With so many opera podcasts happening everlasting hiatus, I’ve been on a quest to search out some new ones to work into my rotation. I sampled many various exhibits and have some suggestions for our cher public.
I restricted myself to English-language exhibits which are nonetheless actively producing episodes and I didn’t hearken to any of the various (crikey, so many!) podcasts which are produced by opera firms. (I assume you’ve already discovered if the present from an organization that pursuits you is well worth the time.)
My Prime Three
For me, the most effective podcasts expose you to new content material and views. If a podcast episode is admittedly cooking, I want I used to be a part of the dialog. I discovered three podcasts that I’m now hooked on, and you must undoubtedly audition them when you don’t subscribe already.
Decanonized tops my record. Author and journalist Olivia Giovetti takes as her start line the record of operas in Henry W. Simon’s 1957 tome 100 Nice Operas and Their Tales. Each two weeks, she is joined by a really particular visitor to debate one in every of these works. They study what the opera is about, what it’s wish to expertise this opera in efficiency, the way it received into the canon, and whether or not it deserves to remain there.
I deeply admire how exceptionally ready the host and her visitors are. Clearly, they’re acquainted with the work by means of their very own attendance, recordings, and movies, however they’ve additionally studied the supply materials for the opera, learn articles from modern and historic writers in regards to the piece, and created a quasi syllabus for anybody who desires to dive deeper. Try the web page of present notes for the episode on 4 Saints in Three Acts. After listening to this episode, I instantly ordered a duplicate of Steven Watson’s Put together for Saints.
However this isn’t to indicate that the present is stuffy or tutorial; it’s sensible and humorous in all the most effective methods. Colourful language is used with gusto and precision. The hosts are clearly having fun with their discussions, as I hope you’ll as nicely.
This podcast is for you if: Your dad and mom had an opera reference guide in the home (Henry Simon, Milton Cross, Gustav Kobbé) and also you learn it cowl to cowl; you all the time learn this system notes on the opera and complain bitterly when they’re milquetoasty AI-style-summaries; you’ve lengthy awaited a podcast that describes Max in Der Freischütz as an “incel.”
Countermelody is from countertenor and voice trainer Daniel Gundlach. Gundlach has produced practically 500 episodes, so I’m inexplicably late to this social gathering. For every episode, he focuses on a specific singer, composer, or theme and presents a set of very well-curated recordings, most of them stay and all of them arduous to trace down. I’m in awe of his music library and skill to find probably the most elusive recordings. If anybody goes to unearth the fabled misplaced recording of Maria Callas in Fedora, will probably be Daniel Gundlach.
To get a way of this present, check out his most up-to-date Verdi potpourri episode (with Gundula Janowitz in Attila, Margaret Value in Giovanna d’Arco amongst many others). After listening to his tribute to Alain Vanzo, I had a substantial record of recordings that I needed to monitor down. Clearly, the host has his favourite artists and strongly held opinions, however that’s what makes the present worthwhile. As an added bonus the knowledge pages about every episode have nice singer photographs (such because the one in every of Claudia Muzio on the high of this piece). The stay recordings all seem like in the most effective out there sound.
This podcast is for you if: You’ve got a framed, autographed photograph of Fiorenza Cossotto as Amneris in your house and also you inform unsuspecting visitors that it’s a photograph of your mom; you miss George Jellinek’s The Vocal Scene and performances by La Gran Scena Opera Firm, otherwise you would have appreciated to have been round for the period of George Jellinek’s The Vocal Scene and La Gran Scena Opera Firm; you’ve given up looking for attention-grabbing historic performances on YouTube as a result of search there’s so enshittified.
Thrilled to Announce is a triple-threat; an Instagram account, a e-newsletter, and a podcast. All three have been created by the crew of mezzo-soprano and author Perri DiChristina and marketer and social media guru Charlotte Jackson. Each of them are deeply educated about opera and are a part of the technology that grew up with the Web. This leads to content material and views which are fairly in contrast to most the rest within the on-line opera universe.
The core of their presence is their Instagram account the place they wryly describe themselves as “Esoteric memers exploring our operatic//philosophical inside Selves.” The content material there’s characterised as “dreaming/ theorizing/ yapping.” In different phrases, they publish brief movies with reactions to breaking operatic information, clips of performers that fascinate them, excerpts from their podcast, and insights in regards to the performer’s life. The whole lot is designed to be shared and elicit feedback. That is meant to assist the singer neighborhood – particularly youthful singers – construct their community and thrive in an impossibly difficult second for the occupation.
The podcast is a a lot longer-form model of this, but it surely comes throughout as a dialog between two shut mates with their very own shared historical past, lingo, and inside jokes. The expertise of listening typically feels extra like eavesdropping on a personal dialog, and I had a glimmering of how Nabokov will need to have felt driving round on Ithaca public transit buses so he may discreetly transcribe conversations between youngsters. (In addition they actually use the phrase “actually” manner an excessive amount of and it may be grating.) It’s value persevering, as a result of the content material, particularly on the subject of social media and careers, is kind of fascinating. Strive their episode entitled “Classical Social Media Anthropology – 101”. I’m eagerly awaiting the promised continuation.
Lastly, they’ve a free e-newsletter, with a helpful itemizing of NYC occasions, together with a number of the much less mainstream ones. Their e-newsletter additionally has considerate commentary on chosen information tales. If you’re in NYC, I’d subscribe.
This podcast is for you if: You need an opera podcast that leans into the weirdness of opera and the unusual absurdity of careers within the arts; you need the youthful technology of classical singers and creators to achieve fixing opera after the previous technology broke it; you consider memes is usually a pressure for good; you already know what YAP Tracker is.
Information and Interviews
There are additionally a number of information and interview podcasts out there. The opera trade is unfortunately missing a complete information website with a usable index and I’m undecided that listening to a podcast is how I wish to devour my information, however which will simply be me. I do take pleasure in interview if there’s a real dialog between the contributors with considerate questions and follow-up.
Opera Field Rating: They describe their present as one “that took opera content material and slammed it right into a sports activities discuss radio format.” (Having by no means listened to any sports activities discuss radio, I can’t choose the veracity of that précis.) Listeners can not name in, however they’ll submit written or audio commentary that might be shared on the present. Every episode has a normal set of sections together with headlines, fast information highlights, and interviews. The information options are quick paced and I want they devoted extra time to necessary matters just like the strike in San Francisco. It’s a sophisticated subject, but it surely’s one with implications for each opera firm within the nation. It merited extra dialogue.
The interviews, most of that are performed by Oliver Camacho, are a compelling hear. I listened to a number of conversations with singers and located them to be fairly candid about their very own careers and experiences. They even discuss approach in a understandable manner. Strive the ones with Andreas Scholl and Denyce Graves which they lately replayed.
This podcast is for you if: The concept of a weekly discuss radio present about opera is interesting; your favourite character on Frasier was Bulldog Briscoe; you’ve all the time needed to name right into a radio present; you want a podcast with merch.
Operawire: David and Francisco Salazar, who created the Operawire web site, began a podcast in the summertime of 2025. Most episodes function an interview, however some simply focus on the information. I listened to their interview with Francesca Zambello of the Washington Opera and the dialogue with new Common Director and CEO of the Dallas Opera, David Lomelí.
Each discussions had some fascinating content material. Francesca Zambello was fairly candid in regards to the Trump Administration takeover of the Kennedy Middle and I discovered some appalling new particulars. Nevertheless, the interviewer didn’t even ask if the Washington Opera desires to ever return to the Kennedy Middle or if it’s time to discover a new everlasting dwelling. In addition they didn’t query Zambello’s assertion that the opera firm isn’t political, this in a season when they’re doing The Crucible.
Equally, Lomelí stated some provocative issues about variety, body-type pushed casting, and social media. All of this could have engendered extra questions, however none have been requested. As a substitute, the one actual dialogue was about using AI and right here the contributors talked previous one another with the Salazars eager to complain in regards to the Bayreuth AI Ringand Lomelí wanting to speak in regards to the larger concern of how opera firms are already utilizing expertise and AI and the acute risk of music technology instruments like Suno.
This podcast is for you if: You want candid, provocative statements unencumbered by clarifying follow-up questions.
Opera Now: Then there’s the thriller of the Opera Now podcast. That is the brand new podcast from Opera Now journal. It isn’t to be confused with the OperaNow! podcast, which we miss. The podcast has run for one 12 months and the journal nonetheless advertises the podcast on their web site, however there hasn’t been a brand new episode for the reason that finish of April. The hosts focus on information from the opera world and interview visitors in a variety of opera-related professions. I didn’t discover the dialogue very enlightening, Does anybody know what’s occurring with this present?
This podcast is for you if: You want watching TV exhibits that finish their first season with a cliffhanger after which get canceled. (RIP Invasion on ABC) It’s not likely podcast and not using a British accent.
Honorable Mentions
CVH Podcast: I additionally wish to give a nod to bass Christian van Horn’s podcast. He has been repeatedly podcasting since 2020! The episodes are a mixture between discussions of his present work, reflections on the operatic occupation, discussions with colleagues, and responses to questions and feedback from his listeners. His dedication to the podcast and his candor are admirable, his lack of ego can also be refreshing, and he has an excellent talking voice. It’s as much as you to determine how invested you wish to be in his journey as an artist and colleague.
This podcast is for you if: You’re an enormous fan of Christian van Horn; you want the mellifluous sound of a basso talking voice to get you thru the horrors of the day.
New Classical Podcast: Simply as I used to be ending my survey, Instagram opera influencer and traveler Opera Bert launched his new podcast – the imaginatively titled New Classical Podcast. Usually, I wouldn’t evaluate a podcast with simply two episodes, however he has a big following and he introduced out the large weapons for his first episode with an interview of Yannick Nézet-Séguin. The podcast could be very a lot a piece in progress — a mixture of softball and philosophical questions with nothing in regards to the excessive challenges going through the Met and orchestras within the US. There’s additionally an embarrassing dialogue of AI that betrays no understanding of AI or the risk it poses to the performing arts.
This podcast is for you if: You already comply with Opera Bert and watch his video interviews; you by no means wish to have to know AI and what affect it should have on opera.
I notice that my overview could be very US-centric, however that’s the place I discovered probably the most content material. I hearken to Primadonnen as a result of it conjures up me to work tougher on my German and it’s enjoyable, and I want my Italian was adequate to hearken to the legendary Voci in Barcaccia.
My Dream Podcasts
Regardless of the wealth of podcasts on the market, I feel there are a few new opera podcasts that we may actually use:
Regie-cide: Consider it as a DVD commentary monitor for well-known (infamous?) opera productions out there on video. In every episode the hosts study an opera, presumably an act at a time, to reply the next necessary questions:
- What does the director seem to suppose the opera is about? Does the manufacturing truly make a compelling case for his or her interpretation and manufacturing decisions?
- Is it doable to know what the director thinks the opera is about with out studying this system notes?
- Would somebody who doesn’t know the opera have any thought of what’s going on?
- How are the singers?
- Would you ever wish to watch this efficiency once more?
A Blight on the Opera: Singers relate their experiences with really heinous colleagues whereas rigorously obfuscating the identification of their PTSD triggers. Listeners submit theories on who the nightmares in query are (the extra unbelievable the higher). Secret Identities are by no means revealed except the people are deceased.
Have I missed any of your favourite podcasts? Are you able to suggest an episode that exhibits your favourite podcast at its greatest? Or what podcast would you wish to will into existence?
