Opera Box Score

Oliver goes ‘Inside the Huddle’ with Swiss-born and -trained rising star soprano Regula Mühlemann to find out how to sing Mozart... And, of course you get all your opera headlines, and our hot takes on them, in the ‘Two Minute Drill’... But first, imagine if you were asked to make up a team of Opera All-Stars. Name the best singer – living or dead, active or retired – in each of the four main voice types, that you’d want to see onstage performing a role from the standard Italian repertoire. Who would be on your team? George and Daina ask Tobias for his roster in 'Chalk Talk'... @operaboxscore

Returning to the OBS are stage director Amy Stebbins and composer Hauke Berheide, so you know this episode's discussions are going to be intelligent, thoughtful and informed. Hey, sometimes change is good... First, we go ‘Inside the Huddle’ and talk about what shows Amy and Hauke have seen recently, as well as catching up on what sorts of projects they’re working on now... Then, it’s ‘Chalk Talk’: recently, there’ve been extensive debates about race, gender and ‘equal opportunity’ casting in standard repertoire operas. Tonight we go one step further and discuss casting decisions made by librettists and composers of new works, and how modern categories like ‘realism’ and ‘authenticity’ have put limits on how the distinctions between role, body, and voice are utilized... And of course you get all your opera headlines and our hot takes on them in the ‘Two Minute Drill’... operaboxscore.com @operaboxscore

Daniel Grambow is the Artistic Director of the Floating Opera Ensemble in Chicago, where he's currently directing the company’s upcoming production of “War and Peace”, a composite opera about the First World War. He joins us ‘Inside the Huddle’ to talk directing, and what it’s like to do opera in a cemetery... Then, George plays ‘Monday Evening Quarterback’ and reviews the final Met in HD broadcast of this season, Robert Carsen's new production of Richard Strauss’s “Der Rosenkavalier”. He’ll tell you what the biggest moment of the night was. And it wasn’t Renée Fleming’s curtain call... And of course you get all your opera headlines and our team's hot takes on them in the ‘Two Minute Drill’... operaboxscore.com @operaboxscore

We update you on all the news from the orgiastic Bacchanal that is the Opera America conference which took place in Dallas this past weekend... But first, it's been a busy week at the Metropolitan Opera. The company's recent gala celebrated being at Lincoln Center for 50 years. But was the move worthwhile? Plus, an Instagram post of 'Today' show host Al Roker asleep in the audience at a recent Met performance of Strauss's "Der Rosenkavalier" is also doing the rounds... And of course you get all your opera headlines and our hot takes on them in the ‘Two Minute Drill’... @operaboxscore

American composer William Bolcom joins George ‘Inside the Huddle’. They talk about Bolcom's career bridging the gap between popular and classical music, as well as his work with librettists Arnold Weinstein and Mark Campbell... But first, Oliver and Tobias respond to some Listener’s Letters, and they update you on some opera happenings right here in Chicago on ‘The Home Team’... And, of course, you get all your opera headlines and the OBS hot takes on them in the ‘Two Minute Drill’... @operaboxscore

It’s an evening of potluck on the OBS: Monday Evening Quarterback, a Listener's Letter, the Two Minute Drill, and the Home Team, all with George Cederquist, Oliver Camacho and Tobias Wright... @operaboxscore

Stage director and co-host of the Indie Opera podcast Walker Lewis joins us 'Inside the Huddle' to talk directing and being a dad... And then, in our new segment called 'The Home Team', Grammy Award-winning baritone Daniel Teadt gives us the details on his upcoming concert with Collaborative Arts Institute Chicago, and on being a dad... Plus, it’s the ‘The Two Minute Drill’: all the opera headlines from the past week that you need to know, and our hot takes on them... @operaboxscore

Oliver goes ‘Inside the Huddle’ with tenor Scott Ramsay, who plays the role of Wilhelm Dantine in Chicago Opera Theater’s upcoming production of “The Perfect American” by Philip Glass. Get an inside look at this truly unusual opera about the final days of Walt Disney’s life... Then, George and Oliver launch a brand-new segment called 'The Home Team' where we focus on the latest in opera that’s happening right here in Chicago. Tonight, we break down the 2017-2018 Chicago Opera Theater season which has just been announced... Plus, it’s the ‘The Two Minute Drill’: all the opera headlines from the past week that you need to know, and our hot takes on them... @operaboxscore

It’s a ‘Chalk Talk’ double header! George and Oliver discuss a new opera by Scott Joiner and Adam Taylor called “Connection Lost (L’opera di Tinder)”. Not only is the show about failed relationships created via the Tinder dating app, the piece was made for internet. Hear what the OBS boys think about the potential of this new operatic medium... Then, George and Oliver look at Metropolitan Opera Music Director and Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s recently published thoughts on how he’ll program his first season at the Met when he starts in 2020. Check out what they think will be successful, and what needs some second thought... Plus, it’s the ‘The Two Minute Drill’: all the opera headlines from the past week that you need to know, and the OBS team's hot takes on them... @operaboxscore

Creative consultant Oliver Camacho goes ‘Inside the Huddle’ with countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen in Cohen’s first interview since being chosen as a winner of the 2017 Metropolitan Opera National Council Finals. Hear first-hand what it’s like to be singing on America’s biggest stage... But first, in ‘Chalk Talk', George and guest co-host Alex Carey look at the ways in which classical music and pop have been mashed together over the years. Sometimes, success; sometimes, epic fail... Then, it’s the ‘The Two Minute Drill’: all the opera headlines from the past week that you need to know, and our hot takes on them... @operaboxscore

With WNUR off-line for renovations, what's an opera talk radio show to do? A podcast-only show, of course! George goes ‘Inside the Huddle’ with Rena Ahmed, the founder and artistic director of Third Eye Theatre Ensemble. They talk about the company’s upcoming season, as well as their unusual mission statement. It’ll surprise you... But first, it’s ‘Chalk Talk’. Daina Fischer reacts to a recent interview with German mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig, in which she speaks candidly about today’s superstar singers, and why they might not be as good as they think... And lastly but not least-ly, it’s the ‘The Two Minute Drill’: all the opera headlines from the past week that you need to know, plus the OBS Team's hot takes on them... @operaboxscore #operaballs

George goes ‘Inside the Huddle’ with designer Julia Noulin-Mérat. She designed the production of Stravinsky’s “The Rake’s Progress” that opened last night at Boston Lyric Opera. They talk about that show, plus why her New York City-based design studio has a Las Vegas branch, and what she thinks needs to change in the way opera productions are designed in America... But first, it’s ‘Chalk Talk’: Oliver and George try to answer a question posed in last week’s edition of Crain’s Business magazine: Can Lyric Opera of Chicago survive the 21st century? Then, Oliver plays ‘Monday Evening Quarterback’ on two shows he’s seen recently. And it’s the ‘The Two Minute Drill’: all the opera headlines from the past week that you need to know... @operaboxscore #operaballs

OBS announcer Norm Woodel joins us live in studio. We’ll talk sports, voiceovers, theater and hell, yeah, we’re gonna talk some opera. Don’t miss what book George asks him to read in his best announcer voice at the end of the show... Also, it’s ‘Monday Evening Quarterback’ with Creative Consultant and co-host Oliver Camacho who has a thirsty, rave review for Tchaikovsky’s ‘Eugene Onegin’ at Lyric Opera of Chicago, in a revival of the 1997 Robert Carsen production starring Lyric’s community ambassador Ana Maria Martinez. Plus, Norm gives you his own reviews of two other Lyric shows... Then, it’s the ‘The Two Minute Drill’: all the opera headlines from the past week that you need to know, and George's hot takes on them... @operaboxscore voxershorts.com

George goes ‘Inside the Huddle’ with composer Stewart Copeland. His fifth opera, called ‘The Invention of Morel’, opened last week at Chicago Opera Theater. We talk sports, rock music and, of course, opera. Plus, find out what his definition of ‘fun’ is... But first, Oliver and George break down the Metropolitan Opera’s 2017-2018 programming announcement. Get our advice on what’s a must-see in NYC next season... And ‘The Two Minute Drill’ returns: all the opera headlines from the past week that you need to know about, and our hot takes on them... @operaboxscore

Director Amy Stebbins and composer Hauke Berheide join George ‘Inside the Huddle’ tonight. They’ve just returned to the US after a year in Germany, where projects included the world premiere of their opera ‘Mauerschau’ at the Bavarian State Opera. We talk about that production in the context of the larger German opera system... Then, Oliver joins us for a ‘Chalk Talk’ double header: Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced its 2017-2018 season. You get each of our hot takes on the repertoire, the artists and the reasons behind Lyric’s decisions... Plus, at the end of the show, don’t miss Oliver’s tribute to tenor Nicolai Gedda, who died earlier this week... @operaboxscore #operaballs

Stewart Copeland’s opera "The Invention of Morel" opens at Chicago Opera Theater this month. Cast members Nathan Granner and Valerie Vinzant tell you why seeing this production will be the highlight of your February... After the break, George and Oliver continue the conversation about opera in Chicago, including a look at last weekend’s performance Chicago Voices Gala Concert... And of course you get all your opera headlines and our hot takes on them in ‘The Two Minute Drill’... @operaboxscore #operaballs

Many of America’s big opera houses have released details of their 2017-2018 seasons: Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC. George and Oliver tell you why these houses programmed what they did, what productions you need to see, and what you should skip... Oliver plays Monday Evening Quarterback and reviews the current production of Bellini’s 'Norma' at Lyric Opera of Chicago... And you get all your opera headlines and our hot takes on them in ‘The Two Minute Drill’... @operaboxscore #operaballs

George goes 'Inside the Huddle' with director Kevin Newbury. They talk opera, pop culture and film-making... In 'Chalk Talk', George gives you some of his Do's and Don't's for going to the opera... And of course you get all your opera headlines and George's hot takes on them in ‘The Two Minute Drill’... @operaboxscore #operaballs

With President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration this Friday, who knows if any of us will be around next Monday. So, we here at the OBS figured that if we don’t make it through the weekend, we might as well go out with a bang. We’re pulling out all the stops for this week's show... It’s the first TKO match of 2017, and it's a Masked Mezzo Royal Rumble. Can you guess which mezzo-soprano dares to take on five challengers? Which one will emerge as Vocal Royalty? George and Daina take sides... Then, Oliver plays Monday Evening Quarterback and reviews Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Mozart's "The Magic Flute"... And of course you get all your opera headlines and our hot takes on them in ‘The Two Minute Drill’... @operaboxscore #operaballs

In 'Chalk Talk', George, Oliver and Daina preview the fifth annual Prototype Festival in New York City, which brings the best of new opera-theater and music-theater to the public. Learn more about this unique festival and get our picks on what to watch... Then, our opera 'Pop Quiz' returns to the show. This time, it’s “One of these things is not like the other”. Oliver and Daina team up to take on George’s questions. You can play at home... And of course you get all your opera headlines and our hot takes on them in ‘The Two Minute Drill’... @operaboxscore #operaballs