The #OperaTrash Podcast

Let's go back in time to ancient Greece for Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice. Can you actually follow directions, or are you Orfeo? Anna and Krista discuss the dumbassery as well as the Met's upcoming season schedule, how Anna became a Procol Harum song and how not to approach the situation in Ukraine.

Anna and Krista welcome a special guest this week, Chicago radio host Amy Guth. The three discuss Handel's Rodelinda, among other things, and give Amy a crash course in everything #OperaTrash. And yes, she survived AND is down for future livetweeting!

In honor of Miss Leontyne Price's birthday, Anna and Krista discuss Richard Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos,an opera within an opera (after a play). You'll hear about Jonas' pimptastic Salzburg performance, Kathleen Battle's horrid behavior and why there are two versions of this opera. Many thanks to Sharon Gless for this episode's subtitle!

Just when you thought Anna and Krista had seen the worst opera ever, they stumble upon Sergei Prokofiev's The Fiery Angel. They even warn you: do not, under any circumstances, watch this on your own. Or with anyone else. Don't watch it at all. Or at least don't watch it sober.

With no outline to go by and only Krista's review on tap, the ladies dove back into the sea of Britten's Peter Grimes from The Wien (aka the Vienna Staatsoper). Was it worth the hype? How did Jonas do? And who is the chucklefuck from Slipped Disc who wrote such trash? Bonus dedication to Dr. Johnny Fever and an update on a sporps game.

As the title implies, Anna and Krista are once again setting sail for Wagner Land, this time exploring his opera Tannhäuser. Which version - the vanilla one or the Horny Jail one - is your favorite?

Is there an opera worse than The Exterminating Angel? Anna and Krista found it in The Ghosts of Versailles. How was such a good play ruined, and how can its wretchedness be used as punishment? Find out in this episode dedicated to two wonderful people and featuring a review of Faust from Covent Garden.

The Figaro saga continues with Mozart's contribution this week. There is talk of bootyholes, long-lost parents, unfaithful spouses and poor stupid Cherubino. There's also a lot of speculation about the next Met season and a tribute to Sir Sidney Poitier.

Anna and Krista start their two-episode arc on the Figaro trilogy (more on that in the podcast) with Rossini's The Barber of Seville. Hear Krista fail at words, learn how badass Betty White was and find out what they think of ranking Puccini operas. Watch out for exploding produce!

Benjamin Britten is back with his take on Melville's Billy Budd. Find out why Anna ragequit watching it, why Claggart might've hated the poor kid, and why Anna and Krista stan Melville and Hawthorne. Bonus lesson on Boxing Day for our American listeners!