In the first episode of our two part series on Benjamin Britten, we get a brief overview of Britten’s prolific musical output, his musical influences, and the huge impact that Peter Pears had on his life and work.



Written and presented by Jane Potter
Britten: Roger Carr

produced by Ashley Daniel Foot and Jane Potter
audio editing by Jack Goodison


musical clearances: Ashley Daniel Foot and Vancouver Opera

Britten - Life and Times - Act 1 - presented by Vancouver Opera

This episode has been published and can be heard everywhere your podcast is available.
In the second episode of our two part series on Benjamin Britten, we talk to the composer himself (played by Roger Carr) in the form of a Proust questionnaire. 



Written and presented by Jane Potter
Britten: Roger Carr

produced by Ashley Daniel Foot and Jane Potter
audio editing by Jack Goodison

musical clearances: Ashley Daniel Foot and Vancouver Opera

Britten: Life and Times - Act 2

“To be loving we willingly hear the other’s truth, and most important, we affirm the value of truth telling. Lies may make people feel better, but they do not help them to know love.” ~bell hooks

Vancouver Opera honours Black History Month and shares a conversation that took place during Indie Fest 2022, co-hosted by Debi Wong of re:Naissance Opera and Ashley Daniel Foot the Senior Manager of Partnerships, Engagement, and EDI. 



Featuring: 

-Rocky Jones, Minnesota Opera’s Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

-Dawn Pemberton, Vancouver’s own Queen of Soul.

-Morgan-Paige Melbourne, Toronto-based queer interdisciplinary artist.



This profoundly powerful conversation, a truth-telling reflects on the state of Black Opera and performance in North America, and the way forward to end cultural and urban erasures in communities of colour.

Holding Space, Giving Voice, and Uplifting Black Voices

We were honoured to welcome an incredible panel of Wagnerian singers, artists, and fans to a robust discussion of The Flying Dutchman. 

Join host Ashley Daniel Foot alongside:
- Les Dala, Conductor of The Flying Dutchman 
- Marjorie Owens, Senta in The Flying Dutchman 
- J. Patrick Raftery, singer, UBC professor, and expert on all things Wagner
- Stanis Smith, musician, architect, and super fan
 
Vancouver Opera presents The Flying Dutchman - April 29th to May 7th, 2023, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. For tickets and more information visit vancouveropera.ca


Produced by Ashley Daniel Foot
Audio Editing by Mack McGillivray

Talking Dutchman

Richard Wagner is known today as one of the greatest, most influential composers to have lived. But his life, anything but easy and straightforward, was as tumultuous as the age he was born into. Join us for a three-episode look at the sometimes turbulent, often unrestrained, but always inspired life that shaped the man.

Vancouver Opera presents The Flying Dutchman - April 29th to May 7th, 2023, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. For tickets and more information visit vancouveropera.ca 

Written and presented by Jane Potter
David Bloom as the voice of Richard Wagner and Charles Baudelaire
Produced by Ashley Daniel Foot
Audio Editing by Mack McGillivray

Wagner: Life and Times - Act 1

Richard Wagner is known today as one of the greatest, most influential composers to have lived. But his life, anything but easy and straightforward, was as tumultuous as the age he was born into. Join us now for the second half of our exploration of the life and times of Richard Wagner. When we left him at the end of episode one, Wagner and his wife, Minna, had just returned to Germany following 12 years in exile.

Vancouver Opera presents The Flying Dutchman - April 29th to May 7th, 2023, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. For tickets and more information visit vancouveropera.ca

Episode Credits: 
Written and presented by - Jane Potter 
Voice of Richard Wagner - David Bloom 
Produced by - Ashley Daniel Foot 
Audio editing by - Mack McGillivray

Wagner: Life and Times - Act 2

Richard Wagner is known today as one of the greatest, most influential composers to have lived. But his life, anything but easy and straightforward, was as tumultuous as the age he was born into. Our top-15 list of things you didn’t know about Richard Wagner takes you behind the scenes of the life of one of Germany’s most famous exports.

Vancouver Opera presents The Flying Dutchman - April 29th to May 7th, 2023, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. For tickets and more information visit vancouveropera.ca

Episode Credits:
Written and presented by - Jane Potter
Voice of Richard Wagner, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Friedrich Nietzsche  - David Bloom
Produced by - Ashley Daniel Foot
Audio editing by - Mack McGillivray

Wagner: Life and Times - 15 Strange and Surprising Discoveries About Herr Wagner

The 2022-2023 Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program toured ten elementary schools performing their show Singing Stories, a fun and exciting operatic experience that asks the question, what if the show goes wrong but in the best possible way?

Join host Ashley Daniel Foot in a discussion about Singing Stories with five members of the Young Artists Program: Sawyer Craig, Luka Kawabata, Amy Seulky Lee, Jeremy Scinocca, and Hillary Tufford.

This year's School Tour is supported by Telus Friendly Future Foundation, CIBC Wood Gundy, Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, Diamond Foundation.


Episode Credits:
Host - Ashley Daniel Foot

Guests from the Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program - Sawyer Craig, Luka Kawabata, Amy Seulky Lee, Jeremy Scinocca, and Hillary Tufford

Audio Editing - Mack McGillivray


Music Credits:
Japanese Lullaby 竹田の子守唄 (Takeda No Komoriuta) Performed by Japonské Trio - Natsuko Bručková, Tomoko Kanda, and Yukie Ichimura

Doll Song “Les oiseaux dans la charmille” from Jacques Offenbach’s Les contes d'Hoffmann, performed by Katarzyna Dondalska

Overture to Richard Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer, performed by the University of Illinois Symphonic Band

Introducing: Singing Stories

A fascinating and insightful conversation with baritone, and Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist, Luka Kawabata. Luka talks passionately about his Hafu ハーフ Project and the unique intersection between family, memory, and music. We also discuss the state of modern opera and how to confront our operatic canon.

Episode Credits:
Host - Ashley Daniel Foot
Guest - Luka Kawabata https://www.lukakawabata.com/
Editing - Mack McGillivray
Cover Photo - Mark Yammine https://www.markyammine.com/

The Hafu ハーフ Project:
Chapter 1: Paueru-Gai パウエル街 https://youtu.be/-0an29gw0L8
Chapter 2: Childhood 幼年 https://youtu.be/Q1TU2yE5iHk
Chapter 3: Wish 希望 - Coming Soon

VancouverOpera

Popular tracks