Naomi Lewin, WQXR Host
Naomi Lewin is the weekday afternoon host on WQXR, and the host of WQXR’s bi-weekly podcast Conducting Business. Before arriving at WQXR, Lewin was the midday host at WGUC, Cincinnati’s classical public radio station.
Eric Owens's Top Five Operatic Entrances
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Bass-baritone Eric Owens has one of the most uniquely varied resumes in opera today. He has portrayed everything from a Monster in the opera Grendel, to the high priest Ramfis in Aida, to his latest assignment, the Nibelung dwarf Alberich in the Met’s new production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
Below, listen to Naomi Lewin's interview in which Owens talks about the Robert Lepage production of the Ring, about budding interest in conducting and about why he held off on singing Porgy in Porgy and Bess. But first, check out Owens's list of the top five entrances in opera (and the music that accompanies each):
5. Scarpia's entrance in Act 1 of Puccini's of Tosca
4. Tristan's entrance in Act 2 of Wagner's Tristan and Isolde
3. The Marschallin's entrance in Act 3 of Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier
2. Lodovico’s entrance in Act 3 of Verdi’s Otello
1. Blanche de la Force’s entrance in Act 1 of Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites
Eric Owens on singing the Met's Ring Cycle:
On the dangers of the recital stage:
On conducting, playing the oboe and finally tackling Porgy and Bess:
More in:
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Brian Wise
Brian Wise covers the classical music business for WQXR, including aspects of performance, technology, philanthropy and institutional trends. He manages the station's homepage and makes sure what you hear on air is what you see online. Follow him on Twitter at @Briancwise.
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Kim Nowacki, Online Producer, WQXR
Kim Nowacki is the online producer for WQXR. She is responsible for WQXR’s social media channels, live event coverage, video production and keeps a keen eye on the website to make sure what you hear on air is what you see online. Follow her on Twitter at @knowacki.
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Comments [6]
Ms. Giovetti,
But those five notes clearly identify Scarpia as a VERY bad guy. Surely you don't mean to imply that POTUS can ever possibly be an evildoer. Oh, no! It's too horrible to contemplate!
Mmmm, I think enhance of the Giants in Rheingold can't be beat. BIG percussion, instantly ends all the gods' squabbling, you know something big and bad is coming.
Otello's entrance in Act I of OTELLO. In my opinion,
this is the most electrifying entrance in all opera.
I love that he said, "Joe Green". It took me back to old friends of many years ago.
These are indeed some very powerful entrances, and Owens is spot on. I believe ooera lovers, aficionados and fanatics everywhere will get a charge out of these, as I have.
I still maintain that the five notes played for Scarpia's entrance in Tosca should replace "Hail to the Chief" as the POTUS's entrance music.
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