Blythe Gaissert was last with us in 2017 in our Detour production of Laura Kaminsky's As One, and returns now as Hansel in Hansel and Gretel. In this interview with Nic Reveles, she tells us about the physicality necessary to play this very act

Meet Gretel: Soprano, Sara Gartland

Jan 26th, 2020 8m 46s

The delightful Sara Gartland is back with us as Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, after having performed the role of Musetta for us in La boheme (2015). She's really thought a lot about Gretel and what makes her tick in this operatic version of the

Meet the Witch: Tenor, Joel Sorensen

Jan 22nd, 2020 11m 55s

We've done Humperdinck's wonderful opera Hansel and Gretel a number of times in our history of productions here at San Diego Opera, but we've never had a tenor play the role of the Witch! We're welcoming back tenor Joel Sorensen, who's been wit

Meet Radames: Tenor Carl Tanner

Oct 11th, 2019 9m 13s

It’s always great to welcome back friends who’ve sung with us before, and that’s certainly true of tenor Carl Tanner. Last with us as Calaf in Puccini’s Turandot, he now sings the role of Radames in Verdi’s Aida, a role with few parallels in th

Meet Amneris: Oleysa Petrova

Oct 11th, 2019 9m 2s

Check out our latest SDO Podcast as Nic Reveles interviews our Amneris in Verdi’s Aida, Russian mezzo-soprano Olesya Petrova. Born in St. Petersburg, her love for her native city is palpable as she talks about the artistic atmosphere that surro

Carmen: Meet Stage Director, Kyle Lang

Mar 28th, 2019 13m 53s

The wonderful young stage director Kyle Lang brought us terrific productions of The Pirates of Penzance and As One in the last couple of seasons. He's back for Carmen, and that's truly something to be excited about! Listen in as he tells us all

Carmen: Meet Robert Watson

Mar 27th, 2019 14m 36s

Tenor Robert Watson, our Don Jose in Carmen opening this week, has a lot to say about this character. Jose has one of the most interesting character arcs in all opera, moving from lyrical naif to obsessive lover with all of the musical changes

Carmen: Meet Sarah Tucker

Mar 21st, 2019 9m 12s

Soprano Sarah Tucker sings the role of Micaela in our production of Bizet's Carmen, a role that fits her very well. Micaela is, of course, Don Jose's childhood friend who has come to Seville to bring memories of home and the love of his mother

Carmen: Meet Scott Conner

Mar 21st, 2019 14m 45s

Bass Scott Conner sings the role of Escamillo in our production of Carmen by Georges Bizet. Listening to this voice...even his speaking voice...you'll want to hear him let loose in the Civic Theatre with the wonderful Toreador Song, an entrance

Carmen: Meet Ginger Costa-Jackson

Mar 19th, 2019 13m 28s

Mezzo-soprano Ginger Costa-Jackson obviously loves the opera Carmen, and has some definite viewpoints when it comes to the main character she portrays. It all boils down to being fully present, completely focused when playing this volatile char

Three Decembers: Adam Turner

Mar 4th, 2019 14m 48s

Conductor Adam Turner recently became the Artistic Director and Conductor for Virginia Opera, making him one of the youngest AD's in the American opera world. This is his third time at the helm for Jake Heggie's Three Decembers, and in this int

Three Decembers: Meet Stage Director, Karen Tiller

Mar 2nd, 2019 13m 27s

Director Karen Tiller has directed Three Decembers three times now, and obviously loves this opera by Jake Heggie. In this interview she talks about her love for the piece as well as for her deep appreciation for its connection between drama, t

Three Decembers: Meet Kristin Clayton

Feb 28th, 2019 9m 54s

Soprano Kristin Clayton has had quite an eclectic career so far...singing roles like Mimi and Violetta, plus singing new roles and including working with a circus! She originated the role of Beatrice in Heggie's Three Decembers, and has an affi

Three Decembers: Meet Steven LaBrie

Feb 27th, 2019 10m 46s

Baritone Steven LaBrie sings the role of Charlie in Jake Heggie's opera Three Decembers. Charlie is the gay son of Madeline Mitchell (mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade) and brother of Bea (soprano Kristin Clayton) in this intimate family drama.

Three Decembers: Meet Frederica von Stade

Feb 26th, 2019 19m 15s

We already know what a delightful person and great artist Frederica von Stade is. We're welcoming her back to San Diego Opera in the role of Madeline Mitchell, the central character in Jake Heggie's Three Decembers. In this interview she talks

Rigoletto: Conductor, Steven White

Feb 1st, 2019 15m 40s

Maestro Steven White is making his debut with San Diego Opera in this production of Rigoletto. (He also happens to be married to soprano Elizabeth Futral who has been with us on several occasions in the past, most notably as Violetta in our 201

Rigoletto: Conductor Steven White

Jan 30th, 2019 15m 40s

Rigoletto: Stage Director, Michael Cavanagh

Jan 30th, 2019 15m 57s

This is Canadian stage director Michael Cavanagh's debut with San Diego Opera and he's made quite an impression on the cast and crew working on Rigoletto with his positivity, collegiality and generous support of everyone involved in this import

Rigoletto: Tenor, Scott Quinn

Jan 29th, 2019 14m 16s

Get ready for a delightful conversation with tenor, Scott Quinn, singing the role of the Duke of Mantua in San Diego Opera's production of Verdi's Rigoletto. Scott is singing the role of a narcissistic, entitled nobleman who uses women for his

Rigoletto: Soprano Alisa Jordheim

Jan 23rd, 2019 12m 15s

Soprano Alisa Jordheim is a wonderful young singer making her role debut as well as her company debut with us as Gilda in Rigoletto. In this conversation with Dr. Nic she talks about being a grad student and finding herself in a production of t

Rigoletto: Interview with Stephen Powell

Jan 22nd, 2019 11m 48s

Baritone Stephen Powell is one of our favorite singers here at San Diego Opera, having sung ten productions with us over the years. He's bringing us his very special take on one of the strangest yet most powerful characters in all opera, and a

All Is Calm: Meet Stage Director, Alan Hicks

Nov 26th, 2018 12m 9s

Director Alan Hicks is new to San Diego Opera, holding a joint position as Assistant Stage Director for the company and as head of the opera program at San Diego State University. In this interview he shares his preparation for the WWI opera Al

All Is Calm: Meet Conductor Juan Carlos Acosta

Nov 13th, 2018 14m 5s

Juan Carlos Acosta has a long-standing relationship with San Diego Opera, as a student at our Student Dress Rehearsals, as a subscriber, as a member of the San Diego Opera Chorus and now as conductor of our upcoming production: All Is Calm. In

The Marriage of Figaro: Meet Conductor John Nelson

Oct 15th, 2018 11m 7s

In this fascinating interview, Maestro John Nelson shares his thoughts about Mozart, the brilliant young cast of The Marriage of Figaro, Stephen Lawless' flawless production (which, according to Nelson is the most musically effective production

Meeting Cherubino: The Marriage of Figaro

Oct 10th, 2018 10m 38s

Mezzo-soprano Emily Fons is back with us in the trouser role of Cherubino for The Marriage of Figaro. She was last with us as Zerlina in Mozart's Don Giovanni, and her contribution to that show was simply fantastic! In this interview with Dr. N