Minnesota Opera

Here's a calendar with all of the Voices of Spring programming for April.

The stars of Minnesota Opera's production of Verdi's 'Rigoletto' join Steve Staruch in the Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio for a conversation about their roles. Baritone Olafur Sigurdarsen, soprano Marie-Eve Munger, and tenor Joshua Dennis share their insights about what makes 'Rigoletto' one of Verdi's most popular operas.

The 1919 scandal that rocked Major League Baseball takes center stage when the Minnesota Opera presents the world premiere of 'The Fix' as part of its just-announced 2018-19 season. It's one of four works that Minnesota audiences will be seeing for the first time when the season starts in October, in addition to encore performances of the Pulitzer Prize-winning 'Silent Night.'

'Dead Man Walking' is the most produced new opera of the 21st century. The Minnesota Opera stages the piece starting this weekend. Soprano Karen Slack and mezzo Catherine Martin join Steve Staruch in the studio to talk about their emotional roles and sing two pieces.

Richard Wagner created some of the most satisfying music to experience, especially when performed by artists gifted with a voice suitable for his work. In preparation for Classical MPR's reairing of Minnesota Opera's 2017 production of 'Das Rheingold' on Thursday, here are some of the best moments from Wagner's 'Ring Cycle.'

The lives of three Minnesota music makers have intersected throughout the years. But it wasn't until recently, when the eldest was packing up for a move to California, that their paths began to run more in parallel lines. It's all thanks to a treasured collection of classical albums on vinyl.

The Minnesota Opera isn't kidding around with its latest commission: an original opera based on the young-adult novel 'The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane,' by Minnesota author Kate DiCamillo.

Classical MPR presents a live broadcast of Minnesota Opera's "The Marriage of Figaro" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. During the week, Morning Glories features selections from several operas inspired by the Figaro trilogy.

In March 2017, the Minnesota Opera presented the world premiere of 'Dinner at Eight,' a comic opera by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer William Bolcom and librettist Mark Campbell. Listen to Classical MPR on Thursday, Oct. 12, when we air the Minnesota Opera's performance of 'Dinner at Eight' ... appropriately enough, at 8 p.m.

Artist in Residence, Victoria Vargas, will perform as a part of the Minnesota Opera at the Minnesota Public Radio's State Fair booth at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 30. Victoria spoke with Classical MPR's Jamila Joiner ahead of her performance.