Many of you know about the live broadcast Classical KING FM, 98.1, airs of each of Seattle Opera's productions, and Speight Jenkins' previews of each opera. We're happy to announce that, thanks to KING's exciting new transition to a non-commercial format, Seattle Opera and KING can offer even more opera programming than before!Beginning this Saturday (June 18) at 8 p.m., KING FM will broadcast an opera every Saturday night--live opera broadcasts, favorite recordings, and performances from other leading opera companies. Seattle Opera will curate the programs, and Jenkins and Director of Education Sue Elliott will share hosting duties.
“KING FM’s transition to listener-supported radio means more music, including more opera with our partners at Seattle Opera,” says Bryan Lowe, KING FM Program Director. “It’s a big win for everyone, especially opera fans of the Northwest.”
The Saturday night broadcasts kick off this weekend with one of the great opera recordings: Rigoletto, conducted by Tullio Serafin and starring Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi, and Giuseppe di Stefano. Other upcoming highlights include Jenkins introducing La Gioconda (July 2), an opera he has long wanted to produce; Sue Elliott presenting a Così fan tutte (July 16) recorded in concert in London and starring Renée Fleming; and Jenkins previewing (July 30) and then hosting Seattle Opera’s Porgy and Bess (August 6). Now, instead of five brief weekday evening previews leading up to the live Seattle Opera broadcast, Jenkins will host a three-hour program on a Saturday night preceding.
The Saturday night broadcasts will begin each week at 8 p.m., except for the evenings when KING broadcasts a live Seattle Opera performance. Those begin at 7:30 p.m., and for the 2011/2012 season include: Porgy and Bess (August 6), Carmen (October 22), Attila (January 21), Orphée et Eurydice (March 3), and Madama Butterfly (May 12).
To listen, tune into 98.1 FM Saturday nights--or stream the broadcast online at www.king.org. If you can't tune in at that time, you can still enjoy this new programming by visiting KING FM's Seattle Opera Channel, which will re-broadcast the Saturday night programs as part of the free, 24/7 stream.
For more info, including a schedule of upcoming Saturday night programming, visit king.org/opera.
Questions? Let us know in the comments!
Posts
Hallo, SeaOp and KING-FM!
ReplyDeleteThis is a GREAT idea: a complete opera EVERY Saturday might!!! I look forward to this!!!
Since you did not do Boito's "Mefistofele" this past season, but the MUCH-deserving "Don Quichote", maybe you could include a broadcast of it; there was a very good production of it in Luebeck this past season, but no recording was made of it, alas!
(The above "it" refers, of course, to "Mefistofele", not "Don Q", which was broadcsst.)
Tschuess,
Win H.