Opera Without Fear: Key Change Series Finale

Fans of opera often say that a production either ends in cheers or tears; someone winds up wed or dead. But what about podcasts? 

On this final episode of Key Change, co-hosts Anna Garcia and Olga Perez Flora fire up the trusty time machine to find out. And, they’ve got company: OG co-hosts Andrea Fellows Fineberg and Brandon Neal. Buckle in for one last trip around the Opera For All Voices universe before this epic six-year journey comes to an end.

“Key Change has been so many things for so many people, and now it's over,” says Andrea, reflecting on the legacy that this podcast leaves behind. Perhaps a bit dramatic! But the show has played a vital role within the larger context of Opera For All Voices, supporting new, diverse works for smaller spaces together with major opera companies.

“The things that we do that have a lasting impact are the work of the community engagement department at Santa Fe Opera and the work of the Santa Fe Opera in the first place. It's changed the capital O art form forever,” Andrea observes. “And, we've all been some part of that.” Audience included.

The Key Change team captured intimate moments of the creative process alongside the breathless joys of performance. They chronicled moments with legendary artists (oh, hey Peter Sellars!) and students alike, and revealed the importance of telling hard truths.

“I think that speaks to the longevity of the thing,” says Brandon. “Key Change will reverberate as long as that work needs to be done. I think we can be happy with that.”

Cue curtain.

---

KEY CHANGE RECOMMENDED EPISODES

Season 1, Episode 1 - Setting the Stage - wherein Andrea and Brandon start the journey and ask, "What if we fail? What if we succeed?"

Season 1, Episode 2 - What's in a name? - wherein the back-of-the-napkin planning of OFAV is discussed

Season 2, Episode 2 - A Seat at the Table - wherein Brandon engages in conversation with colleagues of color from across the industry

Season 2, Episode 3 - Bring Your Folding Chair - wherein that conversation of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging continues

Season 2, Episode 6 - The Universe is Made of Stories featuring Peter Sellars - wherein we all bask in the glow of stage director Peter Sellars

Season 3, Episode 2 - Singing a Call to Action - wherein we learn about producing opera during a global pandemic

Season 4, Episode 7 - Telling Hard Truths featuring Jacqueline "Cookie" Hamer Flakes - wherein we listen and take in the words of Fannie Lou Hamer's daughter

Season 6, Episode 3 - Taking Care of the Art featuring Chandler Johnson - wherein we get a candid look at what it takes to build a career in opera

Season 6, Episode 4 - Rise to the Occasion of Your Opera Career featuring Chandler Johnson - wherein the conversation continues with audition insights most young singers never get to hear

---

FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE

Olga Perez Flora - Co-Host of Key Change and Associate Professor of Voice, University of New Mexico

Anna Garcia - Co-Host of Key Change and Arts Administrator

Andrea Fellows Fineberg - Writer, Producer, and Former Director Of Community Engagement & Education, Santa Fe Opera, Co-Creator of Opera For All Voices, and Original Co-Host of Key Change

Brandon Neal - Senior Producer of Creative Enterprise Programming, The Juilliard School; Co-Creator of Opera For All Voices and Original Co-Host of Key Change

---

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Opera For All Voices

Santa Fe Opera Community Engagement

Santa Fe Opera Young Technicians Program

Santa Fe Opera Young Voices Program

University Of New Mexico

New Mexico Philharmonic

Opera Omaha

Opera on the Avalon

Olga Perez Flora

Car Talk

***

Key Change is a production of The Santa Fe Opera, Department of Community Engagement & Education.

Share your favorite opera moments and questions with Community Engagement: [e-mail]

Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios

Hosted by Anna Garcia & Olga Perez Flora

Audio Engineering: Collin Ungerleider & Kabby at Kabby Sound Studios in Santa Fe

Technical Director: Edwin R. Ruiz

Production Support from Alex Riegler

Show Notes by Lisa Widder

Theme music by Rene Orth with Corrie Stallings, mezzo-soprano, and Joe Becktell, cello

Cover art by Dylan Crouch

This podcast is made possible due to the generous support of the Hankins Foundation, Principal Education Sponsor of the Santa Fe Opera.

To learn more, visit SantaFeOpera.org/KeyChange.