OperaNow! #154: No Spin Zone

Opera star Katherine Jenkins joins Dancing With The Stars...Lyric Opera Chicago commisions "Bel Canto"...Paul Potts biopic may get a big pop star cast member...Cover Latonia Moore makes Met debut in Aida radio broadcast...Andrea Bocelli immolates and cancels final Romeo et Juliette in Genoa.

Olivers Corner continues with Romeo et Juliette (Act 2) and clips from Fernand Ansseau, Dmitri Smirnov, Jussi Björling, and Jose Carreras. (Plus the mystery singers...get your scorecards).

Plus Guess Who Died?

This week features Michael, The OC, Doug Dodson, Jenny Rivera, and Maura Lafferty.

OperaNow! #153: Sumi Jo's Sexy Eyebrows

Should Levine bow out gracefully from The Met?...Opera Orchestra of New York cancels Domingo's Simon Boccanegra...ENO launches online search for new "mini" works...Osvaldo Golijav: Musical Thief?...Fabio Luisi stands up for Andrea Bocelli...a sex trafficking opera...Kentucky Opera maestro steps down amid orchestra union dispute.

Oliver starts his series on Romeo et Juliette, Act 1 and tracks by Simon Keenlyside, Angela Gheorghiu, Andree Esposito, Alain Vanzo (and some mystery singers, dear listeners so get your score cards out!)

Plus Guess Who Died!

This week features Michael, The OC, and Doug Dodson.

And now, the eyebrows...

OperaNow! #152: THE ANGRY ONE?!

Which operas need new recordings?...German newspapers want that good review back!...Tewkesbury gets a rare cast for Gotterdamerung...Meryl Streep breathes with her back

Oliver's Corner finishes with Norma part 2 and recordings by Maria Callas, Elinor Ross, Leyla Gencer, and Edita Gruberova.

Plus Guess Who Died (or didn't...sheesh!)

This week features Michael, The OC, Doug Dodson, and Jenny Rivera.

OperaNow! #151: The Good News Is...

Deutsche Oper called out for staging Hitler's favorite on opera on his birthday...Fremont Opera closes down...Opera Charleston is now in business...Ft. Worth Opera extends Darren Keith Woods contract...San Francisco Opera releases financial results...Better head voice today...how to ROCK...San Franciso bullying opera...Met audience member vents to the internets.

Oliver's Corner looks at Norma with recordings by Elinor Ross, Maria Callas, Rosa Ponselle, Anita Cerquetti, and Christina Deutekom.

This week features Michael, The OC, Jenny Rivera, and Matt Garrett.

No New Show This Week...Why Not Go Back?

Scheduling has prevented a new ep this week, so I suggest you dig down into the OperaNow! archives and listen to this timeless classic, Building Your Library: with Ken Benson! 

OperaNow! #150: Sesquicentennial-rific!

The show will go on at New York City Opera...LA Opera repays half of their $14 MM loan a year early (and announce new dynamic ticket pricing plan)...San Francisco includes three new works in the 2012/13 season...Dallas Opera announces a new opera by Jake Heggie...Saddam Hussein's music teacher goes to jail...Skylight "Opera" drops the opera moniker.

Oliver's Corner continues to it's Norma series with a look at Adalgisa and selections by Elīna Garanča, Eva Mei, Tatiana Tryoanos, Shirley Verrett, and Marilyn Horne.

Plus Guess Who Died? and OPERABUSTERS!

This week features Michael, The OC, Doug Dodson and Jenny Rivera.

OperaNow! #149: Sh*t Opera Singers Say

NYCO and the unions are back to talking...Opera Boston fell due to lack of single major donor...asian musicians will take over our orchestras (and possibly sound asian when they do so)...Thomas Quasthoff retires...Washington Natoinal Opera plans Ring cycle for 2016 (hope it lasts)...New York Phil iPhone debacle.

Oliver's Corner looks at Norma and some clips of various Pollione's including Giacomo Laur-Volpi, Francesco Merli, Franco Corelli, Jon Vickers, and Luciano Pavarotti.

This week features Michael, The OC, Doug Dodson, and internet video meme sensation Jenny Rivera.

Sh*t Opera Singers Say

In case you haven't seen it yet...

OperaNow! #148: Together Again

Oliver, Doug, and Jenny give a recap on the Met's production of Enchanted Island, New York City Opera initiates a lockout to the unions on the eve of the rehersal period...Opera Boston shuts down...Aretha Franklin wants to find the next big opera singer...stabbed del Monaco brother is stabbed and recovering...man choses real estate over opera...Willam Mason steps down from Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Oliver closes out his "Singers You Should Know" series with Shirley Verrett and tracks from Macbeth, Don Carlo, Maria Stuarda and in recital.

This week features Michael, The OC, Doug Dodson, and Jenny Rivera.

OperaNow! in NYC!

OperaNow!: Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!