Living With A Genius Interviews

Super-star operatic tenor, Ben Bliss is on LWAG today! Ben is an incredibly successful international opera singer aaaannnnd a really great guy, to boot. He's insightful, frank and a great chit-chatter. Enjoy, and thanks for listening!WATCH the interview here: https://youtu.be/FX-9pgryzEw See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Producer, composer, guitarist, audio engineer, Grammy-winning recording artist and my friend, Ted Perlman is on LWAG today! I've known Ted for a few years and he is sincerely one of the most interesting people I know- he's unbelievably accomplished, but equally kind and humble. Everyone should know Ted Perlman- have a listen! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's Michael Powers! Conductor, educator administrator, and my friend, Michael Powers is on LWAG! Boy oh boy do we get into it. Music, school, professional and personal achievements and failures, our fathers, childhood... the whole enchilada. We laugh, we cry, and I bet you will too. Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Percussionist, national arts advocate, recording artist, and all-around great guy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dean of Arts at OCSA, Maria Lazarova See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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Dale Trumbore is back! We chat about everything from her wedding plans, maintaining her business and artistic integrity, to anxiety, future plans, and her new book, "Staying Composed: Overcoming anxiety and self-doubt within a creative life." Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Julia is a viral star! As of 4/15/19, Julia has gotten close to 14 million views. Check her out on YouTube here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJZogoIT52SfvBTT8ZtgMqQThanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Children's Chorus, Fernando Malvar-Ruiz is my guest this week. He's brilliant, kind and has a lot to say about the vital role music plays in our lives. Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How to make a living as a musician out of college? Wear many hats. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sara Widzer is my guest, this week. Sara and I met once-upon-a-time, during a production of Faust. I had a tie-on wig- that's how long ago. She's since gone on to direct in A houses across the country. Directorial style, the process, and politics in opera are all on the table, along with a whole bunch more interesting stuff. Enjoy, and thanks for listening! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Giving thanks. Gratitude. Exercises we'd all do well to practice more often. No guests, no jokes, just me reminiscing, choking up and being philosophical. I'm grateful for you all- thanks for listening. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jennifer Miller is my guest this week. Jen and I go back to 2009, where we performed together in a production of Faust- she as Marguerite and me as Faust. That's us in the picture, way back then. Jen has since moved on to KUSC, where she hosts a show entitled, "California Classical All Night." "How do you make a living when you get out of music school" is a constant theme on my show, and this episode is no exception. Jen's at the beginning of her radio career, and she's killing it! Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Louise Palanker is a true polymath. Comedian, author, performer, radio host, and entrepreneur are just a few words to describe her many fields of expertise, and we talk about it all in this great episode. She was also a witness for the prosecution and her eventual (and current) husband, Ron Zonen, during the Michael Jackson trial in 2005- and yes, we talk about that, along with sexual harassment at The Comedy Store, working on shows from That's Incredible to Rick Dees Weekly Top 40, and a whole bunch of other stuff, too. I loved talking with Louise, and I bet you'll love listening to her- enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Veronica Christenson has been a colleague of mine at the LA Opera for over a decade, and this was my chance to have a few minutes with this lovely lady all to myself. She's a world-class mezzo, but that's not the only reason I wanted to chat... she's also a student of Shaolin Kung Fu Meditation! I've dabbled both in martial arts and meditation, and I'm thrilled to have her on the show to teach me more about it all! Try meditation, folks. It'll change your life- Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Composer, arranger, producer, Stephen Edwards is on the show! With more than 175 soundtrack and composer credits to his name, Stephen is one of Hollywood's most productive composers. He's also written classical compositions, most notably his Requiem For My Mother, which received performances both at Carnegie Hall and the Vatican. Stephen is a great guy, and there's a lot to learn about, here! Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Singer, producer, composer, Ron Dante is my guest this week! You know him as the voice of the Archies and their smash-hit single, "Sugar Sugar." But did you know that he co-produced, along with the Schuberts, the Tony Award-winning musical, Ain't Misbehavin'? Or that he produced NINE of Barry Manilow's albums? Or that he was the editor of the Paris Review for almost a decade? Or that he's writing and producing a new musical about the Reagans with Rupert Holmes?? Me neither! But I do now- and you will too, when you hear all the details, right here on LWAG! Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Opera director, engineer, and designer, Thaddeus Strassberger is my guest this week! Thaddeus has been to LA before, and he's one of my favorite directors working today. Art, commerce, politics- it's all here- enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tenor, Mario Chang is my guest this week. We first worked with him in La Boheme, and now he's back, singing the role of Ismaele in our current production of Nabucco, here in LA. We also talk at great length about the opera company founded by him and his wife with the purpose of supporting opera performance and training in his home country of Guatemala. Fascinating guy- Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kelley O'Connor is on LWAG! Kelley and I go way back, and this is the kind of chat you get when old pals get together. We dish, we reminisce, we dish some more. Kelly also sings around the world as a top-drawer concertizer, and we get into that, and why she prefers concerts over operatic roles. Lots of personal stuff here too, so if you ever feel like being a fly on the wall, this one's for you. Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.