The #OperaTrash Podcast

Four years ago, two wise-ass ladies with smart mouths and a juvenile sense of humor started a podcast about opera. On the anniversary of their first episode, they offer a special retelling of the messiest opera ever - Richard "Bitch Lasagna" Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. Here's to more shenanigans!

With their guest Dr. Nyri Bakkalian, Anna and Krista discuss a funny yet problematic PDQ Bach piece that opens up a beautiful discussion on reclaiming and refreshing works that wouldn't fly in today's society. Is it possible? Absolutely, and it's starting to happen.

Website malfunctions have not kept Anna and Krista from reviewing Carrie Cracknell's production of Carmen, which just closed at the Met. Even though Anna wasn't able to spend the time in Horny Jail, Krista gives the rundown of the modern take on Bizet with a bit of a twist ending. Then they plunge into ramblings on the Royal Rumble, give a birthday shoutout to Ol' Slapnuts and revisit the tale of Victor Hugo: Mega-Manwhore.

Anna and Krista have returned! After catching you up with all the lastest news and gossip, they reflect on the career of Peter Schiekele, the creator of P.D.Q. Bach and a great musician in his own right, who passed away on January 16. They also tell you what to expect in the next few weeks!

Anna and Krista return with a lot on the agenda: a review of Jonas in a new production of Schubert, a lengthy rant about gatekeeping in opera and a review of Jonas' new album The Sound of Movies. And what would this podcast be without the usual shenanigans!

After a hiatus, Anna and Krista have returned! Krista recounts her trip to Munich, the ladies pay tribute to Paul Rubens aka Pee Wee Herman, and they cover some pretty big news. They know you missed them, and they missed you!

Anna and Krista haven't been around lately, and they were hoping to get back on track. But things happen, and they sure as hell have this time.

Hap Anniversmas! Anna and Krista celebrate three years of shenanigans by hosting an anniversary afterparty that doubles as a "you're so fucked" afterparty for a certain Cheeto Man. They also demonstrate the term "f*ck around and find out" and review Bellini's opera I puritani, because they love those historically inaccurate operas.

You would think the story of King Arthur would warrant a great opera production, right? Well, Anna and Krista found a version of Henry Purcell's semi-opera that made no sense whatsoever. But that's after some very special dedications to a modern composer and two legends.

When Anna digs up an old Italian TV production of Turandot starring Franco Corelli, you know it's going to be good. The voice of Maestro Corelli will caress your ears and make you weep. Hey, they don't call him the Prince of Tenors for nothing! As a bonus, Krista gives her review of the Met's new production of Don Giovanni starring dad-looking baritone Peter Mattei.

Anna and Krista decided to watch the Benoit Jacquot production of Massenet's Werther (aka Farter) from 2016 to see how another tenor approached the role of the Emo King. The inevitable comparison to Jonas came about, as well as calling out Vittorio Grigolo for lack of emo yeeting. Along the way they discussed drag performers, LGBTQ+ rights, email sign offs and Sylvester Stallone's porn movie. It's Candy Mountain, Farter!

Do you want to be extremely emotionally wrecked? Anna and Krista point you toward Kevin Puts' The Hours, based on the novel and movie. From the libretto and music to the acting, it takes hold and doesn't let go till the end. And you thought Terrence Blanchard had that market cornered...

CONTENT WARNING: discussions of homophobia and sexual assault. Terrence Blanchard has done it (made Anna and Krista cry) again, this time with his first opera Champion. From the choreography to the gorgeous and heartbreaking performances by Eric Owens and Ryan Speedo Green, the opera was incredibly powerful and moving. The ladies give you their take on it and their thoughts, along with a lengthy discussion of inclusivity (or the lack thereof) in sports.

On the heels of Jonas Kaufmann's opening night in Naples as Siegmund, Anna and Krista review the 2019 staging of the production in which he got glowing reviews. Some things were good, some things were bad, and Wotan got labeled as a chronic masturbator. And the ending... well, let them tell you about that.

The Salzburg Easter Festival is over, but Krista was privileged to listen to a recording of Jonas in the title role of Wagner's Tannhäuser this past weekend on Austrian radio. Was he as bland as those first reviews claimed? What's with the feet in Act 2 and 3? Why did some weird schmutz monster maul Jonas in Act 2? And why is Krista's audio being a pain in the ass? (Everything except the last question will be answered)

Think of it as Slapnuts: The Early Years! Anna and Krista tackle Il re pastore (The Shepherd King), written by everyone's favorite poop king. While the music is great, the staging they saw was... well, let them tell you. They also dedicate the episode to Al Jaffee and drop some very happy news.

Some historically-based operas play fast and loose with facts, but Anna and Krista found one that is pretty much on point: Verdi's I vespri siciliani. Settle in for some medieval shenanigans, a discussion of nerddom and even updates on the BBC Singers and our Auntie Sonya Yoncheva. Oh, and the Pittsburgh Opera drops their 2023-24 season!

No swans were harmed in the making of this week's episode reviewing the Met's new production of Lohengrin. Join Anna and Krista as they talk about Piotr's "'sup Carmen" moment, starfish costumes and unintentional parallels. But first, a series of short rants kicks off the shenanigans.

Just when you thought Anna and Krista couldn't find another pop culture tie-in to opera, they found one! This time, they present Puccini's 3-for-1 opera Il Trittico. You'll gasp, you'll cry, you'll laugh, you'll wonder why Puccini's original wishes weren't honored (just like a writer of certain Hobbit-centric books). They also pay homage to the late Chaim Topol and stand up for Sonya Yoncheva, who doesn't deserve the hate she's gotten.

When an opera is based on badly told history, you know Anna and Krista will call bullshit. That's just what they do as they review Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots, loosely based on the events arround the French Wars of Religion. They also give you the lowdown on the BSO's 2023-24 season and give some love to the people of East Palestine, Ohio.

Anna and Krista unveil The Met's 2023-24 season both on stage and in HD! New productions, tried and true productions and new faces await you. Pick your faves and save that Live in HD (or Live at Home) money!

Anna and Krista conclude their review of Handel's Orlando trilogy with the eponymous opera, a tale of love and confusion. They also dedicate the episode to the late Richard Belzer, wish Jonas a speedy recovery and read off a list of famous alma mater alumni.

Once again, Anna and Krista venture to Wagner Land as they discuss his first staged opera, Rienzi. Hear why there's no actual score for this meh opera, and why we can add "was in debtor's prison" to the list of Bitch Lasagna's Major Misadventures.

Anna and Krista take you on a last-minute trip to Vienna courtesy of The Wien's production of Aida. Can you say "bad makeup ahoy"? They also go in depth about what they think would be the best operas for beginning opera fans, and it just careens into a lot of subgroups and hilarity.

Join Anna and Krista as they tell you about the weirdness that is Brett Dean's Hamlet. Unsettling makeup, strange staging and a Swedish Chef-style libretto are what you'll find when you watch it. Just think: you were today years old when you learned that Shakespeare was also subject to Ye Olde Bootleg Copies.

Join Anna and Krista as they uncover yet another Handel opera hidden for over two centuries - this time Ariodante. Krista also reviews the Met's Live in HD broadcast of Fedora (complete with porntache) and you get details on a special performance of Aida from The Wien!

To kick off 2023, Anna and Krista decided to wreck themselves and watch the abomination known as Dance of the Vampires, which was utterly ruined thanks to Michael Crawford. As a bonus, they wish Kenny Loggins a Hap Birfmas and learn about the kalimba! May they recover their brains after this!

Just in time for the holidays, Anna and Krista tell you their plans for Christmas: two cartoons, the first opera written for TV in the US and a Muppet Christmas special. Then they get nostalgic and talk about Christmas past that includes vintage candles and a song about Santa's death day. Hap Honk and Murr Crimmas!

When hackers fuck up the Met Opera's website, what do you do? If you're Anna and Krista, they find an alternate plan! And that alternate is The Abduction of Figaro, the most hilarious shit they've seen so far. This opera has everything: a made-up composer, a guy taking his pants off, Cuba, pirate kidnapping, the Maltese Falcon and the best Gilda Radner shoutout ever.

If you've been hoping for more Handel content, Anna and Krista have an episode for you! They talk about Alcina, the long-forgotten opera about a dumbass hero and the sorceress who enchants him. They also dedicate the episode to Sesame Street's Bob McGrath, celebrate the birfmas of Jose Carreras and clear up why Jonas bowed out of a performance of Andrea Chenier over the weekend.

It's Werther x3 this week as Anna and Krista discuss three productions of Massenet's tale of the Emo King that they saw - Paris, the Met and The Wien. There's nature, there's blood and of course there's The Farter Test. Bonus content for both ladies and their respective stints in Horny Jail.

The intentionally funny, the unintentionally funny and the funny and weird shit that goes down on an opera stage are what Anna and Krista talk about this week. From Barber of Seville to the Invisible Soprano Incident, the ladies cover a lot of ground with names you'll recognize.

With props to Andy Taylor and a dedication to Aaron Carter, Anna and Krista dive into Janacek's Jenufa, a beautiful opera about awful people. They also go off on the decision to cut funding to some major opera houses in the UK and give you a sneak peek into the next episode.

Well, well, well... Anna and Krista are back after watching Cherubini's Medea on the Met's new stream, and they are shooketh. They'll give you the lowdown on its performance history and who is the greatest Medea of all time, and they'll even throw in some Jimmy Swaggart jokes and news about ANOTHER version of Jonas' Christmas album!

In honor of Anna's birthday, she and Krista talk about all the good, bad and funny WTF moments and productions they've encountered in their opera learnings. They revisit Munich's production of Yeet the Baby, Coney Island Cosi and of course The Exterminating Angel. So many moments!

Do you want to be confused for a while? We halp! Anna and Krista review Verdi's Ernani, full of WTF and more twists than a bag of pretzels. You also get learnings on Victor Hugo's sex life and some weird Vietnamese religion. Good times.

It's a big week here in #OperaTrash Land - not only are Anna and Krista comparing productions of Rigoletto that the Met has produced, but they let you in on an exciting new thing the Met is doing for opera fans! Of course, due respect is paid to the much loved Coolio and Loretta Lynn first.

It's one-hit wonder time with Ponchielli's La Gioconda, and Anna and Krista get to spend more time trashing their favorite wannabe tenor. Anna also gives us her review of Rusalka at the Pittsburgh Opera, the ladies sing Allan Sherman songs, and they reminisce about board games from their childhoods. In other words, typical Monday night shenanigans.

Anna and Krista are taking a bit of a turn this week! This time, they're discussing specific productions of Verdi's Don Carlo/s (French or Italian, your choice). From the best (anything by Sir David McVicar) to the worst (take a damn guess), the ladies tell you all about their favorite Disaster Bi (Hans Christian Andersen excluded).

Anna and Krista have found a rare Verdi gem in Stiffelio, with its tale of betrayal, redemption and censorship. And of course they couldn't pass up the opportunity to rag on its star (alleged) tenor. They also bring lolz from Bayreuth and the saga of karma from Arena di Verona.

What would an opera by Ol' Slapnuts be without a little controversy? Anna and Krista talk about Idomeneo and the nefarious director who caused a shitstorm over a production of it in Berlin. And then they do what they normally do: go off on their usual brand of shenanigans including future plans for riffing on a not-the-tenor.

What happens when you record a podcast late at night? House of the Dragon gets ruined forever, you learn about baseball-infused Malort and the phrase "the deck where you play cornhole" and you hear a review of Janacek's The Cunning Little Vixen. Plot twist: Anna and Krista are sober!

After two weeks without them, Anna and Krista are back with the long-awaited review of Paul Hindemith's Cardillac. There's something interesting about this review, and it's a first for the ladies. Find out what that is as you listen to the story behind the opera, and listen as they talk about their childhood feels being wrung out by their two dedicaitons. Bonus content: advice from a real-life student loan servicer!

It's August, and the ladies have taken a couple of weekends off to recharge. In the meantime, they take you back to December 2020, when Anna did her best Drunj Nemorino during their review of Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin. And who can blame her, because her former and current opera husbands were opposite each other!

Now that Anna's recovered from the 'rona, the ladies are back to talk about Donizetti's tale of ill-fated love, Lucia di Lammermoor. Anna and Krista saw Simon Stone's Met production, and they talk about how it shows how opera can be modern. They also get angy at Arena di Verona, congratulate Bruce Springsteen's entry into the Grandpa Club, cheer on Monet X Change and give kudos to the Royal Opera House. Also, quicksand is mentioned.

As Anna battles 'rona fatigue, she and Krista get back on track to talk about The Devils of Loudun, which has its own ties to the 'rona. They also update on Jonas (who has the 'rona again) and Rene Pape's bullshittery. This episode should be sponsored by Pfizer and Moderna.

Oh noes, Anna has The Rona! Since she's not feeling well, Krista decided to give you all a look back at what was, at that point, the worst opera they'd seen. Prokofiev snatched that title away from Thomas Ades, but The Exterminating Angel made them want to, to use the word of the day, scromit.

After Friday's SCOTUS ruling. Anna and Krista decided to use the podcast to show everyone that bodily autonomy isn't a new concept - there are operas that feature it prominently. From La Traviata and Turandot to Die Walküre and La Fanciulla del West, the ladies discuss 12 characters who take charge of their lives. May women in the US have that right again.

While Anna wraps up her duties at Sc-Fi Valley Con, the ladies present an oldie but goodie: their review of Cav & Pag, aka Sad Fucking Clown. C'mon, they would've anyway because Jonas opens as said sad fucking clown next month in London, so here's a primer, including Pagliacci Twitter jokes!

Happy podcast anniversary to Anna and Krista! For their special day, they cover Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar. Who was the best King Herod? Which is the best version? And what awesome 80's was born of this rock opera? These questions will be answered, and Krista reviews the infamous Tosca production.

Jacques Halevy's grand opera is the subject of this week's episode, and Anna and Krista rave about it. They also work in the usual shtick, and they give you an updates on that production of Tosca from Barcelona. And surprise - they actually agree with the OperaWire lady for once!