A Chorus in Brooklyn

12/26/23 • 82 min

There's nothing like singing in an opera chorus. Marc Eliot Stein and Ted Shulman talk about their participation in Regina Opera's production of Verdi's "Rigoletto" in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and in the special ways a chorus can illuminate or enliven a classic opera. We chat about "Nabucco", "Turandot", "Parsifal", "Les Contes d'Hoffmann", "Orfeo ed Euridice", "HMS Pinafore" and "Aida", and the conversation also turns to amateur singing, teamwork, the disastrous 2023 Israel/Gaza war, Lance Loud, reality TV, New York City's 1970s punk scene and a mostly (but not completely) forgotten punk band called The Mumps.

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Talking to an Influential Fairy

In Gilbert and Sullivan’s fairy opera “Iolanthe” empowered magical women crash into toxic privileged masculinity in 19th century London. Marc Eliot Stein interviews New York City singer and actress Casey Keeler about her role as the powerful Fairy Queen in a recent Village Light Opera Group "Iolanthe". We also talk about “Utopia, Limited”, community theater, and how New York City's post-COVID opera subculture is staying together through hard times.

Next Episode

A Chorus in Brooklyn

There's nothing like singing in an opera chorus. Marc Eliot Stein and Ted Shulman talk about their participation in Regina Opera's production of Verdi's "Rigoletto" in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and the special ways a chorus can illuminate or enliven a classic opera. We chat about "Nabucco", "Turandot", "Parsifal", "Les Contes d'Hoffmann", "Orfeo ed Euridice", "HMS Pinafore" and "Aida", and the conversation also turns to amateur singing, drinking songs, offensive operas, gender of choruses, teamwork, the disastrous 2023 Israel/Gaza war, Lance Loud, reality TV, New York City's 1970s CBGBs punk scene and a mostly (but not completely) forgotten punk band called The Mumps.