LA Opera Podcasts: Behind the Curtain

What does engineering have in common with opera? What brought a Tulsa boy to New York City before he even finished high school? And what is it about the music that makes "Carmen" one of the most performed operas of all time? Uncover all of this and more when Gail Eichenthal interviews director and scenic designer Thaddeus Strassberger on this episode of "Behind the Curtain." Thaddeus helms the LA Opera season opener, "Carmen," running October 17 through November 7 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Tickets are on sale now at LAOpera.org.

Today’s episode is a special feature from the Vault, with James Conlon, LA Opera Conductor Laureate, whom we couldn’t be more excited to have returning to the LA Opera podium this season to conduct “The Marriage of Figaro.” In this episode, Conlon discusses renaissance man Leonard Bernstein, growing up in Bernstein’s New York City, and Bernstein’s unique gift for connecting with people. Conlon also illustrates how Bernstein’s “Candide” is just as timely now as it was in the 1950’s, tackling challenging political themes with humanity, humor, and grace. Get your tickets now to “Candide” and “The Marriage of Figaro” as part of season packages at LAOpera.org.

With the "Behind the Curtain" team taking the summer to compose a great new podcast season for you, we're sharing Julia Friedman's thoughtful analysis of David Hockney's set design from the 2024 run of "Turandot" at LA Opera, on this episode from the Vault. Julia shares what Hockney saw as the commonalities between theater, photography, and painting, what inspired him to start designing the floor of a set, and why he represented the essence of an object—not the object itself—on stage. She also reveals what artistic experience Hockney described as "one of the best days of his life." "Turandot" returns to the LA Opera stage in 2027, with tickets on sale now as part of a season package at LAOpera.org. So, listen in and celebrate the great David Hockney with us on this episode of "Behind the Curtain."

This episode of Behind the Curtain is a toast to new beginnings. It's a special introduction to LA Opera's new Music Director, Domingo Hindoyan, joined in conversation by LA Opera President and Chief Executive Officer, Christopher Koelsch. Domingo shares deeply about his youthful discipline on the violin, his first experience conducting (which he describes as a "wave of sound"), and his equal love of symphonic work and opera. The conversation then lights on the joy of collaboration and having the utmost respect for the orchestra's skills. So settle in and meet the Maestro, and then get tickets for LA Opera's 26/27 season at laopera.org.

Lost and recovered voices. Contemporary composers and community opera. This episode of Behind the Curtain is a special one because it is the final episode in our miniseries with Maestro Conlon, as he rounds out his final season as Music Director with LA Opera. It's also one of the last episodes of our podcast season as the opera season sings to a close. We'll bring you some episodes from the vault this summer before starting up again with new episodes for our 26/27 season in the fall. But first, enjoy this fascinating exploration of 20th century music with the Maestro, and join us, with all of Los Angeles, in thanking him for an incredible 20 years as Richard Seaver Music Director of LA Opera. What a legacy. Thank you, Maestro, from all of us.