Opera For Everyone

Mozart & Salieri is an opera in one act by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov set to a Russian libretto taken almost verbatim from a novella of the same name by Alexandr Pushkin. It's based on the oft-disputed legend that Salieri poisoned Mozart out of jealousy for his genius. The novel occurs in a single afternoon and evening with Mozart dropping by Salieri's apartment in Vienna to play his nearly-completed "Requiem." The two go together to an inn for dinner where Salieri poisons Mozart.

Delve into the enchanting world of Massenet's 'Manon,' where beauty and vanity drive a spirited maid on an adventurous journey. Explore the tumultuous romance between Manon and Des Grieux, battling societal pressures and familial expectations. The hosts unravel the emotional tension in a vibrant Paris, as love clashes with class struggles. Expect witty banter and reflections on betrayal, jealousy, and the heart-wrenching climax of lost dreams. This rich narrative intertwines whimsy and tragedy, making for a compelling discussion on opera's timeless themes.

On today's episode of Opera for Everyone we listen to The Magic Flute, also known as Die Zauberflöte, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It's an opera in two acts, first performed in Vienna in 1791. In this opera the Queen of the Night persuades Prince Tamino to rescue her daughter Pamina from captivity in the Temple of Wisdom under the high priest Sarastro. Tamino is accompanied on his quest to the Temple of Wisdom by the earthy Papageno, a bird-catcher, who is also looking for true love. Together they learn the high ideals of Sarastro's community and seek to join it. Separately, then together, Tamino and Pamina undergo severe trials of initiation, which end in triumph, and with the Queen and her cohorts vanquished. Papageno fails the trials completely but is nevertheless rewarded with the hand of his ideal female companion, Papagena. Image courtesy of Texas A&M University- Commerce Marketing Communications Photography

If you’ve never experienced an opera by Antonio Salieri, now is your chance. You may have seen the movie Amadeus, or heard that Salieri was the Austrian court composer whose jealousy was whispered to have played a part in Mozart’s early death. And though that rumor is probably a fiction, who could blame him for being jealous of the wunderkind Mozart? A highly accomplished composer in his own right, Salieri was mentored by Gluck, and in turn taught such pupils as Franz Liszt, Franz Schubert, and Ludwig van Beethoven. Enjoy this tragic opera with us, based on the Greek mythological characters Danaus and Hypermnestra.

Ep. 16 I Puritani by Bellini broadcast 11.19.17 by Opera for Everyone

Mozart’s comic yet profound look at human nature and one crazy day in a wealthy Spanish household. The Marriage of Figaro, is an opera buffa (comic opera) in four acts composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with an Italian libretto written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. The opera's libretto is based on a stage comedy by Pierre Beaumarchais, La folle journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro ("The Mad Day, or The Marriage of Figaro"), which was first performed in 1784. It tells how the servants Figaro and Susanna succeed in getting married, foiling the efforts of their philandering employer Count Almaviva to seduce Susanna and teaching him a lesson in fidelity. The opera is a cornerstone of the repertoire and appears consistently among the top ten in the Operabase list of most frequently performed operas.

Explore the captivating story of Bellini's 'Norma', where love, betrayal, and duty collide in ancient Gaul. The opera's rich history and vocal performances are brought to life, highlighting Norma's emotional struggles and the complexities of her relationships. Delve into the poignant aria 'Casta Diva' and its themes of peace amidst turmoil. The historical context of Druidic rituals adds depth, while the fierce confrontation between Norma and Pollione showcases the stakes of their choices, leading to a dramatic sacrificial climax.

This episode of Opera for Everyone features Bizet's Les Pêcheurs de Perles - The Pearl Fishers - which debuted in Paris at the Théâtre Lyrique, on September 30, 1863. It's an opera in three acts with a French libretto by Eugène Cormon and Michel Carré. The opera is a story of how two men's vow of eternal friendship is threatened by their love for the same woman, whose own dilemma is the conflict between secular love and her sacred oath as a priestess. The friendship duet "Au fond du temple saint", generally known as "The Pearl Fishers Duet," is one of the best-known numbers in Western opera.

In this episode of Opera for Everyone we listen to Lakme, an opera in three acts by Léo Delibes to a French libretto by Edmond Gondinet and Philippe Gille. The score, written in 1881-2, was first performed on in 1883 by the Opéra-Comique in Paris. The story is set in British India in the mid-19th century, Lakmé is based on Théodore Pavie's story "Les babouches du Brahamane" and novel "Le Mariage de Loti" by Pierre Loti. The opera includes the popular Flower Duet (Sous le dôme épais) performed in Act 1 by Lakmé, the daughter of a Brahmin priest, and her servant Mallika. The name Lakmé is the French rendition of Sanskrit Lakshmi, the name of the Hindu Goddess of Wealth. The opera's most famous aria is the Bell Song (L'Air des clochettes) in Act 2. Like other French operas of the period, Lakmé captures the ambience of the Orient seen through Western eyes, which was periodically in vogue during the latter part of the 19th century and in line with other operatic works such as Bizet's The Pearl Fishers and Massenet's Le roi de Lahore.[3] The subject of the opera was suggested by Gondinet as a vehicle for the American soprano Marie van Zandt.

On this episode of Opera for Everyone we listen to Turandot, an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, with an Italian libretto by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni. The opera's version of the story is set in China, and involves Prince Calaf, who falls in love with the cold Princess Turandot. To obtain permission to marry her, a suitor has to solve three riddles; any wrong answer results in death. Calaf passes the test, but Turandot still refuses to marry him. He offers her a way out: if she is able to learn his name before dawn the next day, then at daybreak he will die. Prince Calaf's famous aria "Nessun Dorma" tells the story of Turandot's proclamation that "No one sleeps" so they can discover the name of the mysterious prince. In the end, Turandot doesn't discover his name, and he melts her heart and they are married. The opera was first performed in 1926, and although Puccini died in 1924 shortly before he finished the opera, it was completed by Franco Alfano.