The Met: In Focus

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In Focus, a new podcast series from the Metropolitan Opera, introduces audience members to the operatic masterpieces presented in the company’s award-winning Live in HD cinema transmissions. Hosted by Met radio commentator and staff writer William Berger, In Focus provides historical context about the works and their creators, as well as insightful commentary about the drama and the music, accompanied by excerpts from past Met performances. For more information and a Live in HD schedule, visit metopera.org.

The Metropolitan Opera


    • Mar 4, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 12m AVG DURATION
    • 17 EPISODES


    Latest episodes from The Met: In Focus

    Wagner's Der Fliegende Holländer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2020 11:55


    A spectral sea captain, cursed to wander the open ocean for eternity—unless the true love of a woman can save him. Learn more about Wagner's Der Fliegende Holländer with our In Focus podcast, hosted by author, Met radio commentator, and staff writer William Berger.

    Handel's Agrippina

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2020 11:27


    Powerful men and—especially—women deceive and seduce one another to achieve their selfish ends, in a political satire as relevant now as ever. Learn more about Handel's Agrippina with our In Focus podcast, hosted by author, Met radio commentator, and staff writer William Berger.

    Berg's Wozzeck

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2020 12:42


    An ordinary soldier is driven to madness and murder by an intolerable cocktail of humiliation, jealousy, and the indignities of daily life—his suffering made visceral by one of opera's most powerful scores. Learn more about Berg's Wozzeck with our In Focus podcast, hosted by author, Met radio commentator, and staff writer William Berger.

    Glass's Akhnaten

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2019 12:17


    A young pharaoh transforms ancient Egypt with his revolutionary religious ideas—a tale made modern through Philip Glass's mesmerizing and distinctive musical style. Learn more about Akhnaten with our In Focus podcast, hosted by author, Met radio commentator, and staff writer William Berger.

    Puccini's Madama Butterfly

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2019 14:46


    A clash of cultures and the heartless abandonment of a naïve young Japanese geisha lead to one of opera's most devastating and emotionally direct tragedies. Learn more about Puccini's Madama Butterfly with our In Focus podcast, hosted by Met radio commentator and staff writer William Berger.

    Massenet's Manon

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2019 12:22


    A beautiful ingénue with a taste for the finer things makes her way to Paris, where she becomes irresistible to the men around her—including the passionate Chevalier des Grieux, whose all-consuming love for her leads to ruin. Learn more about Massenet's Manon with our In Focus podcast, hosted by Met radio commentator and staff writer William Berger.

    Puccini's Turandot

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2019 14:20


    In ancient China, a princess tests the worthiness of her suitors by posing a series of riddles—killing those who answer incorrectly—until a brave warrior proves he's up to the challenge. Learn more about Puccini's Turandot with our In Focus podcast, hosted by Met radio commentator and staff writer William Berger.

    Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmélites

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2019 13:03


    From a convent in northeastern France, amid the chaos of the Revolution, an order of nuns commit the ultimate act of martyrdom, giving opera one of its most devastating and unforgettable final scenes. Learn more about Francis Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmélites with our In Focus podcast, hosted by Met radio commentator and staff writer William Berger.

    Wagner's Die Walküre

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2019 12:50


    A gallant warrior-goddess bravely defies her father to save a mortal from certain death. Her sisters chime in with one of music's most famous battle cries. Learn more about Wagner's Die Walküre with our In Focus podcast, hosted by Met radio commentator and staff writer William Berger.

    Donizetti's La Fille du Régiment

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2019 11:47


    She's a spunky orphan brought up by an army regiment in the Alps. He's the local country boy who falls in love with her. Together, they deliver unforgettable vocal fireworks, in Donizetti's bel canto charmer. Learn more about La Fille du Régiment with our In Focus podcast, hosted by Met radio commentator and staff writer William Berger.

    Bizet's Carmen

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2019 11:08


    She's one of opera's iconic heroines, the irresistible gypsy seductress who leads her jealous lover to tragedy. Learn more about Bizet's Carmen with our In Focus podcast, hosted by Met radio commentator and staff writer William Berger.

    Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2019 12:13


    A passionate, larger-than-life stage actress vies with a conniving princess for the love of the same dashing count. Learn more about Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur with our In Focus podcast, hosted by Met radio commentator and staff writer William Berger.

    Verdi's La Traviata

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2018 13:54


    Love. Heartbreak. Death. A classic tragedy and a classic opera. Learn more about Verdi's La Traviata with our In Focus podcast, hosted by Met radio commentator and staff writer William Berger.

    Muhly's Marnie

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2018 12:43


    Theft, denial, deceit, and a captivating, enigmatic heroine. Learn more about composer Nico Muhly and librettist Nicholas Wright's new opera Marnie with our In Focus podcast, hosted by Met radio commentator and staff writer William Berger.

    Puccini's La Fanciulla del West

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2018 12:07


    A gun-slinging heroine. A romantic tale of the Wild West. The first great opera with an American setting. Learn more about Puccini's La Fanciulla del West with our In Focus podcast, hosted by Met radio commentator and staff writer William Berger.

    Saint-Saëns's Samson et Dalila

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2018 12:21


    An immortal biblical tale. An underrated operatic masterpiece, with some of the repertory's most luscious and seductive music. Learn more about Samson et Dalila with our In Focus podcast, hosted by Met radio commentator and staff writer William Berger.

    Verdi's Aida

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2018 14:12


    An epic Egyptian backdrop. An intimate love story. Some of Verdi's most stirring melodies and ensembles. Learn more about Aida with our In Focus podcast, hosted by Met radio commentator and staff writer William Berger.

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