The Sopranos with Debbie Voigt

Series produced by WQXR

Caption: Deborah Voigt, Credit: Dario Acosta
Image by: Dario Acosta 
Deborah Voigt 

The Sopranos with Debbie Voigt, a new eight-part series, celebrates the essential operatic role and the people who have given it voice. With lively music and commentary, each one-hour episode highlights a different aspect of the soprano’s world, including an examination of different types of soprano voices, illustrated with important sopranos of past and present. Voigt also takes a lighthearted look at selected opera plot themes, including death scenes and mad scenes.

The Sopranos with Debbie Voigt is a production of WQXR and is supported in part by The Thompson Family Foundation and the Monteforte Foundation.

Episode one - How to Die at the Opera
Host Debbie Voigt raises the curtain on this new series by counting down her five favorite ways for sopranos to die at the opera.

Episode two - The Girls of Opera and the Women Who Play Them
Voigt takes a listen to the sopranos who have found the vocal Fountain of Youth.

Episode three - Mozart's Sopranos
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart said, “I like an aria to fit a singer as perfectly as a well-tailored suit of clothes." Debbie Voigt explains why that makes Mozart’s sopranos the luckiest sopranos in the world.

Episode four - Puccini's Women
Tracing the evolution of Puccini’s operatic heroines, from the vulnerable “little women," to the strong and even fearsome females of his operas.

Episode five - Mad Scenes: The Crazy Women of Opera
Sopranos don’t get mad; they get mad scenes. It’s a chance for sopranos to pull out all the stops and indulge in vocal pyrotechnics and operatic histrionics.

Episode six - The Dynamos of Opera
The difference between dramatic and Wagnerian sopranos, the long distance runners of opera.

Episode seven - The Heavenly Blend of Sopranos and Mezzos
In the crazy world of opera, mezzos are usually the ones the soprano can trust. But sometimes they become a fearsome rival. When that happens, sparks fly.

Episode eight - Divas Who Dish
While working on her autobiography "Call Me Debbie," Debbie Voigt was curious about how other singers dealt with telling their stories. This week, Voigt shares what she learned. Hide full description

Episode one - How to Die at the OperaHost Debbie Voigt raises the curtain on this new series by counting down her five favorite ways for sopranos to die at the opera.Episode two - The Girls of Opera and the Women Who Play ThemVoigt takes a listen to the sopranos who have found the vocal Fountain of Youth.Episode three - Mozart's SopranosWolfgang Amadeus Mozart said, “I like an aria to fit a singer as perfectly as a well-tailored suit of clothes." Debbie Voigt explains why that makes Mozart’s sopranos the luckiest sopranos in the world.Episode four - Puccini's WomenTracing the evolution of Puccini’s operatic heroines, from the vulnerable “little women," to the strong and even fearsome females of his operas.Episode five - Mad Scenes: The Crazy Women of OperaSopranos don’t get mad; they... Show full description


8 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Piece image
While working on her autobiography "Call Me Debbie," host Debbie Voigt was curious about how other singers dealt with telling their stories. How mu...

Bought by WNMU-FM, Delmarva Public Media, KMUN, and KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash.


  • Added: Dec 23, 2014
  • Length: 58:36
  • Purchases: 4
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In the crazy world of opera, mezzos are usually the sane ones and the ones the soprano can trust. They’re the servant, the companion, the sister or...

Bought by WCNY, WNMU-FM, 'The Sea', KMUN, Delmarva Public Media and more


  • Added: Dec 23, 2014
  • Length: 59:03
  • Purchases: 7
Piece image
Dramatic and Wagnerian sopranos are the long distance runners of opera. They have the stamina to withstand the longest opera and the power to soar ...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio, 'The Sea', Delmarva Public Media, and KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash.


  • Added: Dec 23, 2014
  • Length: 58:30
  • Purchases: 4
Piece image
Sopranos don’t get mad; they get mad scenes. Sopranos love them and operavores go wild for them. It’s a chance for sopranos to pull out all the sto...

Bought by High Plains Public Radio, WNMU-FM, 'The Sea', Delmarva Public Media, and KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash.


  • Added: Dec 23, 2014
  • Length: 58:41
  • Purchases: 5
Piece image
Giacomo Puccini was known for his love of women both on and off stage. His roles for sopranos are some of the most emotionally compelling in their ...

Bought by 'The Sea', Delmarva Public Media, KMUN, and KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash.


  • Added: Dec 23, 2014
  • Length: 58:55
  • Purchases: 4
Piece image
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart said, “I like an aria to fit a singer as perfectly as a well-tailored suit of clothes." This week, host Debbie Voigt explai...

Bought by WCNY, 'The Sea', Delmarva Public Media, KMUN, KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash. and more


  • Added: Dec 23, 2014
  • Length: 59:04
  • Purchases: 6
Piece image
The “girls” of opera are the ingénues, the teenagers in love and the sassy chambermaids. The women who play them have fresh and flexible voices. Wh...

Bought by Delmarva Public Media, KMUN, and KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash.


  • Added: Dec 23, 2014
  • Length: 58:37
  • Purchases: 3
Piece image
Host Debbie Voigt raises the curtain on this new series by counting down her five favorite ways for sopranos to die at the opera. Artists including...

Bought by 'The Sea', Delmarva Public Media, KMUN, KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash., and KPIP-LP


  • Added: Dec 23, 2014
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 5