Opera Cheat Sheet | Houston Public Media

In this week’s Opera Cheat Sheet, Classical 91.7’s program director St.John Flynn and opera expert Eric Skelly discuss one of the most popular operas ever written, Puccini’s La Bohème, the story of the tragic love between Mimi and Rodolfo set among the bohemian surroundings of the Latin Quarter in 19th-century Paris.  You can hear the Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of La Bohème Saturday at noon on Classical 91.7 and online at classical917.org.

In this week’s Opera Cheat Sheet, Classical 91.7’s program director St.John Flynn and opera expert Eric Skelly discuss Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, the comic tale of a rich old fool determined to take a pretty young wife.  You can hear the Lyric Opera of Chicago broadcast of Don Pasquale Saturday at noon on Classical 91.7 and online at classical917.org.

This week, Classical 91.7's program director St.John Flynn, and opera expert, Eric Skelley, discuss Massenet's Werther, based on the novel by Goethe. When the sensitive poet Werther and the lovely Charlotte meet, they fall madly in love. But Werther's rapture soon dissolves into desolation when Charlotte follows the wishes of her dying mother and marries another man.  You can hear the Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Werther Saturday at noon on Classical 91.7 and online... Read More

This week, Classical 91.7's program director, St.John Flynn, and opera expert, Eric Skelly, discuss Verdi's classic Simon Boccanegra, a story of love, politics and betrayal set in 14th-century Genoa. You can hear The Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Simon Boccanegra Saturday at noon on Classical 91.7 and online at classical917.org.

In this week’s Opera Cheat Sheet, Classical 91.7’s program director St.John Flynn and opera expert Eric Skelly discuss Wagner’s Götterdämmerung, the last of the four operas that make up the monumental Ring Cycle.  In this cataclysmic finale the world of the gods is destroyed to be replaced by one of love through the redemptive actions of Brünnhilde.  You can hear the Metropolitan Opera's production of Götterdämmerung Saturday at 10:00am on Classical 91.7 and online at... Read More

In this week’s Opera Cheat Sheet, Classical 91.7’s program director St.John Flynn and opera expert Eric Skelly discuss Wagner’s Siegfried, the third of the four operas that make up the monumental Ring Cycle.  Mime has raised Siegfried, son of Siegmund and Sieglinde, whose lack of fear enables him to defeat the giant Fafner, claim the Rheingold, and win the heart of Brünnhilde.  You can hear the Metropolitan Opera's production of Siegfried Saturday at 10AM on... Read More

In this week’s Opera Cheat Sheet, Classical 91.7’s program director St.John Flynn and opera expert Eric Skelly discuss Wagner’s Die Walküre, the second installment of the Ring, in which the story begun in Das Rheingold now shifts from the gods to the human world as Siegmund and Sieglinde meet and fall in love.  You can hear the Metropolitan Opera's production of Die Walküre Saturday at 10AM on Classical 91.7 and online at classical917.org.

In this week’s Opera Cheat Sheet, Classical 91.7’s program director St.John Flynn and opera expert Eric Skelly discuss Wagner’s Das Rheingold, the first of the four operas that make up the monumental Ring Cycle.  The theft of the Rhinegold and Alberich’s curse set off tragic events that will lead ultimately to the downfall of the gods.  You can hear the Metropolitan Opera's production of Das Rheingold Saturday at noon on Classical 91.7 and online at... Read More

This week, Classical 91.7's program director, St.John Flynn, shares excerpts from an interview with Russian soprano Albina Shagimuratova and American tenor Chad Shelton from Houston Grand Opera's 2012 production of Verdi's La Traviata, the story of the love between the dying courtesan Violetta and the young and besotted Alfredo.  You can hear the Met Opera's production of La Traviata Saturday at 11:30AM on Classical 91.7 and online at classical917.org.

In this week's Opera Cheat Sheet, Classical 91.7's program director St.John Flynn and opera expert Eric Skelly discuss Verdi's sprawling drama La Forza del Destino which chronicles a noble family destroyed by powers beyond their control.  You can hear the Metropolitan Opera's production of La Forza del Destino Saturday at noon on Classical 91.7 and online at classical917.org.

In this week’s Opera Cheat Sheet, Classical 91.7’s program director St.John Flynn and opera expert Eric Skelly discuss Zandonai’s magnificent drama Francesca da Rimini, the story of the doomed lovers Paolo and Francesca from Dante’s Inferno.  You can hear the Metropolitan Opera's production of Francesca da Rimini Saturday at 11AM on Classical 91.7 and online at classical917.org.  

This week, Classical 91.7 program director, St.John Flynn, shares excerpts from an interview with American tenor Brandon Jovanovich, who sang the title role in Houston Grand Opera’s 2012 production of Verdi’s Don Carlos, a tragic vision of the Spanish Inquisition that pits love, duty, and faith against one another.  This is the story of the conflicts in the life of the heir to the Spanish throne after his betrothed is married instead to his father... Read More

In this week’s Opera Cheat Sheet, Classical 91.7’s program director St.John Flynn and opera expert Eric Skelly discuss Wagner’s 1882 opera Parsifal, the story of the naïve and innocent youth on a quest for wisdom, compassion and reconciliation.  You can hear the Metropolitan Opera's production of Parsifal Saturday at 11AM on Classical 91.7 and online at classical917.org.

In this week’s Opera Cheat Sheet, Classical 91.7’s program director St.John Flynn and opera expert Eric Skelly discuss Bizet’s beloved Carmen, the story of the naïve young soldier Don Jose seduced by the wild gypsy girl Carmen.  You can hear the Metropolitan Opera's production of Carmen Saturday at 11:30AM on Classical 91.7 and online at classical917.org.

In this week’s Opera Cheat Sheet, Classical 91.7’s program director St.John Flynn and opera expert Eric Skelly discuss Verdi’s searing 1851 tragedy Rigoletto, the story of Gilda, the beautiful young girl sacrificed on the altar of her father’s malevolence.  You can hear the Metropolitan Opera's production of Rigoletto Saturday at noon on Classical 91.7 and online at classical917.org.

In this week’s Opera Cheat Sheet, Classical 91.7’s program director St.John Flynn and opera expert Eric Skelly discuss Donizetti’s 1832 comic opera L’Elisir d’Amore, the story of Adina and Nemorino and the love they come to share thanks to a bottle of cheap wine!  You can hear the Metropolitan Opera's production of L’Elisir d’Amore Saturday at noon on Classical 91.7 and online at classical917.org.

    In this week's Opera Cheat Sheet, Classical 91.7’s program director St.John Flynn and opera expert Eric Skelly discuss Rossini’s 1828 comic opera Le Comte Ory, the story of a dissolute young nobleman and his futile efforts to win the favors of the lady Adele while her brother is away fighting in the Crusades. You can hear the Metropolitan Opera's production of Le Comte Ory Saturday at noon on Classical 91.7 and online at... Read More

In this week’s Opera Cheat Sheet, Classical 91.7’s program director St.John Flynn and opera expert Eric Skelly discuss Puccini’s 1917 opera La Rondine, a romantic, bittersweet comedy about true love and false identities.  You can hear the Metropolitan Opera's production of La Rondine Saturday at noon on Classical 91.7 and online at classical917.org.

In this week’s Opera Cheat Sheet, Classical 91.7 program director St.John Flynn shares excerpts from an interview with superstar American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato who sang the title role in Houston Grand Opera’s 2012 production of Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda, the story of the rivalry between Mary, Queen of Scots and her cousin Elizabeth I of England.  You can hear the Metropolitan Opera's production of Maria Stuarda, again featuring Joyce DiDonato in the title role, Saturday at... Read More

This week, Classical 91.7's St.John Flynn and Eric Skelly talk about Verdi’s masterpiece Il Trovatore, the story of the gypsy Azucena’s deep and abiding love for her son, and her quest for revenge on those who took her mother’s life, in 15th-century Spain. Tune in to hear the Metropolitan Opera's production of Il Trovatore, Saturday at noon on Classical 91.7 and online at classical917.org.