Living with a Genius Interviews

Super-star operatic tenor, Ben Bliss is on LWAG today! Ben is an incredibly successful international opera singer aaaannnnd a really great guy, to boot. He's insightful, frank and a great chit-chatter. Enjoy, and thanks for listening!WATCH the interview here: https://youtu.be/FX-9pgryzEw See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Producer, composer, guitarist, audio engineer, Grammy-winning recording artist and my friend, Ted Perlman is on LWAG today! I've known Ted for a few years and he is sincerely one of the most interesting people I know- he's unbelievably accomplished, but equally kind and humble. Everyone should know Ted Perlman- have a listen! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's Michael Powers! Conductor, educator administrator, and my friend, Michael Powers is on LWAG! Boy oh boy do we get into it. Music, school, professional and personal achievements and failures, our fathers, childhood... the whole enchilada. We laugh, we cry, and I bet you will too. Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Percussionist, national arts advocate, recording artist, and all-around great guy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dean of Arts at OCSA, Maria Lazarova See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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Dale Trumbore is back! We chat about everything from her wedding plans, maintaining her business and artistic integrity, to anxiety, future plans, and her new book, "Staying Composed: Overcoming anxiety and self-doubt within a creative life." Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Julia is a viral star! As of 4/15/19, Julia has gotten close to 14 million views. Check her out on YouTube here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJZogoIT52SfvBTT8ZtgMqQThanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Children's Chorus, Fernando Malvar-Ruiz is my guest this week. He's brilliant, kind and has a lot to say about the vital role music plays in our lives. Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How to make a living as a musician out of college? Wear many hats. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sara Widzer is my guest, this week. Sara and I met once-upon-a-time, during a production of Faust. I had a tie-on wig- that's how long ago. She's since gone on to direct in A houses across the country. Directorial style, the process, and politics in opera are all on the table, along with a whole bunch more interesting stuff. Enjoy, and thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Giving thanks. Gratitude. Exercises we'd all do well to practice more often. No guests, no jokes, just me reminiscing, choking up and being philosophical. I'm grateful for you all- thanks for listening. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jennifer Miller is my guest this week. Jen and I go back to 2009, where we performed together in a production of Faust- she as Marguerite and me as Faust. That's us in the picture, way back then. Jen has since moved on to KUSC, where she hosts a show entitled, "California Classical All Night." "How do you make a living when you get out of music school" is a constant theme on my show, and this episode is no exception. Jen's at the beginning of her radio career, and she's killing it! Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Louise Palanker is a true polymath. Comedian, author, performer, radio host, and entrepreneur are just a few words to describe her many fields of expertise, and we talk about it all in this great episode. She was also a witness for the prosecution and her eventual (and current) husband, Ron Zonen, during the Michael Jackson trial in 2005- and yes, we talk about that, along with sexual harassment at The Comedy Store, working on shows from That's Incredible to Rick Dees Weekly Top 40, and a whole bunch of other stuff, too. I loved talking with Louise, and I bet you'll love listening to her- enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Veronica Christenson has been a colleague of mine at the LA Opera for over a decade, and this was my chance to have a few minutes with this lovely lady all to myself. She's a world-class mezzo, but that's not the only reason I wanted to chat... she's also a student of Shaolin Kung Fu Meditation! I've dabbled both in martial arts and meditation, and I'm thrilled to have her on the show to teach me more about it all! Try meditation, folks. It'll change your life- Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Composer, arranger, producer, Stephen Edwards is on the show! With more than 175 soundtrack and composer credits to his name, Stephen is one of Hollywood's most productive composers. He's also written classical compositions, most notably his Requiem For My Mother, which received performances both at Carnegie Hall and the Vatican. Stephen is a great guy, and there's a lot to learn about, here! Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Singer, producer, composer, Ron Dante is my guest this week! You know him as the voice of the Archies and their smash-hit single, "Sugar Sugar." But did you know that he co-produced, along with the Schuberts, the Tony Award-winning musical, Ain't Misbehavin'? Or that he produced NINE of Barry Manilow's albums? Or that he was the editor of the Paris Review for almost a decade? Or that he's writing and producing a new musical about the Reagans with Rupert Holmes?? Me neither! But I do now- and you will too, when you hear all the details, right here on LWAG! Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Opera director, engineer, and designer, Thaddeus Strassberger is my guest this week! Thaddeus has been to LA before, and he's one of my favorite directors working today. Art, commerce, politics- it's all here- enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tenor, Mario Chang is my guest this week. We first worked with him in La Boheme, and now he's back, singing the role of Ismaele in our current production of Nabucco, here in LA. We also talk at great length about the opera company founded by him and his wife with the purpose of supporting opera performance and training in his home country of Guatemala. Fascinating guy- Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kelley O'Connor is on LWAG! Kelley and I go way back, and this is the kind of chat you get when old pals get together. We dish, we reminisce, we dish some more. Kelly also sings around the world as a top-drawer concertizer, and we get into that, and why she prefers concerts over operatic roles. Lots of personal stuff here too, so if you ever feel like being a fly on the wall, this one's for you. Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Choral titan, John Alexander is my guest this week. This was a very personal chat for me- John was my champion all through college, giving me most of the tenor solos and giving me my first professional opportunities as a singer. He's the real deal, and I hope you enjoy our chat as much as I did! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

My cousin Pete is on the show!! Pedro Alonzo is an internationally recognized art curator who works with the biggest names in contemporary art. Shepard Fairey, Banksy, Yoshitomo Nara, KAWS, Takashi Murakami are just a few of the folks he's worked with, but most recently, like- a week ago, Pete teamed up with artist JR and erected a border wall installation in Tecate, Mexico, which I bet you've come across if you read the news at all. It's an amazing piece that couldn't be more relevant in today's political climate. I was so happy to catch up with my favorite cousin- I loved our chat, and I bet you will too. Thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Josh Shaw is the Artistic Director of the Pacific Opera Project, right here, in sunny Los Angeles. He's a singer turned director and opera company owner. We talk the ins and outs of running a company, the motivation for undertaking such a crazy idea, and his take on how to be successful at it. Thanks for listening- Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The indomitable Gloria Loring, y'all! We talk childhood, her marriage to Alan Thicke, divorce, motherhood, her number one hit, "Friends and Lovers", Days of our Lives, and a whole bunch more! Happy Labor Day and thanks for listening- Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Victor Vanacore has worked with some of the biggest names in the history of pop music- Michael Jackson, Barry Manilow, Johnny Mathis, Natalie Cole and many, many others. In 2004, Victor won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) for, "Over the Rainbow", on the Ray Charles album, "Genius Loves Company", which won eight Grammys, including Album of the Year. Victor's upcoming project, la Sorgente, comes to the Ford Theater on Oct. 8 and features arias set to the poetry of Pope JP II. Victor is a fascinating man, and we had a terrific, long, personal conversation, spanning his fascinating life- from nuts to bolts. Thanks for listening- Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Musician, voice-over artist and the original voice of Siri, Susan Bennett is my guest today! It was great getting the scoop on how one becomes the voice of Siri, the hiring process and the secretive process that Apple uses for this kind of thing. Thanks for listening, and enjoy the chat! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

*ding ding* "Hey Siri, Call Susan Bennett" *ding ding* "Sorry, Omar, but I AM Susan Bennett." That's right, folks- the original voice of Siri, right here on LWAG- tune in this Monday! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jasper Randall is my guest this week! Jasper is one of the very few titans of Hollywood vocal music in the world, having worked on COUNTLESS blockbuster soundtracks over the last two decades- little films like Frozen, X-Men, La-La Land, and the upcoming movies, It, Pitch Perfect 3, Cloverfield, etc, etc, etc... Jasper sings, conducts, and is also a fine composer, currently in residence with the Los Robles Master Chorale. This is a great interview for folks wanting to get to know the man behind the curtain, and RARE peak into the peculiar, mysterious and sometimes secretive business of Hollywood soundtrack production. Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The talented and lovely Moira Smiley is my guest, this week! Not only talented and lovely, Moira is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and composer whose music can be heard on feature films, BBC & PBS television programs, NPR, and on more than 60 albums. We play, "Bring Me Little Water, Silvey" all the time around the house while we sing to our kids. It may be the Chicken Tikka Masala of her catalogue to all you deep-cuts-only die-hard Moira fans, but hey- I never get tired of Chicken Tikka, so sue me. Anyway- welcome back, thanks for listening, and enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Composer of over 50 blockbuster soundtracks, including the upcoming beloved animated tale, "Ferdinand" and, "HAN SOLO"!!! Yup, it's John Powell, y'all! Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jeff Beal!! One of my favorite humans is making his re-appearance for my Summer Flashback extravaganza! Jeff is everywhere- I honestly don't know how he does it all, and he really does do it all (unlike some other film composers we know who shall go unnamed). Jeff and his lovely wife, Joan are proof that you can be fun, considerate, open and genuinely nice and still be wildly successful in Hollywood. Enjoy our chat, and thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Happy summer, y'all! For this week's episode of my Summer Flashback Series, I've got poet, scholar, professor and all-around great guy, Tony Silvestri on the show! We had this chat a year ago, but it's every bit as relevant as it ever was- we talk about life, death and everything in between- Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today, for my Summer Break Flashback series, Ninja Tracks composer and guitarist, Michael Nielsen, is my guest! Michael is a great guy, and I guarantee you know his music... Forza 6/7 and Splinter Cell for XBOX, independent film scores and just about every major motion picture trailer you've heard in the last ten years. He's also got a terrifically entertaining YouTube channel called "Big Hairy Guitars", where he reviews all sorts of guitars, pedals and gear, so make sure to check it out- Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Maestro James Conlon, y'all! I bet you're curious how one becomes the Music Director of Los Angeles Opera and Principal Conductor of the Italian RAI National Symphony Orchestra- well, here's your chance! We cover it from nuts to bolts- stories, stories, stories- Maria Callas, Juilliard, The Big Break and a whole lot more! Happy summer, everyone- Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Continuing my summer break, I’m reissuing another one of my favorites: Grant Gershon! The LAMC, LA Opera and the International stage are his homes. A master musician, Grant is not only one of the best in the biz, he's also unbelievably pleasant, inspirational and dedicated to his art. I hope you enjoy our extended chat! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Composer, pianist, vocalist and peace-lover, Shawn Kirchner is my guest this week. I had a great time getting to know Shawn over the course of our chat and as it goes sometimes, I feel like we left a lot of subjects untouched. Also, I made a couple flubs that I'll fess up to right now- first, I think I said that 'Memorare' was premiered in 2015, when in fact, it was not. Also, I guessed Rumi where the quote was from S.T. Coleridge. So, there. Listen, I do great on those Facebook quizzes, so I'm not gonna sweat it. Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoy our talk! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Roberto Cani, concertmaster of the LA Opera Orchestra, is my guest this week! We get into it- childhood, career, defeats and triumphs. Roberto is an open book, and it's one of the qualities I enjoy most about this fascinating master musician. Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nino Sanikidze, pianist extraordinaire, is my guest. There's nothing better for a singer than finding a collaborator who LOVES singers, has a tremendous breadth of knowledge and is one of the very best at what he or she does. Nino is all of these things. Oh, and she's really sweet and supportive. Nino is one of a kind, and I hope you enjoy our chat- I sure did. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Pianist, conductor, coach, prompter and erstwhile violinist, Miah Im is my guest this week. She's one of those people who almost always has a smile on her face, despite the fact that she's a musical force to be reckoned with. That seem like a rare find in any field, especially music. This is another great episode for folks who are interested in getting into the classical music biz, because Miah seems to do a bit of everything! Thanks for listening- Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tenor, Russell Thomas, is my guest this week! We talk about career, rep, fees, finances, retirement and a whole lot more. Russell is a world-class talent, and he’s very thoughtful and quick to share his insights- especially regarding the precarious and careful climb to the top. Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Positivity guru, Shola Richards, is my guest this week! This guy's the real deal- we talk about very personal memories and events in our lives, and the catalysts for change. Shola's hot button is bullying, especially in the workplace )something adults don't talk about) and he's on a mission to educate, enlighten and sow the seeds of positivity, kindness, and empathy- this is a guy I can get behind, because these are the most important qualities within all of us, and sometimes, we need a little help remembering to get out of our own little worlds. AMIRIGHT? Pick up his book, "Making Work Work" on Amazon and get to know him- Hardcover for $8.44... WHAAAT?(there's a link on the LWAG website). He's definitely a fellow worth knowing! Enjoy, and thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hey y'all! It's our, "Three Tenors of the LAO Chorus" episode! Yup- Todd Strange and Arnold Geis are my guests this week, and I couldn't be happier. It was a VERY last minute proposition, but this episode is certainly in keeping with my need to mix things up. Totally improvised, off the cuff, and EXACTLY the conversation you'd get if you were a fly on the wall in the dressing room. Enjoy, and thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Marty Schaefer is my guest this week. Marty and I have known each other for twenty years now. I thought I needed a little break this week, so this chat is just a convo between buddies- nothing more. We're not experts in any of the topics we discuss and we don't talk about music. At all. Bathroom accidents, aliens, healthcare, Trump, and religion are all on the table, with this one- you get the idea. Maybe next time, we'll go in with more of an agenda, who knows. Enjoy, and thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bass-baritone, Phil Cokorinos is my guest this week. Phil has sung with us at least a half-dozen times in my twelve years with LAO. Always the consummate professional and great colleague, Phil manages to turn in great performances, night after night. This is a particularly interesting chat for all of you aspiring opera singers out there, and for those of you who want to get a glimpse into the dedication that goes into it. Enjoy, and thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Superstar tenor, Vittorio Grigolo is my guest this week. I was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to sit and chat with this powerhouse of a performer. He's frank, candid, and very sure of his place in this crazy business. We talk about passion, life on and off stage, the pressures of performing and the challenges of balancing the personal with the professional. I hope you enjoy our chat, and thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rising star, Nicholas Brownlee is my guest this week. He's a bass-baritone currently working in the Domingo-Colburn Young Artist Program at LAO. I've watched and heard him grow over the past few seasons, and man, you all better watch out for him! There are a lot of great insights for young singers, and a great come-up story for those of you who are interested in how a singer makes the rise. Nick is a genuine, friendly guy, a great colleague and one hell of a singer. Enjoy, and thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Producer, arranger, performer, Ted Perlman is my guest on this episode, and man is it a great one! Ted has worked with many of the greatest performers of all time, spanning four-plus decades. We talk about religion, forgiveness, fatherhood, and the meaning of life- and Burt Bacharach, Harry Belafonte, Bob Dylan, and you know, other superstars, too. It was great getting to know Ted over the course of our conversation, and I know you'll find him just as fascinating as I did. Enjoy, and thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Film and TV composer, Sharon Farber, is my guest this week. I've known Sharon for a number of years, and I'm always excited to bump into her around town. She's a brilliant composer of concert music (as well as the Hollywood stuff), and through her music, she is also an admirable advocate for issues near and dear to her, particularly gender equality in music and Holocaust remembrance, both of which we talk at great lengths about in this interview. Sharon has always fought the good fight, and I was really happy to spend some time catching up with her. Thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Film and TV composer, Haim Mazar is my guest this week. I met Haim a few years ago on a crazy gun-for-hire musical theater project. Taking a variety of work is one of the topics we discuss, along with the process of composing, orchestrating and the pitfalls and challenges of the film and TV business. I think Haim is a great guy, and I know you'll think so, too. Thanks for Listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, I got to sit and chat with another one of my dear friends, the indomitable Tali Tadmor. An extraordinary pianist and collaborator, Tali makes the rounds around town with the best singers and organizations- and when I say around town, I mean from LA Opera to Carnegie Hall. She's good. I hope you enjoy our conversation- thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

CEO of LA Opera, Christopher Koelsch, is my guest this week. He's eloquent, steady and has a clear, unwavering artistic vision for the company. In our world, the man who directs traffic at the intersection of art and commerce is always in the hot-seat, and Christopher must have "Never let them see you sweat" printed on his wallpaper because he's the coolest of the cool customers. We dig into some pretty interesting stuff- everything from the value of art itself to the artistic and financial challenges of some of our most controversial productions. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look into the life one of America's top art administrators and as always, thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.