Season 5, Episode 3 - John Baril, Brian Cook, Megan Marino, and Michael Mayes
Release Date: 08/24/2020
Season 8, Episode 4 - Cecilia Violetta López, Soprano on her role as Desdemona in Othello
Central City Opera Podcast
On this episode, Cecilia Violetta López and Digital Marketing Manager Peter Constas Cecilia's role as Desdemona in this year's production of Othello. Cecilia dives into how her mom taught her to sing while working on a sugar beet farm, how she got her own day in Idaho, and how she acclimated to Central City's altitude. Have questions or want to provide feedback? Email us at . Remember to subscribe to our podcast to get the latest episodes delivered directly to your device. To hear more stories from inside Central City Opera and to buy tickets to the shows, visit us at . ...
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Season 8, Episode 3 - Kameron Alston, Developing Artist, on his role in Romeo & Juliet
Central City Opera Podcast
On this episode, Developing Artist Kameron Alston and Digital Marketing Manager Peter Constas discuss Kameron's role as Tybalt in this year's production of Romeo & Juliet. Learn about one of the youngest members of the Developing Artist troupe and what it's like duel-wielding on stage. Have questions or want to provide feedback? Email us at . Remember to subscribe to our podcast to get the latest episodes delivered directly to your device. To hear more stories from inside Central City Opera and to buy tickets to the shows, visit us at .
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Season 8, Episode 2 - Isaiah Feken, Developing Artist, on his role in Kiss Me, Kate
Central City Opera Podcast
On this episode, Developing Artist Isaiah Feken and Digital Marketing Manager Peter Constas discuss Isaiah's role as a "gangster" in this year's production of Kiss Me, Kate. Learn about what it's like to be on stage with Broadway legends as an opera singer, why it's more fun being the villian, and the commonalities between opera and dogs. Have questions or want to provide feedback? Email us at . Remember to subscribe to our podcast to get the latest episodes delivered directly to your device. To hear more stories from inside Central City Opera and to buy tickets to the shows, visit...
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Season 8, Episode 1 - Maestro John Baril & CEO Pamela Pantos on the 2023 Summer Festival
Central City Opera Podcast
On this episode, Music Director John Baril and Central City Opera CEO Pamela Pantos discuss the three main-stage productions being featured in this year's Summer Festival. Brush up on your Shakespeare, because this season includes productions of Romeo & Juliet, Kiss Me, Kate, and Othello. Join John and Pamela as they detail the rarity of seeing six tenors in one opera, how Cole Porter keeps the drama on the stage, and how Central City Opera is making opera relevant for contemporary audiences. Have questions or want to provide feedback? Email us at . Remember to subscribe to our podcast...
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Season 7, Episode 8 - David Duffield, Historian, on TWO REMAIN
Central City Opera Podcast
On this episode, we hear from David Duffield, a historian with The Center on Colfax in Denver, Colorado. David was part of a panel of experts hosted by Central City Opera on June 12, 2022, to give perspectives on the themes within the chamber opera TWO REMAIN. I asked him to be on the podcast to dig even deeper, and he shares about LGBTQ history in Colorado and beyond, art as activism, and cultural representation. One of my favorite things he says in the interview is, “You feel a little more human when you see yourself in the artmaking.” David Duffield is from Denver and is a social...
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Season 7, Episode 7 - Rebecca Caine and Diana Newman, Principals in THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA
Central City Opera Podcast
On this episode, we hear from sopranos Rebecca Caine and Diana Newman, principals in THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. Rebecca plays the role of Margaret Johnson, and Diana plays the role of Margaret’s daughter Clara. This is the first time they’ve worked together, and watching them onstage, you’d think they were old friends. Rebecca shares how much she loves playing a woman of a “certain age,” and Diana talks about how she approaches Clara’s neurodivergence. You’ll hear more about how the perfect costume helps get an actor into character, how much Rebecca and Diana love being onstage...
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Season 7, Episode 6 - Brandon Eldredge and Tessa McQueen on TWO REMAIN
Central City Opera Podcast
On this episode, we hear from conductor Brandon Eldredge and soprano Tessa McQueen about Act One of Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s chamber opera, TWO REMAIN. Act One focuses on the true story of Polish poet Krystyna Zywulska surviving the Holocaust – and the psychological trauma she dealt with the rest of her life. It’s based on her searing memoir of 1946, “I Survived Auschwitz.” Brandon and Tessa share more about Krystyna’s life, about how challenging it is to perform and interpret a story of this magnitude, and how important it is to keep telling these stories. Brandon Eldredge...
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Season 7, Episode 5 - Dan Wallace Miller and Curt Olds on TWO REMAIN
Central City Opera Podcast
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Season 7, Episode 4 - Edina Hiser, Costume Designer for THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA
Central City Opera Podcast
On this episode, we pull back the curtain and hear from the Costume Designer for THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, Edina Hiser. There are a LOT of costumes in this production, and Edina gives us the insights into the symbolism she embeds in the design, the anatomy of a quick change – since there are so many! – how she is able to engineer costumes to function efficiently yet not alter their authenticity, and the joy she gets from helping performers become more comfortable with their body images through well designed costumes. Edina Hiser graduated from the University of Southern California with a...
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Season 7, Episode 3 - Kira Dills-DeSurra and William Ferguson, Principals in DIE FLEDERMAUS
Central City Opera Podcast
On this episode, we hear from two principal singers in DIE FLEDERMAUS: mezzo-soprano Kira Dills-DeSurra who plays the role of Prince Orlofsky, and tenor William Ferguson, who plays the role of Eisenstein. Both Kira and Will are seasoned comedic performers, and their healthy senses of humor are on full display during this episode. Will and Kira talk about the magic of live performance and how much the audience influences them, how April Fools’ is a recognized holiday in both their families, how they got into opera in the first place, and the role that Central City Opera plays in the context...
info_outlineThis extra-special, bonus episode of Opera Central is a real, uncut conversation between Music Director John Baril, Orchestra Personnel Manager and Violist Brian Cook, Mezzo-Soprano Megan Marino and Baritone Michael Mayes over a couple of beers. The two couples chatted about life and art during the time of COVID outside of the historic Penrose House Complex in Central City after Meg and Mike performed in the Garden for the CCO Al Fresco series. Covering topics like how their lives have changed since the pandemic, how watering flowers and maintaining historic properties have inspired John and Brian to live in the moment, and the ways Meg and Mike envision American opera changing for the better, you'll feel like you're right there among the elements with these four friends. Since the interview had to be recorded outside for safety purposes, you'll hear wind, motor noise, bird calls, the occasional dog barking, and even the famous Central City Wild West Shootout in the background. That's summer life outside in Central City! You'll hear Mike speak first, then John, Brian, and finally Meg. Enjoy!
Megan and Michael's "opera meets bluegrass" #CCOAlFresco concert is available online starting August 26 at centralcityopera.org/ccoalfresco.
Along with being Central City Opera's Orchestra Personnel Manager, Brian Cook is a music educator, chef, massage therapist and more! Learn more about him at cookwithcook.com.
John and Brian reference "working for (Director of Historic Properties) Eric Chinn" throughout the episode. If you'd like to volunteer to help maintain Central City Opera's historic properties and garden, email us at [email protected].
Megan and Michael talk about connecting more deeply with their neighbors and making music on their front porches during this prolonged period at home during the pandemic. Jason Hicks, their neighbor/the front man of the acclaimed Blue Canyon Boys, even joined them as a featured artist on our #CCOAlFresco concert series! Read more about Jason and the Blue Canyon Boys at bluecayonboys.com.
**Easter egg alert!** Check out a secret performance of Megan Marino's French opera/"Pure Imagination" mashup referenced in the interview here.
All four of these guests have appeared on the podcast in the past. Check out John's episodes (Season 4, Episode 3 - BILLY BUDD; Season 3, Episode 5 - IL TROVATORE; Season 2, Episode 8 - COSI FAN TUTTE; and Season 1, Episode 2 - TOSCA). Find Brian's past episode here (Season 1, Episode 19), Megan's past episode here (Season 2, Episode 13 - COSI FAN TUTTE) and Michael's past episodes here (Season 2, Episode 12 - CARMEN and Season 1, Episode 7 - TOSCA).