Inside Opera

American composer Gregory Spears chats with Evans about his rise into the opera world and two of his most notable works: Fellow Travelers, which Cincinnati Opera premiered in 2015, and Castor and Patience, which Cincinnati Opera will premiere during its 2021 Summer Festival. Listen in to hear about Spears’s musical origins, inspirations, and how he goes about writing for opera.

Grammy Award-winning opera singer Isabel Leonard chats with Evans about how to approach each role with compassion, what raising a son looks like as a professional performer, and her perspectives on operatic characters both old and new. Hear about why she prefers to be called a “singer” rather than a “soprano” or “mezzo-soprano”—to the point that she can’t wait to see an opera house list her as a tenor in a program!

Evans sits down with vocal coach, collaborative pianist, conductor, and long-time friend Marie-France Lefebvre to talk about her upbringing in rural Quebec and how she works hands-on with opera stars and students alike as a professor at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). Plus, hear what it’s like to be one of the only people who can talk during a live opera performance: the prompter!

Take a peek into the life of a true supermom, hear about her work with composer Jake Heggie, and listen to her perspectives on being an artist during the COVID-19 shutdown.

Learn what it was like to see opera at the Cincinnati Zoo, about the Cincinnati classical music scene of the mid-1900s, and why the Pulitzer-Prize winning musical Hamilton has caught this opera conductor’s attention!

Learn why Vita wants to break the barrier between scenic and costume design, what it’s like to work with Lady Gaga, and how her work—along with many artists’ work—has evolved in a time of social distancing.

Candillari was raised under the inspiration of her opera-singing grandmother and dove headfirst into her classical piano studies in modern-day Serbia. Little did she know that she would soon study jazz in the far-off town of Bloomington, Indiana or become a renown contemporary opera conductor in New York City. Didn’t think she could get any more interesting? Wait until you hear how many languages she speaks!

They discuss David’s unusual path into the world of conducting, his conducting debut, and how his career has been helped by avoiding some advice he was once given. His best career advice is to “think of all music as storytelling.”

Evans Mirageas and Conductor Ramon Tebar discuss Ramon’s career, how he came to the United States, and his philosophies on how to be a musician and love your life as a musician.

A longtime friend of Evans Mirageas, mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor brings life and energy to this episode of “Inside Opera”. Evans and Kelley discuss her unlikely path to becoming an opera singer beginning at the age of five. Kelley discusses her changing voice and how it has influenced the roles she receives. Learn why and how she challenges herself by “stepping out of the box” and her advice for young singers.

Evans sits down with Director Stephen Lawless - director of Cincinnati Opera’s performance of “The Marriage of Figaro” – to discuss how Stephen got his start, his directing career, the amazing people he has worked with and all the wonderful experiences he has had in the directorial profession. Stephen’s advice to young directors trying to make a name for themselves? Find out what your directorial voice is, what you want to see, and what you like seeing.

Director Matthew Ozawa- director of Cincinnati Opera’s performance of “Romeo and Juliet” - talks with Evans about how he fell in love with opera, how he created his career out of the world of instrumental music and into directing, his interesting heritage, and how he gets people to “play well together”. Learn why “be kind to everybody” is one of Matthew’s directorial mottos and how collaboration is like the art of origami.

Evans Mirageas sits down with soprano Susanna Phillips, who played the Countess Almaviva in Cincinnati Opera’s production of “The Marriage of Figaro”. Evans and Susanna discuss her distinct voice, how one begins a career, the fulfillment of motherhood and balancing life with career, and how to be yourself. Susanna’s piece of advice? “Do you. Don’t try to be anyone else.”

Evans sits down with Janai Brugger to discuss what it’s like to be a working mom, the first time Janai got goosebumps listening to opera- she was six years old- how she recognizes the voices of her fellow opera singers, and how to create “legato”.

Omer Ben Seadia, Director of Cincinnati Opera’s production of “Ariadne auf Naxos,” sits down with Evans to discuss how she got her start in opera, how she played hookie from the Israeli army to be in rehearsals, and how she engages with the operatic art form.

In this live-audience recording, author of “Black Opera” Naomi André and bass opera singer Morris Robinson - star of Cincinnati Opera’s 2019 production of “Porgy and Bess” - sit down with Evans to discuss the African American operatic experience.

Nicole Cabell is preparing for her role as Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet” in her sixth appearance with the Cincinnati Opera . Listen as she reflects on her career as well as her friendship with Artistic Director Evans Mirageas. and find out what Nicole Cabell and a  racehorse have in common .

How does a college football player with hopes for the NFL become a world-renowned operatic bass and Artistic Adviser for Cincinnati Opera? Listen as Morris Robinson chats with Artistic Director Evans Mirageas about his dynamic career and inspiring story.

Composer and activist Laura Kaminsky staged her flagship opera As One for the first time in 2014. Since then, it has been produced over twenty times, making it the most-performed contemporary opera in the U.S. Listen as Artistic Director Evans Mirageas talks with Kaminsky about her unusual path to becoming a composer, her past work, and the story behind her groundbreaking chamber opera.

Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director Evans Mirageas calls Charles Parsons a “lifelong ambassador to the Opera.” Parsons began attending Cincinnati Opera productions in 1952, when the company was called Cincinnati Summer Opera and performed at the Cincinnati Zoo, at the age of eleven. Later in his life, he wrote A Celebration of Cincinnati Opera, a book which chronicles the history of this company from its very beginnings. This episode is in memory of Charles Parsons, who passed away on July 20, 2018 at the age of 77.

Chorus master Henri Venanzi has been with Cincinnati Opera for the past 45 seasons. Listen as he reflects on his career working with some of the great singers of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Throughout her career, Cori Ellison has been an opera singer, coach, translator, lecturer, and, most notably, dramaturg and all-around opera expert. Listen in as she gives an interview on all things new in opera with Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director Evans Mirageas.

Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo has made a name for himself performing the Baroque canon, cutting-edge new works, and traditional Japanese kabuki theatre. Listen in as he gives an interview about his diverse career with Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director Evans Mirageas.

Join Evans Mirageas as he interviews Norah Amsellem, acclaimed international opera singer. Amsellem starred as Violetta in our 2018 production of La Traviata.

Join Evans Mirageas as he interviews Annalisa Pappano, the Artistic Director of Catacoustic Consort. This Cincinnati-based early music ensemble is featured in our 2018 production of Monteverdi's final opera The Coronation of Poppea (1643).

At the age of 13, Rufus Wainwright—best known as a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter—heard opera for the first time. This fateful meeting turned into a life-long love which inspired him to compose his own operas: Prima Donna and, most recently, Hadrian. Listen as Artistic Director Evans Mirageas asks him about his musical inspirations, recent compositions, and life as an artist in two seemingly different musical worlds.

Cincinnati Opera's Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director Evans Mirageas interviews lighting designer Thomas Hase. Show notes & more: http://bit.ly/2ufocSK

Cincinnati Opera's Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director Evans Mirageas interviews stage manager Connie Grubbs. Show notes & more: http://bit.ly/2sjkaHv

Cincinnati Opera's Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director Evans Mirageas interviews hair and make-up designer James Geier. Show notes & more: http://bit.ly/2t0vT1r

Cincinnati Opera's Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director Evans Mirageas interviews Maestro Louis Langrée of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Langrée conducts his own orchestra in our 2017 production of La Bohème. Show notes & more: http://bit.ly/2rSlFkt