Opera After Dark

In the third and final installment of our "What the hell?" series, we talk about perhaps the most random and convoluted opera plot of all time: Il Trovatore. You know things are going to be crazy when someone throws their own baby on a pyre before the curtain even comes up...

This episode is the second in our "What the hell?" series in which we talk about some ridiculous opera plots. Today, Elspeth takes us through a delightful and completely crazy opera that we all want to see now... "Švanda the Bagpiper" a.k.a "Švanda dudák" a.k.a "Schwanda, der Dudelsackpfeifer"!

This episode is the first in our "What the hell?" series in which we talk about some ridiculous opera plots. Today, Naomi tells us about a super misogynistic and sexualized trio of operas by Paul Hindemith.

In honor of opening day for the much anticipated film "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," this episode of Opera After Dark indulges in a glorious merging of some serious Harry Potter and singer fandom as we fantasy cast a Harry Potter opera! This episode also features our first guest on the podcast, our friend and Harry Potter enthusiast Emily Miranker!

In this episode we find out how Johannes Brahms found his way into the marriage of Clara and Robert Schumann, but never fully realized an intimate relationship with Clara, even after Robert's death...or did he?

Clara and Robert Schumann are perhaps the best and certainly most notable composer couple of all time. The great love between them certainly comes through in the music they composed. However, another thing that came through their marriage was one Johannes Brahms. This week is the nice love story before things turn to shambles in part 2 next week.

Here is part 2 of the life and trials of Lorenzo Da Ponte, where we hear about what took Lorenzo from working in Vienna with Mozart to teaching Italian in New York City, and ultimately being buried in Queens near the JFK flight path. Charming…

He set the words for some of Mozart's greatest operas, and his own scandalous habits seem to be worthy of an opera plot. This is the first of two episodes in which we talk about librettist, priest, brothel owner, grocer, Italian professor, and freestyle rapper: Lorenzo Da Ponte

Welcome to episode 5! In this episode we pick up where we left off in episode 4 in our discussion of the Castrati - the rock stars of the 18th century! In part 2, we focus on one of the most famous Castrato singers in history - FARINELLI!

Welcome to episode 4! In this episode, the first of two, we’ll be discussing the rock stars of the 18th century, THE CASTRATI. Known for their incredible stamina, both on and off the stage (get it?), these powerhouse singers caused audience hysteria wherever they went.

Genius. Flute player. Appreciator of Shakespeare and Virgil. Terrible pianist. Psychopath attempted murderer. Just some of the phrases that best describe composer Hector Berlioz. You aren't going to believe these true stories as written by the man himself!

Our second episode of “The Men Behind the Music” is all about the one and only Leoš Janáček and his pen pal and imaginary wife, Kamila Stösslová!

A self-proclaimed hunter of "wild fowl, operatic libretti, and attractive women," it's safe to say that Puccini had a fair share of skeletons in his closet. In this episode, we talk about the scandalous affairs that inspired some of his best known opera characters.

Forget what you thought you knew about classical music, and leave your preconceived notions at the door! Co-hosted by Naomi Barrettara, Elspeth Davis, and Kyle Homewood, Opera After Dark is a journey into the surprisingly wild, sometimes sexy, ALWAYS weird world of classical music. Join us as we settle in, open a bottle of wine, get tipsy, and discuss and share the crazy stories and bizarre facts about the “high art” that we love.