...or Carmela or Meadow or Johnny Sack.  But if you want to get to know the other sopranos, tune in.  Coloraturas, dramatics, lyrics...they're all gorgeous and they're all here.

I know you're really NOT ready, but here it is: the composer you swore you'd never understand or listen to.  Or sit through.  (Aren't these operas like, 15 hours long?)  and what's everybody screaming about?

Something kind of cool happens when words and music meet.  You know, your song??  It reminds you of when you met that special person...where you were, what you did, maybe even what time it was.  Multiply that by one hundred and you have opera!

Discover Georges Bizet's (composer of CARMEN) other opera THE PEARL FISHERS in this podcast introduction by Nicolas Reveles, Director of Education and Outreach for San Diego Opera.  Coming from an era of great French operas, hear how Bizet's genius turns elegant and lyrical in this exotic stage piece set in old Ceylon.  If you don't know the tunes from this opera, then you're in for a treat! (First posted June 25, 2007)

Giuseppe Verdi's great masterwork AIDA is the subject of this podcast introduction by Nicolas Reveles, the Geisel Director of Education and Outreach for San Diego Opera.  The discussion centers on the passionate music of Verdi, the choices he made in re-creating the world of ancient Egypt onstage, and why this opera is still so popular today.  (First posted June 25, 2007)

Nicolas Reveles, the Geisel Director of Education and Outreach for San Diego Opera, discusses this classic pairing of two verismo operas by Pietro Mascagni (CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA) and Ruggiero Leoncavallo (PAGLIACCI).  Verismo is 'realism' in Italian: and these two short operas are filled with passion, violence, and death with overwhelmingly beautiful music to match the tragic stories.  (First posted January 25, 2007)

In this introduction to Gaetano Donizetti's MARIA STUARDA (Mary, Queen of Scots) host Nicolas Reveles, Director of Education and Outreach for San Diego Opera, discover why this early 19th century masterpiece is the very definition of 'bel canto' opera.  Hear highlights of Donizetti's lyrical music and explore the real history behind the story: the relationship between the royal cousins, Mary Stuart and Elizabeth I.  (First posted June 25, 2007)

In this introduction to Richard Wagner's TANNHAUSER, learn about the challenges involved in producing this monumental work, hear highlights from the score and explore the themes that the composer was trying to communicate in this 19th century 'morality play'.  San Diego Opera Education Director Dr. Nicolas Reveles hosts.  (First posted June 27, 2007)

NEW! Everything that you need to know about opera as art in 15 lean minutes!  You'll also come to know that opera is everywhere, I mean EVERYWHERE.  So get over yourself.  You know you love it...