The #OperaTrash Podcast

This week, Anna and Krista explore Puccini's first opera. Along the way, they discuss how not to be a dick at a recital, an opera-ballet connection and a hair-raising opera ending!

This week's opera is based on a true story: it's Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera. Come for the commentary, stay for the Supernatural references, and enjoy the story of why Verdi considered the writing of this to be a total shitshow.

Anna and Krista head back to Russia for this week's opera by Shostakovich. Why did Stalin hate it? Why did the ladies hate it? And what's John Malkovich doing in this week's news dump?

The ladies are back and are talking about a non-opera for a change: J.S. Bach's Coffee Cantata. The review is short, but they fill the rest of the time talking about coffee, of course! And Anna's in stereo this week!

Anna and Krista return to the land of Verdi to talk about Macbeth. Come for the hot Anna Netrebko action, stay for Stupid Sexy Banquo! Bonus review of another Tristan production (spoiler alert: the ending was trash)!

After an unscheduled break, Anna and Krista are back with more Wagner nonsense in the form of his longest opera, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Hey, there's a fight in this one!

We have a one-hit wonder from Cilea this week - Adriana Lecouvreur. It's "based on actual events", but it's very over-the-top in drama. And if you find the right production, you'll see Piotr Beczala's infamous pornstache!

Anna and Krista are joined this week by Cara, who gives us a new look at Shostakovich's opera The Nose. Who knew that a WTF opera would hold such a commentary on disability rights? Sit back and have your mind blown.

As promised, Krista tells us all about the highly anticipated livestream of Tristan und Isolde from Munich. Was it as expected? How did Jonas do in Act 3? And how would she stage T&I if she were an opera director? Tune in and find out!

More Wagner? Why not! This week, the ladies tackle one of his early operas, The Flying Dutchman. Learn its not-surprising backstory, its connection to Star Trek and what the "treasure" in the Met production really was!