November 6, 2003

Opera 101 From Opera Idaho and Boise State Radio

Radio Special features the music of Tosca   KBSU program director Jim East and Opera Idaho’s artistic director Douglas Nagel have produced an hourlong radio special designed as an introduction to opera. Opera 101 will be broadcast at noon Sunday, Nov. 16, on KBSU and KBSW and at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, on KBSU. The program also highlights the upcoming performance of Tosca to be presented by Opera Idaho at 8 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Morrison Center. Opera 101 is a light-hearted look at opera combined with Nagel’s experience and insight. Nagel, a bass-baritone, is artistic director for both Opera Idaho and The Rimrock Opera in Billings, Mont. East provides 20 years experience in radio, but with a new-comers perspective to opera. The program features segments that focus on “love,” including the love duet from La Boheme and “death,” with the final scene from Poulenc’s Dialogue of the Carmelites. The segment that examines “what is opera?” includes examples of rock, pop and contemporary opera, such as Tommy, Les Miserables and Jackie O. With sufficient interest and support, Nagel and East envision this program becoming a more frequent production. Response to the pilot program is positive: “When I think of opera, I automatically think it's boring ... but this is really a refreshing look at it. It makes me want to listen longer. It's fun and would appeal to a different audience than maybe the regular serious opera crowd,” said listener Jennifer Holley. KBSU is heard at 90.3 FM, Boise. The signal is simulcast on 91.7 FM, KBSM, McCall. KBSW is heard on 91.7 FM, Twin Falls. Boise State Radio includes NPR News 91, KBSU-Arts & Cultural Programming and Idaho’s Jazz Station. http://radio.boisestate.edu   Contact Jim East Associate General Manager, Network Programming Voice: 208 947-5659 Fax: 208 344-6631 jeast@boisestate.edu Media Contact Kathleen Craven communications and marketing 208 426-3275 kcraven@boisestate.edu