Opera Tok

In the third episode of of Opera Tok, we speak with writer Joel Tan and composer Jonathan Shin on their song cycle, A Bestiary of Imagined Monsters, commissioned for the 2023 edition of In Our Manner of Speaking, Altered States. This episode also features a recording of three of the songs by tenor Reuben Lai and Jonathan Shin on piano. Listen to Opera Tok oh Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Opera Tok is written and created by The Opera people and produced by MeaVox Live, with the support of Audio-Technica and City Music. Hosted by Shridar Mani with direction and sound design by Raven Lim and production assistance by Loh Yen Lyng.

In the second episode of of Opera Tok, we speak with poet Samuel Lee and composer Tan Yuting on a new song cycle, Parrot, Scientist, Root_Fables, commissioned for the 2023 edition of In Our Manner of Speaking, Altered States. This episode also features a live recording of the songs from the premiere with sopranos Teng Xiang Ting, Akiko Otao, cellist Lin Juan and pianist Jonathan Shin. Listen to Opera Tok oh Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Opera Tok is written and created by The Opera people and produced by MeaVox Live, with the support of Audio-Technica and City Music. Hosted by Shridar Mani with direction and sound design by Raven Lim and production assistance by Loh Yen Lyng.

In the first episode of the 3rd season of Opera Tok, we speak with composer Tan Yuting about her arrangement of 3 getai songs, commissioned by The Opera People for the 2022 edition of In Our Manner of Speaking, Sounds of You. This episode also features a recording of the songs performed by soprano Felicia Teo Kaixin and pianist Jonathan Shin. Opera Tok is written and created by The Opera people and produced by MeaVox Live, with the support of Audio-Technica and City Music. Hosted by Shridar Mani with direction and sound design by Raven Lim and production assistance by Loh Yen Lyng.

In the final episode of this season, Performing Wagner, we are thrilled to speak with Christoph Wichert, bassoonist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra on the joys and challenges of performing Wagner’s music.  This year, we are teaming up with our friends from The Orchestra of the Music Makers to explore the work of one composer, and probably one of the most celebrated AND controversial composers in opera, Richard Wagner. This is ahead of the Orchestra of the Music Makers’ performance of the first opera of Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle, Das Rheingold, on July 8.  Over 6 episodes, we will be speaking with experts and musicians to unpack Wagner’s work, discuss some of the issues and how they translate to us in the 21st Century, and explore how these works continue to be relevant in uncovering the conflicts in human nature that have led to many of the global issues we face today.  From mythology and Game of Thrones to climate change and the environment, join us as we descend into the worlds of Richard Wagner and his operas.  Listen to it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or whoever you listen to your podcasts! Opera Tok is produced by MeaVox Live, and hosted by Shridar Mani

In this week’s episode, Wagner? I barely even know her! We chat with Wong Yong En and Tan Yao Cong, discussing the relevance of Wagner today, especially here in Singapore. This year, we are teaming up with our friends from The Orchestra of the Music Makers to explore the work of one composer, and probably one of the most celebrated AND controversial composers in opera, Richard Wagner. This is ahead of the Orchestra of the Music Makers’ performance of the first opera of Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle, Das Rheingold, on July 8.  Over 6 episodes, we will be speaking with experts and musicians to unpack Wagner’s work, discuss some of the issues and how they translate to us in the 21st Century, and to explore the ways in which these works continue to be relevant in uncovering the conflicts in human nature that have led to many of the global issues we face today.  From mythology and Game of Thrones to climate change and the environment, join us as we descend into the worlds of Richard Wagner and his operas.  Listen to it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts! Opera Tok is produced by MeaVox Live, and hosted by Shridar Mani

In Episode 4, we speak with opera maker Miranda Lakerveld and composer Nursalim Yadi Anugerah will be speaking about their research and work in bringing Wagner in conversation with the the mythology of Kayan Culture in West Kalimantan. This year, we are teaming up with our friends from The Orchestra of the Music Makers to explore the work of one composer, and probably one of the most celebrated AND controversial composers in opera, Richard Wagner. This is ahead of the Orchestra of the Music Makers’ performance of the first opera of Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle, Das Rheingold, on July 8.  Over 6 episodes, we will be speaking with experts and musicians to unpack Wagner’s work, discuss some of the issues and how they translate to us in the 21st Century, and to explore the ways in which these works continue to be relevant in uncovering the conflicts in human nature that have led to many of the global issues we face today.  From mythology and Game of Thrones to climate change and the environment, join us as we descend into the worlds of Richard Wagner and his operas.  Listen to it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts! Opera Tok is produced by MeaVox Live, and hosted by Shridar Mani

In this week’s episode of Opera Tok, Immolation, we speak to Dr. Kirsten Paige, Assistant Professor of Musicology at North Carolina State University on Wagner, ecology and climate change, exploring the technological and philosophical ideas on the relationship between man and nature that have trickled down to the present times, including how his music and its institutions can offer decolonial, collaborative responses to the climate crisis and its inequalities. This year, we are teaming up with our friends from The Orchestra of the Music Makers to explore the work of one composer, and probably one of the most celebrated AND controversial composers in opera, Richard Wagner. This is ahead of the Orchestra of the Music Makers’ performance of the first opera of Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle, Das Rheingold, on July 8.  Over 6 episodes, we will be speaking with experts and musicians to unpack Wagner’s work, discuss some of the issues and how they translate to us in the 21st Century, and to explore the ways in which these works continue to be relevant in uncovering the conflicts in human nature that have led to many of the global issues we face today.  From mythology and Game of Thrones to climate change and the environment, join us as we descend into the worlds of Richard Wagner and his operas.  Listen to it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or whoever you listen to your podcasts! Opera Tok is produced by MeaVox Live, and hosted by Shridar Mani

In episode 2 of Opera Tok, Gods and Valkyries and Dragons…Oh My!, it's everything you wanted to know about Norse Gods, Ragnarok and what Wagner has #GoT to do with Game of Thrones. We speak to Professor Carolyne Larrington, Professor of European Medieval Literature at the University of Oxford on the mythology that inspired the Ring cycle, and the ways in which these epics have pervaded popular culture today.  This year, we are teaming up with our friends from The Orchestra of the Music Makers to explore the work of one composer, and probably one of the most celebrated AND controversial composers in opera, Richard Wagner. This is ahead of the Orchestra of the Music Makers’ performance of the first opera of Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle, Das Rheingold, on July 8.  Over 6 episodes, we will be speaking with experts and musicians to unpack Wagner’s work, discuss some of the issues and how they translate to us in the 21st Century, and to explore the ways in which these works continue to be relevant in uncovering the conflicts in human nature that have led to many of the global issues we face today.  From mythology and Game of Thrones to climate change and the environment, join us as we descend into the worlds of Richard Wagner and his operas.  Listen to it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or whoever you listen to your podcasts! Opera Tok is produced by MeaVox Live, and hosted by Shridar Mani

In the first episode of Opera Tok Season 2, Gold Ringer, musicologist Katherine Wallace discusses the the first opera in Wagenr’s Ring Cycle, Das Rheingold, and its place within Wagner’s works and the Ring Cycle -  introducing the themes and characters of this opera, as well as the historical context of the work. This year, we are teaming up with our friends from The Orchestra of the Music Makers to explore the work of one composer, and probably one of the most celebrated AND controversial composers in opera, Richard Wagner. This is ahead of the Orchestra of the Music Makers’ performance of the first opera of Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle, Das Rheingold, on July 8.  Over 6 episodes, we will be speaking with experts and musicians to unpack Wagner’s work, discuss some of the issues and how they translate to us in the 21st Century, and to explore the ways in which these works continue to be relevant in uncovering the conflicts in human nature that have led to many of the global issues we face today.  From mythology and Game of Thrones to climate change and the environment, join us as we descend into the worlds of Richard Wagner and his operas.  Kopi & Song is produced by MeaVox Live, and hosted by Shridar Mani. 

Are you ready for the second season of Opera Tok? This year, we are teaming up with our friends from The Orchestra of the Music Makers to explore the work of one composer, and probably one of the most celebrated AND controversial composers in opera, Richard Wagner. This is ahead of Orchestra of the Music Makers’ performance of the first opera of Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle, Das Rheingold, on July 8.  Over 6 episodes, we will be speaking with experts and musicians to unpack Wagner’s work, discuss some of the issues and how they translate to us in the 21st Century, and to explore the ways in which these works continue to be relevant in uncovering the conflicts in human nature that have led to many of the global issues we face today.  From mythology and Game of Thrones, to climate change and the environment, join us as we descend into the worlds of Richard Wagner and his operas.  Kopi & Song is produced by MeaVox Live, and hosted by Shridar Mani. 

We chat with conductor Lien Boon Hua on his journey as a conductor from early days of being kicked out of the MEP programme to working with one of the leading Polish orchestras. The episode of Kopi and Song is written and created by The Opera people and is produced by MeaVox Live, under the support of BRIDGE - AN INITIATIVE BY CREATIVESATWORK & BLUE3ASIA Hosted by Shridar Mani With guest Lien Boon Hua. Direction and sound design by Raven Lim Production assistance by Loh Yen Lyng With special thanks to audio partners Audio-Technica and City Music

Shridar Mani introduces the history of the soprano voice, focusing on its evolution and its intersections with class and gender. This episode features performances by Joyce Lee Tung and Renata Hann Sungwon with Pauline Lee on piano. The episode of Kopi and Song is written and created by The Opera People and is produced by MeaVox Live, under the support of BRIDGE - AN INITIATIVE BY CREATIVESATWORK & BLUE3ASIA Narrated by Shridar Mani With sopranos Joyce Lee Tung & Renata Hann Sungwon and pianist Pauline Lee Direction and sound design by Raven Lim Production assistance by Loh Yen Lyng With special thanks to audio partners Audio-Technica and City Music

We speak to composer Jonathan Shin and soprano Akiko Otao on Two poems of Goh Poh Seng. With its themes of nostalgia and longing achingly brought to life by Akiko in her performance of the songs from In Our Manner of Speaking - Reclaimed Lands in 2021. Kopi and Song is written and created by The Opera people and is produced by MeaVox Live, under the support of BRIDGE - AN INITIATIVE BY CREATIVESATWORK & BLUE3ASIA Hosted by Shridar Mani With guests Jonathan Shin & Akiko Otao Direction and sound design by Raven Lim Production assistance by Loh Yen Lyng Songs for Mukul performed by Moira Loh & Pauline Lee With special thanks to audio partners Audio-Technica and City Music

Composer Chen Zhangyi and soprano Moira Loh chat with Shridar Mani on the song cycle, Songs for Mukul, set to the poems of migrant worker poet Md Mukul Hossine, exploring themes of migration, alienation, with a performance of the cycle from In Our Manner of Speaking - Reclaimed Lands in 2021. Kopi and Song is written and created by The Opera people and is produced by MeaVox Live, under the support of BRIDGE - AN INITIATIVE BY CREATIVESATWORK & BLUE3ASIA Hosted by Shridar Mani With guests Chen Zhangyi and Moira Loh Direction and sound design by Raven Lim Production assistance by Loh Yen Lyng  The recording of Songs for Mukul you heard performed by Moira Loh & Pauline Lee With special thanks to audio partners Audio Technica and City Music

Everything you wanted to know about opera but were too afraid to ask…..or even if you weren’t, Kopi & Song brings you new insights into the music and personalities of the local opera scene. Audio Partners: Audio Technica & City Music