OPERAtion: What's My Why?

OPERAtion: How, What, Why? A miniseries of the Podcast: OPERAtion What’s my Why? In these shorter episodes we strive to give voice to innovative artists, creators,  and organisations by sharing our platform. By doing so, we hope to offer insight in the way people in the opera industry are striving to create art that is not only relevant, but resonant with the experiences of humanity today. We are so excited to share with you all of the exciting work being done to create new opportunities for diverse artists to share their craft with the world. 

In this first episode Simon speaks to Aliana de la Guardia, Artistic Director of Guerilla Opera. A voracious interpreter of repertoire old and new, de la Guardia is an accomplished Cuban-American artist that enjoys a multifaceted career as a classical vocalist, actor, educator, and entrepreneur. As a soprano specializing in new music and opera, she has garnered acclaim for her “dazzling flights of virtuosity” (Gramophone) in “vocally fearless” performances that are “fizzing with theatrical commitment” (The Boston Globe). Specializing in new music and garnering skills as a theater artist make her especially fit for premiering new operas as well as genre-bending performance art, devised and ensemble-based works, intimate live performances, as well as film and digital mediums. She has guest starred on ABC’s television series “Body of Proof.”

In 2020, she was selected as a protégée for OPERA America’s Women’s Opera Network Mentorship Program for Women in Opera, paired with Lee Anne Myslewski, Vice President of Opera and Classical Programming, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts in Vienna, VA. This same year she was the recipient of a Public Art Learning Fund grant from the New England Foundation for the Arts to pursue a custom-tailored mentorship program with Double Edge Theatre of Ashfield, MA.

de la Guardia is also the founder and owner of Dirty Paloma Voice Studio in Haverhill, MA, the treasurer of the Granite State chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and on the Haverhill Multicultural Festival 2020 planning committee.

Dear Listeners, Thank you so much for coming on this journey with us all. We are so pleased to present our last Season 1 episode. Today we share some of our history, our goals, and our future plans with you all. We hope that you will join us for the future. Let us know what you would like to hear, or even see! Thank you for your continued support and generosity. As we are planning for a 2nd season with guests, we would like to honour their time financially. To support this specific endeavour please feel free to donate at your PayPal link at the bottom of this description. Onward!!!!

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The Marriage of Figaro is one of the most famous opera’s of all time....but, why? Mel, Simon, AND Vince all absolutely adore it, and in this episode they tell you why. From feisty servants and cunning disguises to jealous husbands and unexpected mothers, this show has something for everyone. This episode is also one filled with love as we give multiple shoutouts and endlessly swoon over the beautiful music. It also touches on how we can represent more marginalised folk in the art of today, and how we can bring more diversity to the opera stage. But, more on that next episode! For now, Le Nozze di Figaro. 

Nixon in China (1987), by John Adams, with libretto by Alice Goodman details President Nixon’s 1972 visit to China. The mixture of art, emotion, and politics makes Vince place this opera amongst his favourites. In this episode we discuss the cancel culture of today’s social media society, the portrayal of the political on stage, and the ways in which words and music were used in the 20th century to create dynamic modern theatre. 

In this weeks episode we get epic with the exciting and thrilling Elektra from 1909, by Richard Strauss. We dive into the Olympian feat that is singing this non-stop (no literally she never leaves the stage) role, singing acting, voice sizes, and the problematic nature of Viennese psychology. 

How could you not love this violent and visceral piece of music theatre. 

As always, please follow us on instagram and twitter @operationwmw and tell us your thoughts. You can also email us at OperationWMW.gmail.com and listen to our Spotify playlist OperationWMW. 

This week we dive into the wild world of The Rake’s Progress by Stravinsky with libretto by W.H.Auden & Chester Kallman. The story tells of a lazy young man, Tom Rakewell, who seeks to achieve all of his goals in life with the minimal work required and, in doing so, is seduced by Nick Shadow into leaving his faithful sweetheart from home Anne Truelove. Lucky for him, Anne’s heart is not so easily forgotten, but, does Tom survive this dance with the devil....

This episode discusses how opera in English can be rewarding and challenging, the poetry of the libretto, and best of all, how YOU can prevent the devil finding work for your own hands...unless you want to embrace the darkness that is. 

This episode we delve into the demimonde, or “half-world”, inhabited by the protagonist Violeta in Verdi’s La Traviata. As usual we discuss and deviate from the music, meaning, and social relevance of a work that is performed yearly more than any other opera. Does it deserve the top spot? Does it’s dramatic story of a courtesan who gives in to love, only to tragically renounce it, need continual retelling? Find out in episode 5!

In our fourth episode, we engage in an intense and difficult discussion centred around how to portray traumatic events on stage in a way that is safe for both performers and audience. Focussing on Benjamin Britten’s violently beautiful masterpiece, Melanie takes us through her work as an intimacy advocate, and together we ask how opera can do better in the wake of a series of intense and troubling scandals that shook the industry. 

Exploring the drama filled "Eugene Onegin" by Tchaikovsky, this episode we dive into the topics of love, boredom, and the fragile ego of a title character who causes chaos in the lives of others. Premiered in 1879, this opera remains strikingly relevant in today’s social media driven world, where a social circuit of expectation and gossip has been replaced by the need to present our “best selves” online.  

In this episode about the opera "Salome," we explore everything from body conscious casting to challenging notions of female sexuality. We absolutely love this opera from the gritty surrealist libretto of Oscar Wilde to Strauss' broodingly decedent music. We hope that you come to enjoy this opera "classic" as much as we do. 

Do note: We are aware of the varying audio qualities you hear in todays episode.  Our episodes so far have been recorded during various lockdowns and from different countries, and we acknowledge that the recording quality needs to be improved. We are working toward obtaining microphones, and should you enjoy the content you hear today, and wish to help support that goal, please use our PayPal link in this description to make whatever sized donation you desire. If donating isn't something that you're able to do, and you still want to show your support of the podcast, please share our content on social media, tell your friends, or even, leave a comment and let us know. We are so happy to hear feedback, even if it is for things you think we could improve.

Enjoy this 2nd episode of OPERAtion: What's My Why?