LA Opera Podcasts: Behind the Curtain

From the Vault: Opera vs Musical Theater with Jeremy Frank and Ashley Faatoalia

LA Opera kicks off its 40th Anniversary Season this fall with West Side Story, and in this episode from the vault, LA Opera Chorus Director Jeremy Frank joins Connects Teaching Artist and renowned tenor Ashley Faatoalia to try and answer the age-old question: what's the difference between opera and musical theater? Whether you call West Side Story an opera or a musical, one thing's for sure; you'll laugh, cry, and shimmy along in your seat when it hits the LA Opera stage this fall. Get your tickets now for West Side Story—playing September 20 through October 12—at LAOpera.org.

From the Vault: La Bohème with Dr. Andréa Fuentes and Dr. Shana Redmond

In this episode from the vault, LA Opera Connects' Dr. Andréa Fuentes sits down with Colombia University's Dr. Shana Redmond to talk about why La Bohème so deeply resonates with us. They discuss the friendships, the economic struggle, the resilience, and the gender paradigms that populate this timeless opera, and what gives it its enduring charm. They also travel trains of thought-- from RENT to Paul Robeson to grand visions for the future of the art form. Get your tickets to La Bohème now at LAOpera.org and don't forget to leave a comment, rating, or review on this episode.

Love/Hate/It’s Complicated Island: A New Season of Opera Romance

In this episode, Connects affiliated scholar Dr. Kristi Brown-Montesano takes us on a romp through the romantic relationships of the upcoming season, from tragic bohemians to passionate Egyptians (with more than a few nods to Shakespeare). LA Opera's 40th Anniversary productions have more steamy intrigue than an episode of—well, we'll let Dr. Brown-Montesano tell you about that. Get your tickets to romance at LAOpera.org, and get ready to feel the love.

From the Vault: La Bohème with Duff Murphy

As we joyfully prepare for our 40th Anniversary Season, which includes an original LA Opera production of La Bohème, we're going into the vault to bring you a special episode from 2016: a La Bohème talk by Duff Murphy. Here, he shares fascinating knowledge about Puccini, La Bohème's reception in its time, who the opera is dedicated to, and how the lush, enduring classic almost didn't come to be. How well do you know La Bohème? Listen in and get your tickets now to La Bohème, playing this November 22 through December 14. Tickets available at LAOpera.org.

From the Vault: Making The Magic Flute

For our historic 40th anniversary season, LA Opera brings back the world's most delightful opera, the Magic Flute playing May 2026. In this special episode we flash back to a 2019 conversation between Brian Lauritzen and former resident conductor Grant Gershon. Together, they discuss all things Magic Flute, including the secrets of performing on high platforms, staging an opera with animations, and why it's such a clever choice to stage the production as a silent film. Celebrate 40 years of bold storytelling with LA Opera and don't miss the world's most popular opera, The Magic Flute, tickets are on sale now at LAOpera.org.