'Yukionna, the Snow Witch' is a well-known story by most who are acquainted with Japanese culture, but this Sunday it will have its first retelling as an opera.
Sixty years ago, opera singer Marian Anderson made her long overdue debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera. She was its first African-American soloist.
Given its popularity, opera fans should know 'La Boheme' inside and out, right? So here's a little quiz on this familiar favorite. We'll start off with some easier ones -- but by the end, the questions may test the knowledge of even the most devoted Boheme-ophile.
Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 8 p.m., we'll air the Minnesota Opera's production of Mozart's 'The Magic Flute'. But what is 'The Magic Flute' all about? A new video from Classical MPR provides a plot summary of the iconic opera.
In a frank new memoir, soprano Deborah Voigt reveals her troubles with obesity, alcohol and bad relationships, along with her many triumphs in opera houses the world over.
Aida, by Giuseppe Verdi, is one of the world's best-known operas. At one time, it led off the so-called "ABC" operas — the three most-performed operas at the Met (Aida, Boheme, and Carmen, in that order.)
On Saturday, January 3, at noon, we'll air Richard Jones's haunting yet witty production of "Hansel and Gretel," in a live broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera, starring Aleksandra Kurzak as Gretel and Christine Rice as Hansel.
On Saturday, January 17, at noon, we'll air Franz Lehar's enchanting operetta, "The Merry Widow," in a live broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera. It stars the great Renee Fleming as the beguiling femme fatale who captivates all of Paris.
NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Patricia Wulf, a mezzo-soprano who says she was uncomfortable with aggressive advances made by revered opera star Placido Domingo.
