Co-hosts Carol Anderson and Jeff Counts sit down with John Holiday prior to his Utah Opera debut in his signature role in Jonathan Dove and April de Angelis’ Flight. 
Many, not familiar with the opera world will know John Holiday from season 19 of NBC’s The Voice. John is one of the most sought-after countertenors (a cis-male that sings in a mezzo-soprano range) in the opera scene. 
John shares anecdotes about his career as an artist and educator in a pandemic world. 
One of the gems of the discussion was around John’s TEDx talk, “The Monsters Under My Bed,” that focuses on family dynamics and how you can find your worth, despite the situation. You can find that talk here: https://www.johnholiday.com/media#
Does John have a story that he would like to see set as an opera? Find out in this amazing conversation with John Holiday.

Episode 6.04 – John Holiday – If I could do it again, I would

Composer Arlene Sierra recently sat down with the Ghost Light Podcast to discuss her residency with the symphony upcoming artist in residency with the Utah Symphony in April 2022.
Arlene discusses her roots in electronic music and the journey back to composing acoustical music. Arlene studied electronic music composition at Oberlin, and found that the electronic music classes fascinating for her composition sensitivities. But although she loved the experience she looked forward to opportunities to get back in collaboration with live musicians.
In April, Arlene will spend a few weeks in Utah working with the Utah Symphony in an American debut of Nature Symphony and a world premiere of Bird Symphony, a piece the Utah Symphony commissioned. She will also work with the Utah Youth Symphony in preparing a paired down version of Nature Symphony. 
Arlene was also asked about her perspective, as an American composer living and working abroad, about the representation shift in both living and female composers.
 You may know that Arlene and her husband are both composers. What’s their secret to keeping their personal and professional lives in balance? Find out on Episode 6 of the Ghost Light Podcast.

Episode 6.05 - Arlene Sierra - So Now People Are Listening

Recently hired Costume Director, CeeCee Swalling joins the podcast to discuss what goes on behind the scenes in an opera costume shop.
Find CeeCee on instagram @costumesbyceecee
Or online at https://www.costumesbyceecee.com

Episode 7.02 – Behind the Seams: Every Body is Beautiful

Among the many facets of creating a new opera, librettist Mark Campbell feels that the most important element is starting with heart.
Hear insight into his creative process as he sits down with co-hosts Carol Anderson and Jeff Counts to discuss the upcoming Utah Opera production of Grammy Award winner - The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.

Episode 7.05 – Part I – The Making of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs with Librettist Mark Campbell

Composer Mason Bates shares insight into his creative process as he sits down with co-hosts Carol Anderson and Jeff Counts to discuss the upcoming Utah Opera production of Grammy Award winner - The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs. 
What elements are considered when creating a new opera? What sound elements are considered with each character? And why write an opera about a tech giant? Find out in the latest episode of Utah Symphony Utah Opera’s Ghost Light Podcast.

Episode 7.06 – Part II – The Making of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs with Composer Mason Bates

To kick of the 8th season of the Ghost Light Podcast, co-hosts Carol Anderson and Jeff Counts take you behind the music and production of the upcoming Utah Opera presentation of Puccini's La bohème.
Discover the historical origins of the famed opera and why it's among the most performed operas world-wide. Jeff and Carol also give you some insider details of this production, and discuss La bohème's contribution to pop culture.

Episode 8.1 - La Bohème Prelude

From the confused cosmos of the opening movement, to the folky and athletic scherzo, to the glorious finale. Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson take you deep into the history and subtle details of Beethoven’s magnum opus. Learn about Beethoven’s personal life at the time of writing, the contemporary reaction to the work, and what Symphony No.9 means in modern culture.
And finally, why do “war horse” pieces like Beethoven’s Ninth get played so often? And how does it stay fresh to the listener?

Episode 8.2 – Beethoven 9 Deep Dive

Hosts Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson take a deep look into the origins of film music. From silent films to the first "talkies" and to the modern epic scores. 
What are their favorite movie scores? Who are their favorite creative partners? How does movie music fit in with the modern symphony orchestra? and finally, how do movie score composers stack up against the great composers in history?

Episode 8.4 - A Movie Music Deep Dive

Hosts Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson give an in-depth look into Utah Opera's upcoming production of Rachel Portman and Nicholas Wright's "The Little Prince." 
The opera is based on the children's book of the same name by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Originally debuted in 2019 by Utah Opera, this colorful instant classic returns to the Capitol Theatre stage with a whole new cast.

Episode 8.5 - Little Prince Prelude

Co-hosts Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson sit down to discuss Scheherazade, Utah Symphony’s May performance featuring both Rimsky-Korsakov's famous orchestral suite as well as Ravel’s lesser-known Shéhérazade (a lovely song cycle originally inspired by Rimsky-Korsakov's version sung by Utah Opera Favorite Wendy Bryn Harmer).
These two evening concerts perfectly captures the sultan’s savagery, the storyteller’s mesmerizing quality, and the exotic tales Scheherazade weaves over the course of 1001 Arabian Nights.

Episode 8.9 - Scheherazade Deep Dive

The Ghost Light team sits down with Maestro John DeMain (Music Director, Madison Symphony) to discuss the intersection of Opera and Musical Theater. He shares insights from his experiences conducting Houston Grand Opera, his conversations with Stephen Sondheim regarding Sweeney Todd, and what subject he would like to see be made into an opera.
To get tickets to the upcoming Utah Opera performance of Sweeney Todd visit https://bit.ly/3XANdH3

Ghost Light Episode 9.1 - The intersection of Opera and Musical Theater with John DeMain

Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson share background and behind-the-scenes information about the upcoming Utah Opera production of Sondeim’s Sweeney Todd.
In short, Sweeney Todd is a vengeance story in the vein of so many of the tragedies Utah Opera has staged in recent years. Although there is a high body count in this production, it’s about more than just murder. The complex stories and motives of both the principal and chorus characters are intricately weaved together with musical motifs that add depth to their respective roles in a way that only Sondheim could achieve.
The original production featured an industrial set and staging with turntable and trap doors. Early reviews claimed the combination of music and theater “magic” of the now beloved work was almost too much for its own good. 
Utah Opera’s production is cast with opera singers that are able to vocally straddle the fine divide between opera and music theater. 

For tickets to Utah Opera's October 2024 production of Sweeney Todd visit: utahopera.org/sweeney

Episode 9.2 - Sondheim's Sweeney Todd Prelude

For over 50 years, John Williams has delighted millions of listeners with his epic film music. Compositionally sophisticated and melodically inventive, his more than one hundred cinematic scores are masterpieces of virtuosic story-telling. In one of their patented Deep Dives™️, film score devotees Jeff and Carol talk about John Williams' life and amazing body of work, while sharing their personal experiences of Williams' music, both as listeners and performers. 

For tickets to Utah Symphony's January 2025 performance of the Film Music of John Williams, visit: https://utahsymphony.org/event/id/33383/

Ghost Light Episode 9.6 - The Music of John Williams

Though there is a children’s chorus, a children’s ballet, and adults playing children, "Hansel and Gretel" is much more than a children’s opera. In preparation for Utah Opera’s presentation of this beloved fairytale, Jeff and Carol talk about the opera’s backstory and why it’s one of the more underrated and sophisticated scores of the late nineteenth century.

Ghost Light Episode 9.7 - Humperdinck's "Hansel & Gretel" Prelude

From riots to radicalism to Disney and dinosaurs, Igor Stravinsky's ballet "The Rite of Spring" blasted on the classical music scene in May of 1913 and has been captivating audiences ever since. In one of their Deep Dives, Jeff and Carol talk about the man behind the music, the stories around the premiere, and the music that still sounds modern more than a century later (even though it isn't).

Episode 9.8 - The Rite of Spring Deep Dive

You've heard the aria and you've seen the iconic sad commedia clown face. Now join Jeff and Carol as they look beyond the greasepaint into the bleeding heart of Ruggero Leoncavallo's visceral opera. 

Episode 9.10 - Leoncavallo's Pagliacci Prelude

Jeff and Carol invite musicologist Catherine Mayes to help unpack the thorny topic of exoticism and colonialism in Western Music. This is part one of a three-episode introduction to Utah Opera's upcoming production of Puccini's Madame Butterfly.

Episode 9.11 - Madame Butterfly Prelude Part One

Mysterious cloaked figures, thoughts of poisoning, and genius cut off at its prime...the lore surrounding Mozart's Requiem, unfinished at his untimely demise, is substantial, but the truth is even more compelling. Jeff and Carol, joined by special guest Utah Symphony Chorus director Austin McWilliams, dive deep to uncover the real story behind the music.

Episode 9.12 - Mozart's Requiem

If at first you don’t succeed, rewrite it four times—just ask Puccini. In this season’s final opera prelude, Jeff and Carol explore Madame Butterfly, from its rocky premiere to eventual triumph. They delve into the opera’s complex cultural backdrop, examine its literary roots, and confront the tension between the troubling elements within its story and its lasting popularity with opera audiences. 

Episode 9.13 - Madame Butterfly Prelude Part Two

What does it take to reimagine "Madame Butterfly" for today’s stage? Director Matthew Ozawa and mezzo-soprano Nina Yoshida Nelsen join us for a candid conversation about creativity, representation, and reshaping a classic from the inside out.

Episode 9.14 - Madame Butterfly Prelude Part Three

From its dramatic opening that gave its composer “no peace,” to its sparkling finale, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor has been delighting listeners for almost two centuries. To open the USUO Ghost Light Podcast’s tenth season, Jeff and Carol uncover the artistic partnership behind this landmark (and revolutionary) work and consider why it remains a cornerstone of the concerto repertoire.

Episode 10.1 - Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto

It’s October, which means it’s time for the second annual Bloodcurdling Opening Opera, (aka BOO). This week, in Jeff and Carol's first Utah Opera Prelude of the podcast season, they discuss Paul Moravec and Mark Campbell’s chilling adaptation of Stephen King’s novel The Shining, based on the 1977 bestseller penned by the “King of Horror.” What does it take to turn such an iconic book into a riveting operatic thriller? Join us to find out! 

Episode 10.2 - The Shining

At just 28, Gustav Mahler redefined the symphony with his bold and deeply personal Symphony No. 1. From the stirrings of nature to the depths of human sorrow, Mahler poured his heart into this work—revising it several times as he refined this symphonic debut. Avid Mahler enthusiasts Jeff and Carol take a Deep Dive into this monumental piece, setting the stage for Music Director Designate Markus Poschner’s return to the Utah Symphony podium.

Episode 10.3 - Mahler's Symphony No. 1

Two little pieces of gristle in our throat - they produce amazing sounds that represent our identity as speakers and maybe even singers, and they are remarkably durable, until they aren't. Vocal injury is often discussed in hushed and secretive tones, and we’re bringing the conversation into the open. Singer and USUO Board Chair Annette Jarvis and Vocologist Dr. Lynn Maxfield join Jeff and Carol to tell an inspiring story of determination, discipline, and a voice reborn. 

Episode 10.4 - A Voice Reborn

When the Utah Symphony introduced German conductor Markus Poschner as Music Director Designate last fall, it marked an exciting new era for the orchestra—just the eighth music director in its 85-year history! Renowned for his dynamic artistry and contagious enthusiasm, Maestro Poschner is already transforming the connection between the orchestra and its audiences. He spoke with Carol and Jeff from Linz, Austria, about his vision for what comes next.

Episode 10.5 - Maestro Poschner

Classical music has long been shaped by the traditions, and occasional barriers, of the concert hall and theater. Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson welcome USUO Opera Education Manager Kevin Nakatani and Front of House Manager Melissa Robison to explore how we can reimagine those spaces to be more inclusive, responsive, and welcoming to people with diverse abilities and needs. Join us for a timely conversation about making opera and symphony performances a richer, more accessible experience for all audiences. 

To learn more about or register for Access to Music, visit https://usuo.org/education/access-to-music/

Explore this list of resources on accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Visit www.usuo.org for information on upcoming concerts and performances at our venues across Utah. 

To submit a question to our team, or suggest a topic for an upcoming episode, send an email to ghostlight@usuo.org

USUO’s Ghostlight podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson. 

Episode 10.6: Breaking Down Barriers

Richard Strauss’ tone poems represent the zenith of orchestral storytelling, and in Ein Heldenleben, the story gets personal. Over the course of fifty vivid minutes, Strauss sketches a musical self-portrait of a composer battling critics, finding lifelong love, contemplating his musical successes and ultimately settling into a vision of hard-won peace. Join Jeff and Carol for a Deep Dive into this epic work, as they share the history behind the work, and examine whether Ein Heldenleben is full of self-deprecating irony or a composer’s ultimate ego trip.

Visit www.usuo.org for information on upcoming concerts and performances at our venues across Utah.

To submit a question to our team, or suggest a topic for an upcoming episode, send an email to ghostlight@usuo.org

USUO’s Ghost Light podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson.

Episode 10.7 - A Hero's Life

Modern life feels increasingly complex, and many of us struggle to stay balanced amid a constant swirl of competing expectations. Last season USUO introduced a series of Well-Being Concerts, each designed to offer Utah audiences a space for restoration through music’s unique capacity to calm, center, and heal. In this episode, Ben Kipp, Vice President of Education and Community Engagement, joins Jeff and Carol to reflect on the vision behind this initiative and to share how these concerts are already making a meaningful impact in people’s lives.

To find out more about USUO’s Well-Being Concerts or to register for an upcoming concert, visit utahsymphony.org/education/well-being-concert-series.

Carnegie Hall has been a leader in developing Well-Being Concerts. To see more about their current season and partnerships such as theirs with USUO, go to www.carnegiehall.org/Events/Well-Being-Concerts or visit  www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po6QTj98p2o to view a video about the experience. 

Visit www.usuo.org for information on upcoming concerts and performances at our venues across Utah.

To submit a question to our team, or suggest a topic for an upcoming episode, send an email to ghostlight@usuo.org

USUO’s Ghost Light podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson.

Episode 10.8 - Where Music Meets Well-Being

Season 2, Ep. 6 – Renowned composer and conductor Matthias Pintscher talks about his creative process in composing new works, and how music speaks to our heart and mind regardless or our musical expertise.

6 Final

Episode 2.6: Matthias Pintscher

Season 2, Ep. 12 – The fabulous Capathia Jenkins talks about the musical legacy of Ella Fitzgerald, Broadway, and her fight to help homeless youth.

GLPC Season 2 Ep. #12- Capathia Jenkins

Episode 2.12: Capathia Jenkins

The stage is dark, but the conversation is just beginning. Welcome to Utah Symphony | Utah Opera's Ghost Light podcast, a behind the curtain look into the world of classical music and opera and the artists who make it. Hosted by Jeff Counts and Carol Anderson. Produced and edited by Robert Bedont.

Ghost Light Podcast (Utah Symphony | Utah Opera)

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