special guest! Who better to talk about the Barber of Seville than an actual barber, right?

"He's her...Fi-Uncle."

This week, Amanda and Tina give you a sampling of their favorite tongue-twisters, make fun on 19th Century French sensibilities, and tell you about Ernani, an opera whose purpose is to flout tradition. Does it live up to its promise? You tell us.

Disclaimer: We had a few audio snags this week. Thanks for listening despite that!

"Anyways, here's Wonderwall"

Rimsky-Korsakov's lush Russian music mingles with a frothy plot line, fritter-eating ghosts (who theoretically could haunt other ghosts), and digressions about being attracted to cartoon characters.

Come frolic in the Moravian forest with Amanda and Tina, as they tell you about the circle of life via Janáček's Cunning Little Vixen.