The Three Mezzos - Opera in Ireland

Spain – A stage made for opera Why does Spain have such a complex relationship with opera, despite providing some of the genre's most familiar settings, characters and stories? How did Italian opera, Spanish court theatre and zarzuela develop alongside one another – and why did zarzuela become such a powerful national musical tradition? And what does Spain's remarkably diverse operatic landscape look like today? In this episode of Opera Road Trip, Sebastian F. Schwarz travels to Madrid to explore more than four centuries of opera in Spain, from La selva sin amor, the first opera known to have been performed in Spain, to the Baroque zarzuelas of Calderón and Juan de Hidalgo, the international careers of composers such as Vicente Martín y Soler, the extraordinary popularity of nineteenth-century zarzuela, and the modern music of Manuel de Falla and beyond. The journey takes us from the royal court to Madrid's theatres and from the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona to Bilbao, Oviedo, Valencia, Seville, Granada and Peralada – a country where opera and zarzuela continue to coexist with a remarkably diverse network of theatres, companies and festivals. Joining Sebastian is Joan Matabosch, Artistic Director of Teatro Real in Madrid and former Artistic Director of the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. Together they discuss the place of opera in Spanish cultural life, the role of the Teatro Real, audiences, institutions, artistic choices and the future of opera in Spain. The episode also features music by Francisco Asenjo Barbieri, Gonzalo Roig, Helena Cánovas and Francesco Corselli. Opera Road Trip is hosted by Sebastian F. Schwarz, Casting Director of Milan's Teatro alla Scala, whose curriculum as an opera manager includes positions at Theater an der Wien, Glyndebourne, Teatro Regio Torino, Festival della Valle d'Itria, Hamburgische Staatsoper and Wexford Festival Opera. He is Vice-president of the International Richard Strauss Society, member of the board of the European Musical Theatre Academy and co-founder of the Cesti Competition for Baroque Opera. All episodes: https://operavision.eu/feature/opera-road-trip Music extracts for this episode: Introduction: Fidelio (Ludwig van Beethoven): Overture, op. 72 Excerpt from El barberillo de Lavapiés (Francisco Asenjo Barbieri): "La canción de la Paloma" – Carmen Artaza, from the 2025 production directed by Christof Loy with the musical forces of Theater Basel. Excerpt from Cecilia Valdés (Gonzalo Roig): "Sí, yo soy Cecilia Valdés" – Pilar Garrido, from a concert of zarzuela and operetta at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, Valencia. Excerpt from Don Juan no existe (Helena Cánovas): Natalia Labourdette, from the 2024 Festival Castell de Peralada. Bonus Music: Excerpt from Achille in Sciro (Francesco Corselli): "Chi mai vide altrove ancora" – Sabina Puértolas, Orquestra Barroca de Sevilla, Ivor Bolton, from the 2023 revival by Teatro Real in Madrid. OperaVision is a freeview opera streaming platform, supported by the European Union's Creative Europe programme. Watch live streams as the performances themselves unfold in the opera house. Enjoy a variety of shows – including opera, operetta, musical theatre, dance, ballet and concerts. Opera connoisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision.

A Summer Pause – Reflections from the Road There is no new destination this month. Instead, Sebastian F. Schwarz pauses to reflect on the first year of Opera Road Trip and on the many conversations that have taken us from Italy to Ukraine, Ireland, Austria, Croatia, Poland, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium and the Czech Republic. How does an opera production actually come together? Why do singers cancel? Why don't opera singers use microphones? Why is opera so expensive? Drawing on decades of experience behind the scenes at some of Europe's leading opera houses, Sebastian answers some of the questions he is asked most often and reflects on what opera can still teach us about listening, collaboration, craftsmanship, storytelling and community. A personal summer essay on one of Europe's oldest—and most resilient—art forms. Music featured Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Le Nozze di Figaro: Overture (The Royal Opera, London) Richard Wagner — Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Prelude (Teatro Real, Madrid) Bonus track: Richard Wagner — Tannhäuser: "Dich, teure Halle", sung by Lise Davidsen (Queen Sonja Singing Competition, 2015)

Opera Road Trip – Czech Opera | From Mozart's Prague to Janáček Why is Czech opera considered one of Europe's richest musical traditions? Why did Prague become Mozart's favourite operatic city? And how did Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák and Leoš Janáček shape the operatic repertoire we know today? In this episode of Opera Road Trip, host Sebastian F. Schwarz explores more than four centuries of Czech opera—from the arrival of Italian opera in seventeenth-century Prague to the vibrant opera houses and festivals of today's Czech Republic. Joining the conversation are Jiří Heřman, Artistic Director of the opera of the National Theatre Brno and the Janáček Brno Festival, and internationally acclaimed stage director Barbora Horáková Joly. Together they discuss Czech opera from artistic, institutional and international perspectives, exploring repertoire, audiences, artistic identity, leadership, funding and the future of opera in one of Europe's most remarkable operatic landscapes. The episode also features music by Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák and Leoš Janáček, including recordings kindly made available by the London Symphony Orchestra, Teatro Real Madrid and the National Theatre Brno. Opera Road Trip is hosted by Sebastian F. Schwarz, Casting Director of Milan's Teatro alla Scala. Previously, he served as CEO, Artistic Director or Artistic Administrator at Theater an der Wien, Glyndebourne, Teatro Regio Torino, Festival della Valle d'Itria, Hamburg State Opera and Wexford Festival Opera. He is Vice-President of the International Richard Strauss Society, a board member of the European Musical Theatre Academy and co-founder of the Cesti Competition for Baroque Opera.Opera Europa's free streaming platform supported by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.

In this episode of OPERA Road Trip, host Sebastian F. Schwarz turns to Belgium—a country whose operatic culture emerged at the crossroads of Europe's great linguistic and political traditions. From the Habsburg courts of Brussels and the French influence on eighteenth-century musical life to the revolutionary atmosphere surrounding Belgian independence in 1830, the episode traces how opera became deeply interwoven with the cultural identity of the young nation. At the centre of that story stands La Monnaie / De Munt—one of Europe's most influential opera houses and a leading force in contemporary music theatre today. The episode features a conversation with Christina Scheppelmann and composer Iain Bell, whose opera Medusa recently received its world premiere in Brussels. Together, they discuss the realities of commissioning new operas in the twenty-first century, the collaboration between institutions and composers, and the importance of understanding the human voice not merely as a dramatic medium, but as one of the composer's central instruments. Special thanks to Iain Bell, La Monnaie / De Munt and Palazzetto Bru Zane for their support and participation in this episode.

In this episode of OPERA Road Trip, host Sebastian F. Schwarz turns to France—one of the historic strongholds of the European operatic tradition—shaped by a dense network of public institutions, a strong culture of state support, and a long-standing belief in opera as a public good. From the court of Louis XIV and the founding of the Académie Royale de Musique to the grand opéra tradition of the 19th century and the decentralisation policies of the post-war period, the episode traces how France developed a uniquely structured and highly institutionalised operatic ecosystem. It is a system built on stability and public investment, yet increasingly confronted with financial pressures, evolving audience expectations, and the need for renewal. At the heart of the episode are conversations with two leading figures of today's French opera landscape: Valérie Chevalier, General Director of Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier Occitanie, reflecting on regional opera, decentralisation, and the realities of leading a major house outside Paris; and Stéphane Degout, one of France's most internationally acclaimed baritones, offering a performer's perspective on the French repertoire, artistic identity, and the relationship between national tradition and global careers. Together, their voices reveal a system negotiating continuity and change—raising questions about how a deeply rooted cultural model can adapt to the demands of the present while preserving its artistic core. Opera Road Trip is hosted by Sebastian F. Schwarz who is Casting Director of Milan's Teatro alla Scala and whose curriculum as an opera manager includes CEO and Artistic Director and Administrator positions at Theater an der Wien, Glyndebourne, Teatro Regio Torino, Festival della Valle d'Itria, Hamburgische Staatsoper and Wexford Festival Opera. He is Vice-president of the International Richard Strauss Society, member of the board of the European Musical Theatre Academy and co-founder of the Cesti Competition for Baroque Opera. All episodes: https://operavision.eu/features/opera-road-trip Music extracts for this episode: Introduction: Fidelio (Beethoven): Overture, op. 72 Ecerpts from Herculanum (Félicien David): Véronique Gens, Edgaras Montvidas, Brussels Philharmonic, Hervé Niquet Ecerpts from L'île du rêve (Reynaldo Hahn): Hélène Guilmette, Cyrill Dubois, Munich Radio Orchestra, Hervé Niquet Ecerpts from Werther (Jules Massenet): Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Orchestre del'Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier-Occitanie, Jean-Marie Zeitouni