Episode 11

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Published on:

23rd Jul 2021

Fire That Canon II! (w/Rebecca Blackwell)

Greetings, Scorekeepers! We're back from our vacation with a very special new episode of THE SCORE! And why is it so special, you ask? Because for the very first time ever, Paige, Rocky and Lee are actually recording the show in person in the same room at the same time! What a treat! And on this week's episode, after a brief lamentation on the state of the world, we celebrate some of the incredible POC making huge strides in the opera world, like MN Opera's very own Priti Gandhi who will take the reins as the amazing new Artistic Director at Portland Opera this fall! (Yay, Priti!) Then we're joined by artist, educator and MN Opera Creative Programs Manager, Rebecca Blackwell, who gives us some frank and frankly beautiful insights into what it's like to live and work at the intersection of education and EDI, as well as the immeasurable ways equity-focused arts education programs can change kids' lives for the better. Then it's time for another round of America's favorite new game show, Fire That Canon! This time around we discuss Aida and Porgy and Bess. Can either be presented responsibly in 2021? And finally, as always, we've found more than a few reasons to be joyful this week, so we'll send you out into the weekend with a little PB&J! Let's do it to it!

And please note, we'll be switching our release day to Monday starting with our next episode! See you then!

Hosts: Lee Bynum, Rocky Jones, Paige Reynolds

Guest: Rebecca Blackwell

Producer: Rocky Jones

Timestamps:

Welcome & Current Events - 0:00:33

Big BIPOC News in Opera - 0:19:58

In Conversation w/Rebecca Blackwell - 0:28:00

Fire That Canon! - 1:00:10

PB&J - 1:17:44

If you like what you hear, please support us and SUBSCRIBE to the show on your favorite podcast app and be sure to SHARE our show with your friends. Also leaving a 5-star REVIEW on Apple Podcasts is a great way to help get the word out. For more info about the exciting EDI work happening at MN Opera, please visit mnopera.org/edi. Email your questions or comments to thescore@mnopera.org

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About the Podcast

The Score
News and commentary about opera, classical music, and pop culture seen through an antiracist and anti-oppressive lens
It's time to put opera on game! Hosts Lee Bynum, Paige Reynolds, and Rocky Jones are three Black and queer 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 the industry's past, present, and future, as seen through an anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens. Each episode features a variety of stories from a variety of perspectives that bring People of the Global Majority, queer, trans and nonbinary folks, and everyone else into the discussion of ownership over and access to the art form. From the opera house to the statehouse to your house, each episode will amplify the voices of those in the field who are pushing the boundaries of what opera is, who it is for, and how it can transform us and our communities. New episodes come out every other Wednesday!