He Sang/She Sang
He Sang/She Sang is a new podcast from WQXR for the opera-curious and opera superfans who want to know what all those big voices are really singing about. The podcast follows the radio broadcast season of the Metropolitan Opera with a weekly roundtable chat that discusses the plots, characters, music, productions, social significance and great performances of that week's opera.
Following the Met's radio broadcast season, He Sang/She Sang will dive into the new productions of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde and Rossini’s William Tell, the Met premiere of an opera by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho and fan favorites by Verdi, Puccini and Mozart.
He Sang/She Sang is hosted by Merrin Lazyan and Michael Shobe, with appearances by superstar soprano Anna Netrebko, Met Opera tenor Stuart Skelton, WQXR hosts Jeff Spurgeon and Nimet Habachy, BBC 3 host Clemency Burton Hill and others.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 36 minutes
- Episodes
- 24
- Years Active
- 2016 - 2017
Stopping the Clocks With Strauss' 'Der Rosenkavalier'
Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier is an opera about the passage of time — what it means to grow older, what we lose and what we gain as the years pass, and how we know when it's time to let go of th…
A Nose by Any Other Name: Franco Alfano's 'Cyrano de Bergerac'
Soprano Jennifer Rowley is singing the role of Roxane in Franco Alfano's Cyrano de Bergerac, and she says that there's a little bit of Cyrano in all of us. This week, we discuss the sentimental story…
'The Flying Dutchman': Wagner's Eternal Wanderer
This week on He Sang/She Sang, William Berger, author of the book Wagner without Fear, discusses one of history's most controversial and visionary composers. He explores the hit tunes and earworms, t…
Aida: Verdi's Most Intimate Spectacle
When we think of Verdi's Aida, we imagine the stunning grandeur of the Triumphal March, with its enormous cast of singers, dancer, acrobats, and animals. But stage director David Paul argues that at …
Love and Death in Wagner's 'Tristan und Isolde'
Wagner's Tristan und Isolde is an extraordinary journey through the human psyche, and through the two most powerful forces guiding our lives: love and death. Merrin Lazyan speaks with writer Paul Tho…
Into the Light With Beethoven's 'Fidelio'
Beethoven spent more than ten years revising Fidelio, the only opera he ever wrote. This was about more than music for the great composer. It was about freedom, devotion, and the triumph of human dig…
Fate and Forbidden Love in Mozart's 'Idomeneo'
World-renowned mezzo Alice Coote marvels at Mozart's early insight into fate, sacrifice, and parental love in his first great opera, Idomeneo. She also describes in vivid detail the perils of dressin…
William Tell: Rossini's Grand Finale
On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, hosts Merrin Lazyan and Julian Fleisher are joined by author Fred Plotkin to discuss the glorious music of Rossini's final opera, William Tell. We also spe…
La Traviata: Verdi's Timeless Fallen Woman
On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, hosts Merrin Lazyan and Julian Fleisher are joined by dramaturg Cori Ellison to discuss Verdi's mythical and timeless masterpiece, La Traviata. We also spe…
Werther: Massenet's Lovelorn Hero
On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, Merrin Lazyan and Jeff Spurgeon speak with writer James Kuslan about Massenet's lovelorn hero, Werther. We also hear from mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard abou…
Nymphs, Witches and Gnomes: The Magic of 'Rusalka'
On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, Merrin Lazyan and Julian Fleisher speak with WQXR overnight host Nimet Habachy about Dvorak's supernatural masterpiece, Rusalka. We also hear from soprano …
The Madness and Music of 'I Puritani'
On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, Merrin Lazyan and Jeff Spurgeon speak with director Sarah Meyers about why, despite its utterly implausible plot, some consider Bellini's I Puritani to be …
Carmen: Bizet's Famous Femme Fatale
On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, hosts Merrin Lazyan and Julian Fleisher speak with conductor Asher Fisch all about Bizet's masterpiece, Carmen. Hear why this opera is loved by opera newbi…
Rigoletto: Verdi's Tragic Jester
This week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, we chat with Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer and soprano Olga Peretyatko about Verdi's Rigoletto. Listen to hear how Mayer came up with this "Rat Pa…
Humor and High Jinks in Rossini's 'The Barber of Seville'
Despite its disastrous premiere in 1816 — complete with raucous heckling, a bloody nose and a stray cat scampering across the stage — Rossini’s The Barber of Seville quickly joined the ranks of the b…
Head Over Heels with Diana Damrau
This week on He Sang/She Sang, we have a special bonus episode! Join us at the Metropolitan Opera for a discussion with soprano Diana Damrau, who is making her role debut as Juliette in Gounod's Romé…
Romeo And Juliet: All About The Love Duets
This week, the He Sang/She Sang team is joined by WQXR morning show host Jeff Spurgeon to discuss Charles Gounod's Romeo and Juliet. Hear how this opera is really a vehicle for four gorgeous love due…
Behind the Scenes and Into the Chorus of Puccini's 'La Bohème'
On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, soprano Ailyn Pérez and bass Edward Hanlon discuss one of the best-loved operas in the world, Puccini's La Bohème. Get a behind-the-scenes listen into the …
Nabucco: Verdi's Triumphant Return
Nabucco is the opera that got Verdi back in the game after a long time away from composing, but its premiere almost didn't happen. Hear how it was saved and in an ironic twist of fate, how the opera …
L'Italiana in Algeri: Rossini's quest for Italy
L'Italiana in Algeri may seem like a classic battle of the sexes story set in North Africa, but it's really all about Italy. At least that's one way to look at it. On this episode of He Sang/She Sang…