The Score

Welcome to episode 8 of Minnesota Opera’s podcast THE SCORE! On this week’s episode, it’s June and we're all vaxxed up and ready see our people again. So we think it's high time for a little bit of celebration after such a long, dreadful year! First up, it's Pride Month all over the world, so it's time to give it up for all of our precious, beautiful LGBTQIA+ siblings! This week we’re having a good old-fashioned kiki at the top of the show with a chat about what Pride means to those of us sitting here at the inte...

Welcome to lucky episode number 7 of MN Opera's The Score. Today, Paige, Lee and Rocky are joined by not one, but two, legendary guests! We are honored to speak with composer Dr. Adolphus Hailstork and librettist and poet Dr. Herbert Martin, two incredibly accomplished Black artists and titans of the classical music scene. We'll talk with them about their decades of experience in the industry, how they believe the industry can change to allow space for more Black artists in the future, and all about their new piece Pity These Ashes: Tulsa 1921-2021, which commemorates the 100th anniversary of the...

Hi, Scorekeepers! It's episode 6 of Minnesota Opera's THE SCORE! On this week's ep, Paige, Lee and Rocky are all vaxxed up and just in time it seems for the world to start opening up again. We'll talk about the huge impact this will have on the arts and live performance and, of course, our sanity. Next, we're joined by the lovely and talented Pablo Siqueiros, Associate Director of Public Programs at MN Opera. He'll talk about some of the lessons he's taking away from this crazy year and giving us all some insight into the exciting work coming out of...

On this week's episode of The Score, Paige, Lee and Rocky unpack their complicated feelings around last week's verdict heard 'round the world before turning their attention to the incredible art and artists you can find right here in the Twin Cities. They're joined by renowned violinist Emilia Mettenbrink to talk about growing up in Minneapolis, her experiences as a Black woman in classical music, and the Tiny Balcony Concerts, a series of concerts she performed from her home during lockdown that helped a community stay connected through the darkest and most isolating of times. And then, as always, we...

What's up, Scorekeepers! It's week 4 of The Score! It's been another depressing and infuriating week here in Minneapolis and on this week's ep, Lee, Paige and Rocky do their best to absorb the shock of seeing another young Black man's life taken by police officers in their community. Rest in Power, Daunte Wright, Sr. (Please scroll down in the show notes to see ways you can help Daunte's family and the Brooklyn Center community.) Next, they tackle Amazon Prime's ultraviolent, new horror show Them, a series which begs the question who exactly is the violent degradation of Black bodies in...

On this week’s episode of The Score, hosts Paige, Lee, and Rocky chat about finding hope through music in these troubled times. They reflect on recent events here in Minneapolis and the blessed relief of MN Opera’s recent MNiatures program. Next, they discuss the responsibility of opera makers and opera lovers alike to join the movement to #StopAsianHate. Then they tackle the question of how to safely and authentically invite BIPOC artists into predominantly white spaces. Diversity is a great first step, but is it effective without either equity or inclusion? And finally, as always, get your week...

On this week’s episode... It’s Minneapolis Day! Lee is officially a Minnesotan! He gives us his first impressions of his new city and, with the Derek Chauvin trial beginning, what it’s like to move here at this particular moment in history. Plus, Paige takes us inside what’s going on in the local Black arts scene. Then we reflect on Black History Month at Minnesota Opera, and as always we’ll send you into the weekend with a PB&J: a moment of Pure Black Joy. Timestamps: Welcome to MPLS, Lee! - 00:53 A New Space for Black Tabl...

Ready or not, here we come! It’s the very first episode of Minnesota Opera’s first podcast... THE SCORE! On this week’s episode: Black people? Talking about opera? What is this? Who are these people? And why?All these questions answered and more. Also, there’s a new Diversity Officer at the Metropolitan Opera. Let’s celebrate her! (And pray for her…) Plus, we’ll touch on recent controversies in Paris and Indiana, and as always, we'll send you into the weekend with a PB&J: a moment of Pure Black Joy.  This week's PB&J: Thad...

Ready or not, it's time to put opera on game! Hosts Lee Bynum (VP, Impact), Paige Reynolds (Civic Engagement Manager), and Rocky Jones (EDI Director) are three Black artists, pop culture aficionados, and arts administrators at Minnesota Opera, who are working every day to bring more diversity, equity, and inclusivity into opera and classical music. The Score is their provocative, thoughtful, and humorous commentary on opera's past, present, and future, as seen through an anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens. But you definitely don't need to be a classical music head to join the conversation. Come on over, still a spell, and...