What's Up With Opera?

On this episode, tenor Lawrence Brownlee discusses Rising, his Grammy-nominated album inspired by the Harlem Renaissance. He explores his bel canto repertoire, social justice, mentorship, and the power of music to inspire change.

This International Women's Day, we sit down with three opera legends—Charlotte Siegel, Miriam Khalil, and Tracy Dahl—to explore what it truly means to be a diva. From reclaiming the word to embracing its power, these extraordinary artists share their personal experiences, challenges, and triumphs in the opera world.

In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome back Grammy and Juno Award-winning soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan! Recently named Musical America's 2025 Artist of the Year, Barbara reflects on her illustrious career, her commitment to contemporary music, and what this prestigious honor means to her. Join us as Barbara shares her insights on the thrilling […]

Join us for a great conversation with Jonathan McCullough and Christopher Allen. Jonathan, a Grammy-nominated baritone and opera director, is praised by the NY Times as a “pacesetter for cinematic opera.” Christopher, a recipient of The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, has worked with top opera companies like LA Opera and Washington National Opera. Together, […]

This week we sit down with Asitha Tennekoon, tenor and co-founder of Amplified Opera, an indie opera company based in Toronto. Asitha discuss tropes and concerns with people of colour in the world of opera, as well as what drives him and brings him joy.

We join Fleur Baron, mezzo soprano and curator of recital programs, exploring music from contemporary and baroque. We explore just how intricate and personal her curation work is, how it uplifts personal stories such as amplifying the voices of Asian creators and other diverse communities.  Music in this Episode: Tungu Tungu by Teodoro Varcarcel Doundou […]

Join Patrick Hansen, Director of Opera Studies & Opera McGill Artistic Director, as he discusses dismantling barriers for young musicians, hopes for the future of opera, and an encounter with the legendary Liberace!

American bass-baritone Davóne Tines returns to examine the triumphs and challenges of self-expression and self producing; changing what it means to be a classical singer.

Please enjoy a bonus clip of baritone Joshua Hopkins as he discusses working with Canadian literary icon Margaret Atwood. 

Content warning: This episode discusses gender based violence and the murder of a family member. We join baritone Joshua Hopkins as he guides us through his project, Songs for Murdered Sisters, a collaboration with Jake Heggie and Margaret Atwood. Songs For Murdered Sisters not only allowed Joshua to heal from the shock and numbness of such a tragedy, but also allowed him to transform his grief into a peaceful and hopeful experience.

Samuel Chan, a baritone singer, originally from Calgary, Alberta, shares his musical journey, the challenges posed by his race and culture, his experiences in Germany—one of the most operatic places on earth—and how these diverse cultural perspectives influenced his travels, casting, and performances. He also discusses ways to break down these racial barriers.

In Season Two, we dive deep into opera's next wave of bold artists and cutting-edge productions, exploring what it takes to make it in opera.

Opera Philadelphia General Director David Devan speaks about his experiences in making change through acts of creative destruction, the role of honest examinations of race and casting, radical approaches to engaging new audiences.

J'nai Bridges discusses her personal experiences with racial stereotypes in casting, how her desire for social change impacts her career choices and the weight of that responsibility as an opera artist today.

Canadian-Metis composer Ian Cusson speaks about the barriers that keep diversity out of new work creation and how his own culture fostered an undeniable passion to tell stories that compel him and his sense of responsibility to open the door for the next generation of IBPoC composers.

Canadian operatic soprano, multi disciplinary artist and co-founder of Amplified Opera, Teiya Kasahara wants it all. In this interview Teiya speaks about creating opportunities that reflect heir whole selves in both the new work they create but also in traditional canon and explores the risks and rewards of straddling the worlds of opera and their […]

Self-described voice junkie, Music Critic Anne Midgette shares insights into how the history of opera continues to feed ongoing racism, patriarchal systems, fat shaming, and the genius myth while still holding on to hope for the future of the opera field.

​Music Critic Anne Midgette shares her deeply personal passion for women in the classical music field through her knowledge of history, love of opera, and her painful experience in publicly breaking the #metoo stories that permeate the opera field.

Soprano and Artistic Director of Re:Naissance Opera, Debi Wong, is upending what opera is, where it can be performed, and who is making it. From Virtual Reality, to embracing the play of failure, to a shared power model in the rehearsal room, she is up to change it all to harness the true power of opera.

International director and creative force Peter Sellars covers everything from the lessons of COVID, to opera as means to redistribute wealth, to the vibrant world of collaborative process in art making and everything in between.

Barbara Hannigan speaks frankly and passionately about why singing isn't enough for her, and the role social responsibilities play in her career choices.

American bass-baritone Davóne Tines shares his convictions on the role of the singer beyond being the voice on stage, and how he curates his career to reflect a broader vision of being a change maker in society.

It's time to think more critically about the world of opera. Join the conversation with the operatic movers and shakers of the 21st century as they share their thoughts in frank conversations about what has to change for opera to survive.

What's Up With Opera? As it happens, quite a lot! Join host Rebecca Hass and opera luminaries as they dig into what's changing - and what needs to change - in opera.