Episode 50

full
Published on:

8th Mar 2023

The Song Poet (w/Kao Kalia Yang & Josephine Yang)

Happy Wednesday, Scorekeepers! It's time for another episode of THE SCORE and have we got a show for you! Thursday, March 9 is the world premiere of The Song Poet, the first Hmong story adapted for the operatic stage! Join us for an emotional and insightful conversation with Kao Kalia Yang, author of both the book The Song Poet as well as the opera's libretto, all about this incredible story's journey from the page to the stage. We're also joined local Hmong-American artist Josephine Yang, MN Opera's Community Engagement Consultant. We'll chat about the genesis of Kao Kalia's beautiful story, the resilience and strength of the Hmong people and the special relationship between the Hmong and Black communities here in the Twin Cities. It's a fascinating, powerful conversation that you won't want to miss (0:21:51)! Plus, as always, a little PBJ to help you get through the rest of the week (1:17:24). Let's do it to it, y'all!

Hosts: Lee Bynum, Rocky Jones, Paige Reynolds (Iyawo Inawale)

Guests: Kao Kalia Yang, Josephine Yang

Producer: Rocky Jones

--

Links

MN Opera's The Song Poet (Buy Tickets)

Kao Kalia Yang (Website)

Josephine Yang - Blink Artisan (Website)

--

New episodes of THE SCORE drop every other Wednesday. 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 people find our show. 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.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for The Score

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!