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Opera Road Trip

Opera Road Trip

By: OperaVision
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Opera Road Trip (2025-2027) is OperaVision's two-year podcast series, a journey through the 17 countries that currently partner with OperaVision, discovering their operatic history and current relationship with the artform, and meeting along the way young talents finding their voice and seasoned professionals who have devoted their lives to the stage, discovering the diverse paths that have led them to opera and the enduring belief in its relevance, past, present, and future. Opera Road Trip is hosted by Sebastian F. Schwarz. Before Opera Road Trip, OperaVision Next Generation podcast series (2022-2024) charted the journeys of singers on four competitive young artist programmes across Europe. From masterclasses and performances, to rehearsal rooms and dressing rooms, we hear the motivations, desires and the challenges they face - along with insight from experts on how they are nurturing the next generation of opera talent.2025 Art Entertainment & Performing Arts Music
Episodes
  • Czech Opera - From Mozart's Prague to Janáček and beyond

    Czech Opera - From Mozart's Prague to Janáček and beyond
    Jun 30 2026
    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. Opera Road Trip – Tschechische Oper | Von Mozarts Prag bis Janáček Warum zählt die tschechische Oper zu den bedeutendsten Operntraditionen Europas? Weshalb begeisterte sich Mozart so sehr für Prag? Und wie prägten Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák und Leoš Janáček das Opernrepertoire bis heute? In dieser Folge von Opera Road Trip begibt sich Sebastian F. Schwarz auf eine Reise durch mehr als vier Jahrhunderte tschechischer Operngeschichte – von den Anfängen der italienischen Oper im Prag des 17. Jahrhunderts bis zur außergewöhnlich lebendigen Opernlandschaft der heutigen Tschechischen Republik. Zu Gast sind Jiří Heřman, Künstlerischer Leiter der Oper des Nationaltheaters Brünn und des Janáček-Brno-Festivals, sowie die international renommierte Regisseurin Barbora Horáková Joly. Gemeinsam sprechen sie über die tschechische Oper aus künstlerischer, institutioneller und internationaler Perspektive und diskutieren Repertoire, Publikum, künstlerische Identität, Führungskultur, Finanzierung und die Zukunft einer der bemerkenswertesten Opernlandschaften Europas. Außerdem erklingen Werke von Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák und Leoš Janáček in Aufnahmen, die freundlicherweise vom London Symphony Orchestra, dem Teatro Real Madrid und dem Nationaltheater Brünn zur Verfügung gestellt wurden. Opera Road Trip wird von Sebastian F. Schwarz geschrieben, moderiert und produziert. Er ist Casting Director des Teatro alla Scala in Mailand und war zuvor unter anderem Generalintendant, Künstlerischer Leiter oder Betriebsdirektor am Theater an der Wien, in Glyndebourne, am Teatro Regio Torino, beim Festival della Valle d'Itria, an der Hamburgischen Staatsoper sowie bei der Wexford Festival Opera. Er ist Vizepräsident der Internationalen Richard-Strauss-Gesellschaft, Mitglied des Vorstands der European Musical Theatre Academy und Mitbegründer des Cesti-Wettbewerbs für Barockoper. Alle Folgen: https://operavision.eu/features/opera-road-trip Opera Road Trip – L'opéra tchèque | Du Prague de Mozart à Janáček Pourquoi l'opéra tchèque occupe-t-il une place si particulière dans l'histoire de la musique européenne ? Pourquoi Prague a-t-elle tant fasciné Mozart ? Et comment Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák et Leoš Janáček ont-ils façonné le répertoire lyrique que nous connaissons aujourd'hui ? Dans ce nouvel épisode d'Opera Road Trip, Sebastian F. Schwarz retrace plus de quatre siècles d'histoire de l'opéra tchèque, depuis l'arrivée de l'opéra italien dans la Prague du XVIIᵉ siècle jusqu'à la vitalité exceptionnelle des maisons d'opéra et des festivals de la République tchèque contemporaine. Ses invités sont Jiří Heřman, directeur artistique de l'Opéra du Théâtre national de Brno et du Festival Janáček Brno, ainsi que la metteuse en scène de renommée internationale Barbora Horáková Joly. Ensemble, ils abordent l'opéra tchèque sous ses dimensions artistique, institutionnelle et internationale, en évoquant le répertoire, les publics, l'identité artistique, le leadership, le financement et les perspectives d'avenir de l'un des réseaux ...
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    59 mins
  • Belgium - Opera at Europe's crossroads

    Belgium - Opera at Europe's crossroads
    Jun 1 2026

    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.

    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 Thésée (Francois-Joseph Gossec): Virginie Pochon, Les Agrémens, Chœur de Chambre de Namur, Guy van Waas

    Ecerpts from the duet "De ton epoux voila donc le partage" from La Caravane de Caïre (André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry): Katia Velletaz, Cyrille Dubois, Les Agrémens, Guy van Waas

    Ecerpt from the Ouverture from Medusa (Iain Bell): Marie-Nicole Lemieux, La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Michiel Delanghe

    Excerpt from an Aria of Medusa from Medusa (Iain Bell): Claudia Boyle, La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra, Michiel Delanghe

    Bonus Music:

    Excerpt from a duet from Hulda (César Franck): Jennifer Holloway, Edgaras Montvidas, Orchestre Philhamonique Royal de Liège, Gergely Madaras

    Link to the recorded catalogue of rediscovered works published by Palazzetto Bru Zane:

    https://bru-zane.com/en/dischi/

    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 connaisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision.
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    46 mins
  • Opéra à la française

    Opéra à la française
    Apr 28 2026
    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 Excerpt from Le Nozze di Figaro (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart): Stéphane Degout, Dutch National Opera, Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, Ivor Bolton Bonus Music: Excerpt from Mazeppa (Clémence Grandval): Julien Dran, Munich Radio Orchestra, Mihhail Gerts Link to the recorded catalogue of rediscovered works published by Palazzetto Bru Zane: https://bru-zane.com/en/dischi/ 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 connaisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision. In dieser Episode von OPERA Road Trip richtet Gastgeber Sebastian F. Schwarz den Blick auf Frankreich – eines der historischen Zentren der europäischen Operntradition, geprägt von einem dichten Netz öffentlicher Institutionen, einer ausgeprägten Kultur staatlicher Förderung und dem tief verwurzelten Verständnis von Oper als öffentliches Gut. Vom Hof Ludwigs XIV. und der Gründung der Académie Royale de Musique über die Grand opéra des 19. Jahrhunderts bis hin zu den Dezentralisierungspolitiken der Nachkriegszeit zeichnet die Episode nach, wie sich in Frankreich ein einzigartig strukturiertes und stark institutionalisiertes Opernsystem entwickelt hat. Es ist ein System, das auf Stabilität und öffentlicher Finanzierung beruht, zugleich jedoch zunehmend mit finanziellem Druck, sich wandelnden Publikumserwartungen und dem Bedarf nach Erneuerung konfrontiert ist. Im Zentrum der Episode stehen Gespräche mit zwei prägenden Persönlichkeiten der heutigen französischen Opernlandschaft: Valérie Chevalier, Generaldirektorin des Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier Occitanie, die über regionale Oper, Dezentralisierung und die Realität der Leitung eines großen Hauses außerhalb von Paris spricht; sowie Stéphane Degout, einer der international renommiertesten französischen Baritone, der eine künstlerische Perspektive auf das französische Repertoire, Fragen der Identität und das Spannungsverhältnis zwischen nationaler Tradition und internationaler Karriere einbringt. Gemeinsam zeichnen ihre Stimmen das Bild eines Systems im Spannungsfeld von Kontinuität und Wandel – und werfen die Frage auf, wie sich ein tief verwurzeltes ...
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    43 mins
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