Operation Opera

A two-time Global Music Awards Winner, Stephen P. Brown is a British-American Conductor-Composer bringing good music to life by performing on four continents for over 35 years. Alisa and Rachel had the opportunity to chat with him on his revolutionary ideas for approaching performing and building an audience.

Alisa and Rachel sat down with Kathleen Kelly to talk about being mothers in this business of opera and creating new works to satisfy new audiences. Kathleen Kelly enjoys a wide-ranging and dynamic musical life as a pianist, opera coach, conductor, and master teacher. The first woman and first American named as Director of Musical Studies at the Vienna State Opera, Kathleen joined the faculty of the University of Michigan in 2015 as that school’s first Coach/Conductor of Opera.

This month Alisa Peterson Larsen and Rachel Payne chatted with Irish Soprano Mairead Buicke about balancing performance and family and the community we want to build.

Alisa and Rachel have another discussion on auditions, specifically the side of dealing with rejection and criticism.

We sit down with Deirdre Brenner and Chanda Vanderhart of the Concert series "Mosaique" to discuss their work in Vienna and some thoughts on music and teaching in the world today!

Alisa Peterson and Rachel Payne have a discussion about surviving audition season in the classical singing world.

Alisa Peterson and Rachel Payne have a discussion about the "me too" hashtag that's been trending recently and everything surrounding it.

Classical singers Alisa Peterson and Rachel Payne discuss music as a connecting force to bring people together through trying times.

Rachel Willis Sørensen is a fantastic operatic soprano who has won several awards and sung all over the world. Also, she’s a fantastic human. Rachel Payne and Alisa Peterson sat down with her to have their most Mormon-centric interview to date.

Alisa and Rachel have a discussion involving the sensations of head voice and the challenges of singing in your own church congregation.

Robert Norman is a talented character tenor with incredible comedic timing. Rachel and Alisa sit down with him for a discussion about his career and the direction opera is heading today.

Friend and fellow opera singer, Bradley Wisk, came to visit this month, and we got to discuss the merits of the crossover artist among other things.

Ep 10: Fernando Amozorrutia by Operation Opera

Rachel and Alisa meet with Diana Jacklin, dramatic soprano and voice teacher based in Vienna, Austria to discuss technique and how to know if you have it.

Rachel and Alisa have a discussion about physical sensations in singing.

Reena Esmail is an Indian-American composer who enjoys working in both the Western and Hindustani (North Indian) classical music idioms. Reena and Rachel Payne sit down to discuss the similarities between eastern and western signing and much more.

Rachel and Alisa discuss the musical triumphs and struggles of La La Land and the eternal question: Can two artists fully pursue their dreams and stay in a relationship? Spoiler Alert!

Rachel and Alisa sit down with Scott Hiltzik to discuss the relationship between musicians and teachers in the world of classical music.

Alisa and Rachel have a discussion about the differences between art and music and how it relates to classical singing.

Sara Moncivais is a professional yoga teacher and protégé of yoga guru Sharath Jois in Mysore, India. Professional Sopranos Rachel and Alisa sat down with Sara to discuss the similarities between yoga and classical singing.