Working: A Classic Opera Gets an Overdue Update

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3.9 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 26 May 2024

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, host June Thomas talks to Francesca Zambello, artistic director of the Washington National Opera. In the interview, Francesca discusses the process of creating a brand new ending for Puccini’s unfinished final opera Turandot, from recruiting a composer and librettist to deciding on the visual language of the show. She also talks about her early career working overseas, the wide range of productions at the National Opera, and the kinds of shows that attract new opera fans. After the interview, June and co-host Ronald Young Jr. talk about the ethics of changing or updating an artist’s work after their death. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, June asks Francesca if there are any other operas that she’d like to update or re-frame. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by Shopify.
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0:21.8	or lowercase that That's Shopify.
0:23.9	CODieK slash Special Offer. People are excited by doing the new ending and by the process of working on a new ending.
0:41.0	They're excited to be doing something new and I think all of us are always
0:45.8	excited by the prospects of the unknown. And listen, like all new works, there are going to be people
0:51.8	who love it and they're going to be people who love it,
0:52.8	and they're going to be people who say, I can't stand it.
0:56.7	Welcome back to Working.
0:57.8	I'm your host, Ronald Young Jr.
1:00.2	And I'm your other host, June Thomas.
1:02.8	June Thomas, it is wonderful to be chatting with you again.
1:06.4	Tell me whose voice did we hear at the top of the show?
1:09.4	That was Francesca Zambello, who is the artistic director of the Washington National Opera, and she's also a celebrated director of opera and theatre.
1:20.0	And why did you want to talk to Francesca right now?
1:22.0	Well, the Washington National Opera
	...

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