OPERA FOR ALL -- Octavio Choy and Peter Shimkin

OFA#75 Massenet's THERESE

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 02:54:08 +0000

"In Jules Massenet's opera THERESE, in the throes of the French Revolution, an exiled nobleman reappears to woo his now married lover with tragic consequences ending with the guillotine"

OFA#74 STRAUSS' SALOME

Sat, 10 Dec 2022 07:34:51 +0000

In Strauss' opera, SALOME could not kiss the lips of the prophet John the Baptist when he was alive, so she kissed

the lips of his decapitated head.

OFA#73 CHERUBINI'S MEDEA

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 01:05:13 +0000

In Luigi Cherubini's opera, Medea had two children by Jason, who abandons her to marry Glauce. Medea takes revenge killing Glauce and their two sons.

OFA #72 THE PROPHET

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 00:00:20 +0000

An innkeeper during the Protestant Reformation becomes convinced he is God's messenger with tragic consequences for himself, his mother and his fiancee. A good example of Parisian Grand Opera, from 1830-1870. Now known best for its skater's waltz.

OFA#71 VERDI'S ATTILA

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 00:00:14 +0000

In Verdi's opera, there is a confrontation between a Roman General and Attila, where the general proposes giving up the entire empire, with the exception of Italy, in a dramatic duo that highlights the opera

OFA#70 GEMMA DI VERGY

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 00:00:18 +0000

In the plot of Donizetti's opera GEMMA DI GERVY, the heroine is barren, and her husband the Count gets an annulment of his marriage so he can get married to another woman with the hopes of getting an heir.

OFA#69 VERDI'S OBERTO

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 00:00:25 +0000

OPERA FOR ALL presents Giuseppe Verdi's first opera: OBERTO, CONTI DI SAN BONIFACIO, where we

first hear the father-daughter exchanges that Verdi would use in many of his operas.

OFA#68 EDGAR

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 00:00:23 +0000

Our program presents Giacomo Puccini's second opera, EDGAR where the main character Edgar alternates between the pure love of an innocent village woman, and the sensual temptations of another.

OFA#67 LA FORZA DEL DESTINO

Mon, 02 May 2022 00:01:01 +0000

In LA FORZA DEL DESTINO, Destiny or Fate plays a role in the loves of Leonora and Alvaro. When they tried to elope, Leonora's father confronts Alvaro who throws his pistol to the floor to avoid confrontation, but the gun accidentally mortally hits the father. This is one of the many situations in this Beautiful Opera.

OFA#66 MEFISTOFELE (1)

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 00:00:36 +0000

THE PEARL FISHERS

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 00:00:37 +0000

" THE PEARL FISHERS" is the first opera composed by Georges Bizet, the author of "CARMEN". Set in an exotic land, the drama deals with a male friendship disrupted by a beautiful virgin priestess"

OFA#64 La Sonnambula

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 18:09:14 +0000

In Bellini's opera, Amina is ready to marry Elvino, but when she finds herself in another man's bedroom, the marriage is cancelled until we all find that Adina is a sleepwalker and all ends well in a delightful ending.

OFA#63 VERDIS MACBETH

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 00:00:15 +0000

In Giuseppe Verdi's Macbeth, the emphasis is on Lady Macbeth with great interpretations by sopranos Shirley Verrett and Maria Callas.

OFA#62 THE LAND OF SMILES

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 00:00:35 +0000

Besides The Merry Widow, Franz Lehar composed many operettas. OPERA FOR ALL presents the beautiful LAND OF SMILES, with beautiful tunes for the tenor, the main character in the operetta. A Chinese diplomat falls in love with a European woman, but the cultural differences do not allow them to fulfill their love.

OFA #61 ADRIANA LECOUVREUR.

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 00:00:19 +0000

Francesco Cilea's opera "ADRIANA LECOUVREUR" is based on the life of an actress at the Comedie Francaise, a diva that all sopranos want to interpret.

This presentation will feature soprano Montserrat Caballe accompanied by tenor Jose Carreras in one of their most successful interpretations

OFA#60 MARIA STUARDA

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 16:45:25 +0000

In Donizetti's opera MARIA STUARDA, there is a non-historical confrontation of the two queen rivals: Elizabeth I and Maria Stuarda, the best dramatic moment of the opera, in a wonderful interpretation by Montserrat Caballe and Bianca Berini

OFA#59 ANNA BOLENA

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 00:00:29 +0000

Anna Bolena is another of the Donizetti Queens. The opera was very successful at its premiere, and also in the revival by Maria Callas, which marked the beginning of her career. In this program, we will hear the soprano in a re-mastering of the 1947 recording at La Scala.

OFA#58 ROBERTO DEVEREUX

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 00:00:09 +0000

"ROBERTO DEVEREUX was a presumed lover of Queen Elizabeth Ist, who was really infatuated with him and had to sign his execution for treasury, although she suffered more the loss of his love. Listen to Beverly Sills, in her acclaimed portrayal of the Queen, one of the best

accomplishments of her career"

OFA #57 Pergolesi

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 14:01:47 +0000

Pergolesi: La Serva Padrona ( Maid into Mistress of the House). The first Baroque comic opera whose arias and duets delight to this day. A saucy maid schemes to get her rich old master to marry her.

OFA#56 GIOVANNA D'ARCO

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 00:01:37 +0000

n this version of the story of Joan of Arc by

Verdi, Joan does not die on the pyre, and there

is a hint of love between Joan and the King.

OFA#55 Catalani's "LA WALLY"

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 00:00:33 +0000

Catalani: La Wally. A verismo opera with all the requisites of jealousy, attempted murder, forgiveness and a tragic death scene for the 2 lovers. Noted most for a famous soprano aria, featured prominently in the French cult movie "Diva" and ever since known as the Diva Aria.

OFA#54 Bellini's "I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI"

Sun, 06 Jun 2021 00:00:51 +0000

In "I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI", Bellini explores the story of Romeo and Juliette in a slightly different version than the well known from Shakespeare"

OFA#53 Un giorno di regno - Renzetti

Sun, 09 May 2021 00:00:17 +0000

When Verdi was asked to produce a new work for the PARIS OPERA, he did not want to fail, so he reworked

his previous opera I LOMBARDI, changing and adding a few things, with great success this story of the First Crusade, with an added love triangle between two men

and a woman"

OFA#52 JERUSALEM

Mon, 03 May 2021 20:28:16 +0000

When Verdi was asked to produce a new work for the PARIS OPERA, he did not want to fail, so he reworked

his previous opera I LOMBARDI, changing and adding a few things, with great success this story of the First Crusade, with an added love triangle between two men

and a woman"

OFA# 51 Verdi I Lombardi

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 04:40:05 +0000

OFA 51 I Lombardi. (Italians in the first Crusade.) A complicated plot with many conspiracies, leading to final redemption. Good arias (it is by Verdi after all) ,rousing choruses and marches with a stage band. The chorus "O Signore, dal tetto natio" is deservedly popular.

OFA#50 LUCREZIA BORGIA

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 04:15:02 +0000

"In Donizetti's opera, Lucrezia follows a young man, while her husband spies on her and eventually kills him, without realizing the young man was Lucrezia's son"

OFA 49 Verdi Otello

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 06:40:12 +0000

Verdi's Otello Shakespeare's tragedy set to music equal to words. One of opera's great love duets and Desdemona's Ave Maria are among the highlights.

OFA#48 NORMA

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 10:05:07 +0000

Vincenzo Bellini's Norma is considered to be the most taxing roles in the soprano repertoire, lending satisfaction and prestige to those who achieved its rendition.

In the 1950's, the role of Norma was the calling card of the great soprano MARIA CALLAS, followed by the interpretation of others like Joan Sutherland, Monserrat Caballe, Beverly Sills and others more recently.

OFA 47 The Merry Widow

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 15:15:43 +0000

Franz Lehar: The Merry Widow. An operetta about a rich widow who wants to rekindle an old love affair with a handsome guards officer. After the usually bumps in the road, love conquers all against a background of some very familiar waltzes and the guardsman/s famous salute to all dancing girls at Maxim's cafe.

OFA#46 ERNANI

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 18:22:41 +0000

"In Verdi's Ernani, the beautiful Elvira is being forced to marry her uncle,

but she loves Ernani. The plot thickens when Carlo, the King of Spain

is also in love with her."

OFA 45 Mozart Idomeneo

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 06:45:13 +0000

Idomeneo. Mozart's first mature opera about the travails of a Greek ruler who Neptune saves in a storm at sea. In exchange the God demands the sacrifice of the first person he encounters upon landing who turns out to be his son. Performed in English.

OFA#44 DER ROSENKAVALIER [The Knight of the Rose]

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 06:40:14 +0000

Opera for all presents the splendor of Viena and its waltzes with the opera DER ROSENKAVALIER, {The night of the Rose} by Richard STRAUSS

OFA #43 Turandot

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 05:55:12 +0000

A mysterious stranger must answer three riddles to win the Princess of China in marriage. Should he fail, the penalty is death. Puccini's last opera, featuring the famous aria Nessun Dorma,Luciano Pavarotti's calling-card.

OFA#42 PUSS'N BOOTS

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 05:55:05 +0000

XAVIER MONTSALVAGE'S opera EL GATO CON BOTAS, in English PUSS'N BOOTS is a delightful children's opera based in the famous children book.

OFA #41 Rimsky-Korsaoff The Golden Cockerel

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 07:20:16 +0000

The Golden Cockerel. A satire about a stupid Czar and his downfall. Filled with gorgeous Rimsky-Korsakov oriental music, like his Scherhazade. Highlights include a famous coloratura aria (Hymn to the Sun) and a scary wedding march.

OFA#40 THAIS

Mon, 02 Nov 2020 05:05:02 +0000

In Massenet's opera "THAIS", the monk Athanael tries to convert the courtesan Thais. While she repents her sinful life and accepts God in the famous "Meditation", Athanael sinfully begins to lust for her."

OFA #39 Mozart Cosi fan Tutte

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 05:40:21 +0000

Two officers are engaged to two sisters. The boys take a bet that their fiancées will remain faithful. They pretend to leave on assignment, assume disguises and pay court to each other's intended. Will the girls give in? Performed in English, you maybe surprised and even disturbed by the outcome, but Mozart's music is hard to resist

OFA#38 L'ITALIANA

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 19:00:12 +0000

Rossini's comic opera "L'Italiana in Algieri" presents Isabella, the Italian girl who travels to Algiers to look for her boyfriend Lindoro who has been kidnapped by theTurkish Bey Mustafa

OFA #37 Samson and Dalila

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 05:05:05 +0000

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OFA#36 ANDREA CHENIER

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 04:00:14 +0000

Set during the French Revolution, Umberto Giordano's opera ANDREA CHENIER presents a love triangle in the verismo style. The most famous aria of this opera "LA MAMMA MORTA" was inmortalized by Maria Callas in the film PHILADELPHIA with Tom Hanks

OFA #35 Daughter Regiment mp3

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 04:50:02 +0000

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OFA#34 CENERENTOLA

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 18:05:11 +0000

In Rossini's version of Cinderella, the evil stepmother becomes an evil stepfather; the fairy godmother is a real man, and the lost shoe is a bracelet, but the most important change

is that the opera is really a comic opera.

OFA #33Manon OFA

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 13:07:00 +0000

OFA#32 MANON LESCAUT

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 04:45:21 +0000

In Puccini's opera Manon Lescaut, we encounter the young lady who instead of going to a convent, ends up falling in love with a young student, but falls more in love

with "the good life"

OFA #31 Wagner Meistersinger

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 04:25:11 +0000

Blurb for Meistersinger:

Wagner's most accessible opera. A sunny comedy set in Medieval Germany. The town Cobbler, Hans Sachs helps the young Knight Walther win the hand of the Gosldsmith's daughter Eva by foiling the unwanted attentions of the competing suitor Beckmesser.

OFA #30 LA GIOCONDA

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 04:20:01 +0000

Opera for all presents Amilcare Ponchielli's opera LA GIOCONDA, with its well known ballet music, THE DANCE OF THE HOURS.

Gioconda is in love with Enzo, who in turns loves Laura.

Gioconda gives up her love, when Laura saves her mother's life.

OFA #29 Prince Igor

Mon, 11 May 2020 04:15:09 +0000

The beautiful melodies of Borodin's Prince Igor were

heard by many in the Broadway show Kismet, with the most beautiful melody converted into "Strangers in Paradise"

OFA#28 NABUCCO

Mon, 04 May 2020 04:15:19 +0000

Verdi's first successful opera Nabucco offers beautiful arias and many choruses, including "Va, pensiero" considered by many as an official Italian national anthem

OFA #27 Onegin mp3

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 04:00:13 +0000

Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin A bored anti-hero rejects the outpouring of love from a young girl from the provinces. 6 years later he meets her again as the wife of a fabulously wealthy Prince and immediately becomes infatuated. He pleads with her to leave her husband: will she succumb? Sung in English. More melodies than you can shake a stick at!

OFA#26 I PURITANI

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 06:05:05 +0000

"I PURITANI" [The Puritans] is Vincenzo Bellini's last and most complete belcanto opera. The plot of the opera sets a love triangle against the background of the struggle between Puritans and Royalists in the English Civil War of 1640, with Puritan Elvira madly in love with Royalist Arturo"

OFA #25 Werther

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 05:10:13 +0000

"A lush romantic lyric opera with swelling arias and duets. The story, taken from a famous novel, concerns a young poet who falls in love with a married woman."

OFA#24 TOSCA

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 06:25:03 +0000

OFA #23 THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 08:10:15 +0000

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OFA#22 ROMEO & JULIETTE

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 17:35:17 +0000

OPERA FOR ALL presents Gounod's opera "ROMEO & JULIETTE", one of the jewels of French Opera

OFA #21 LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 20:55:06 +0000

The most famous Mad Scene in Opera!

For marriage of Figaro. Figaro is to married to Susanah, but Count Almaviva wants to bed her first. Can Figaro thwart his master's dastardly intentions?

OFA#20 DIE FLEDERMAUS

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 18:40:08 +0000

OFA#19 THE MAGIC FLUTE

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 17:52:02 +0000

OFA#18 AMMAL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 21:40:09 +0000

OFA17 DON GIOVANNI

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 14:30:05 +0000

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OFA#16 IL TROVATORE

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 19:35:03 +0000

" Leonora is in love with the troubadour Manrico.

The Count the Luna is in love with Leonora and

confronts Manrico and his mother Azucena, sending

them to jail for execution.

After Manrico dies, Azucena tells the count he has

murdered his own brother"

OFA15 LA RONDINE

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 13:30:16 +0000

Magda, the Mistress of a rich Parisian, remembers the innocent Romance of young love. Hiding her current occupation, she falls for Ruggiero, a naive young man from the provinces and runs away with him. When the young man seeks permission of his parents to marry her, she realizes her life as a kept woman makes this impossible. In a wrenching final duet, she leaves him.

OFA#14 THE ELIXIR OF LOVE

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 21:15:15 +0000

The simple farmer Nemorino is in love with the

smart Adina who rejects him. His fate changes

when Dr. Dulcamara offers him the "elixir of love"

OFA#13 RIGOLETTO

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 13:25:09 +0000

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OFA#12 UN BALLO IN MASCHERA

Sun, 08 Sep 2019 13:20:19 +0000

Riccardo is in love with Amelia, the wife of his best friend Renato. While they confessed their love for each other, they realize it is wrong and it can not be. OPERA FOR ALL will present Giuseppe Verdi;s opera UN BALLO IN MASCHERA ["A masked ball"] next Monday Sep 2nd at 9pm, and Wednesday Sep 4th, 2pm onn Renato realizes the situation, he plots and kills Riccardo.

OFA#11 PAGLIACCI

Sat, 10 Aug 2019 16:45:06 +0000

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OFA#10 CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA

Sat, 03 Aug 2019 16:40:18 +0000

Santuzza, seduced and abandoned by her lover Turiddu, who now has a new lover, Lola, the wife of Alfio.l

Santuzza tries to convince Turiddu to comeback to her

and when he does not, he tells Alfio about his wife's betrayal, leading to the tragic ending.

OFA#9 Hansel and Gretel mp3

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 14:15:05 +0000

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OFA#8 THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 23:00:17 +0000

OPERA FOR ALL presents Rossini's opera THE BARBER OF SEVILLE,

next Monday, July 1, 9pm and Wednesday July 3, 2pm on

Figaro, the barber, with his ability to help and talk to everyone in Seville, manages to ensure that the Count

Almaviva meet her beloved Rosina, whom she ultimately

marries in Rossini’s best known comic opera.

OFA#7 FAUST

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 18:45:11 +0000

Monday 9 pm & Wednesday 2 pm

Longtime friends and opera lovers Octavio Choy and Peter Shimkin want YOU to become an opera fan! In this introductory series, we will present the plots of popular operas along with their musical highlights. We will provide insight to help you appreciate singers and singing in general. You will also learn about the musical style of great composers. All you need to get started is love of the human voice and a great tune.OPERA FOR ALL presents George Bizat's opera CARMEN

Monday May 13th, 9pm and Wednesday May 15th at 2pm on

societybytesradio.com Podcasts for this opera and others

are available at the station webpage

OFA#6 LA BOHEME

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 18:40:15 +0000

Monday 9 pm & Wednesday 2 pm

The story follows a group of struggling bohemian artists in the Latin quarter of Paris

The poet Rodolfo, falls in love with the sickly seamstress Mimi.

After living together for a while, they split over Rodolfo’s unreasonable jealousy [ in reality, a concern for Mimi’s illness

and her desire not to be a burden on him].

They re-unite in her deathbed. When Rodolfo realizes Mimi has died, he cries in despair.

Monday May 13th, 9pm and Wednesday May 15th at 2pm on

societybytesradio.com Podcasts for this opera and others

are available at the station webpage

OFA#5 CARMEN

Sun, 12 May 2019 22:35:06 +0000

Monday 9 pm & Wednesday 2 pm

Monday May 13th, 9pm and Wednesday May 15th at 2pm on

societybytesradio.com Podcasts for this opera and others

are available at the station webpage

OFA#4 LA TRAVIATA

Mon, 06 May 2019 05:25:21 +0000

Monday 9 pm & Wednesday 2 pmThe courtesan VIoleta, falls in love with Alfredo,

and leaves her rich patron, the Baron.

After 3 months living together, Alfredo’s father appears and persuades Violeta to end the relationship.

Later ravaged by tuberculosis, Alfredo returns

to her deathbed, begging forgiveness, and promising to renew their love, but it is too late and she dies in his arms

Click Here for this weeks show

OFA#3 AIDA

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 05:40:15 +0000

Verdi's Aida The Egyptians have captured and enslaved Aida, an Ethiopian princess. An Egyptian military commander, Radames, struggles to choose between his love for her and loyalty to his country. Complicating the dilemma, the King's daughter Amneris loves Radames, who does not return her feelings. Although Radames wins glory in battle, his tangled personal affairs lead to a tragic ending for all three lovers. The opera features the famous Triumphal March (Elephants not included on this program)

OFA#2 MADAMA BUTTERFLY

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 05:40:22 +0000

An American naval officer based in Japan enters into an arranged marriage to a teenage Japanese geisha known as Madame Butterfly.

After a year his squadron departs for the USA hand he cynically promises to return, all the while planning to wed a “real” American wife when he arrives home.

For 3 long years Butterfly waits for his return which he does when he learns that she has borne him a son, leading to a tragic conclusion.

#1 INTRODUCTION TO OPERA

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 05:25:08 +0000