ARIA SERIOUS?

Over the weekend: - We announced a cast change for Moby-Dick . Ben Heppner, who originated the role in Dallas, will now join us to sing the role of Ahab. We released Jay Hunter Morris to sing a run of Seigfreids at the Met Opera. Also, see below from a message from Jay about not singing with us. - Having a bad day at work? Us too, until we read about this singer that sang her role in Tosca  from a wheelchair 3-days after being robbed and shot . - Happy Halloween. Why some notes are scarier than others . - A message from Jay Hunter Morris.

Add caption Over the weekend: The iPod turns 10 this month. How has it affected the way you listen to music? Kentucky Opera might not have an orchestra for their upcoming performances of The Marriage of Figaro due to a union dispute . NPR drops distribution of "World of Opera" program after the host (not an NPR employee) was found to be an organizer of the Occupy DC protests . NPR's ethics policy prevents employees from participating in rallies and marches that NPR covers. All single tickets to our 2012 season are now on sale .

Happy Friday. What are you listening to this weekend? The Aria Serious crew will be listening to The Daughter of the Regiment . It's coming up in a future season and we're not terribly familiar with it so now seems like a fine time to listen to it. Which future season, you ask? Now that would be telling. We'll also spend some time with Real Estate's new LP, Days , which is a serious contender for our album of the year. Share your weekend listening plans below, and please, make it a good one.

Occupy Opera. Opera is expensive, but there are ways to make it less expensive. This week Dr. Nic gets cheap and shares how you can attend opera on a 99% budget. And in HD. Finally.

Those of you who attended San Diego Opera's performances of Turandot last season will surely remember Lise Lindstrom, the lovely soprano who made her Company debut in the title role - her signature role. We saw and heard a superlative artist with incredible stage presence and stunning vocals. And behind-the-scenes we got to make a new friend who quickly placed herself on the Aria Serious "Awesome List" (oh yes, we have a list) with her humor, intelligence, grace and generosity. Saying goodbye to Lise after the last performance of Turandot we knew we wouldn't have to wait too long for her return as she'll once again sing the title role in the season opener, Salome . Lise took time out of her busy schedule to answer our 10 or so questions... and here is what she had to say. San Diego Opera (SDO):  First, welcome back to San Diego Opera – we’re very pleased to have you return to us to sing Salome. Audience members are still talking about your Turandot last

Over the weekend: - Some sad news as the Lyric Opera of San Diego has filed for bankruptcy protection . Dear readers, please support your local opera company, whoever they might be. - Wikileaks: the opera. - Beck is preparing a remix Philip Glass remix LP.   - Last week, we said goodbye to a very dear friend and co-worker. Her absence is profound. - This is a video about what happens when a whale dies, as told by puppets. It's very beautiful. We include it since we have whale on the brain with our upcoming performances of Moby-Dick . Whale Fall (after life of a whale) from Sharon Shattuck on Vimeo .

Friday is upon us. What are you listening to this weekend? The Aria Serious crew has a household full of guests so, sadly, there will be no opera on the stereo this weekend. It's hard to find the time to listen to a full opera when others are around. But next week we'll be listening to Donizetti's The Daughter of the Regiment . It's coming up in a future season and it's not an opera we're terribly familiar with. But more on that later. Share your listening plans below and please, make it a good one.

We apologize for the delay again - we're still smoothing out the edges of these new video podcasts, but our newest one is finally up. This week we take a look at Salome and the cultural and artistic environment of the Expressionist period. Enjoy!

Happy Friday. What are you listening to this weekend? For some reason the cooler weather made us think of Lucia di Lammermoor , we've heard it a dozen times already though. So, we're going to go French this weekend and listen to Lucie de Lammermoor - we've never heard this version despite owning it for years. Share your plans in the comment section and please, make it a good one.

Our apologies - technical difficulties prevented us from getting this up any earlier - but we think the wait was worth it. In this week's video podcast Nic talks about using your ears at the Opera, with a close listen to the role of Rosina in The Barber of Seville . Enjoy.

Over the weekend: - Placido Domingo takes issue with The Washington Post Critic . The Washington Post Critic responds . - Sometimes, singing is all in the head. - Watch this! Turning tunnels into musical instruments. - Karen O, the lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, prepares her first opera .