Behind the Blue Curtain
Your Backstage Pass to the Season at Sarasota Opera
Welcome to the official podcast of Sarasota Opera, offering listeners an insider’s view of the people, history and stories that bring each production to life this season.
The 2026/27 Season Premiere, Episode 8 is now live! Listen below on Apple or Spotify.
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What's On This Week
This Week on Behind the Blue Curtain
Episode 8: Showing Up: Richard Russell and Sarasota Opera's Next Chapter
In the Season 2 premiere of Behind the Blue Curtain, host Hallie Geyh sits down with Sarasota Opera's General and Artistic Director, Richard Russell, for a conversation about leadership, legacy, and the season ahead. A member of the Sarasota Opera family since 1989, Russell reflects on his journey from apprentice artist to company leader and shares his vision for the future of the company. Together, Hallie and Richard explore the 2026–27 season, the balance between honoring tradition and embracing variety, and the unique power of opera to tell deeply human stories. From Hänsel and Gretel and Rootabaga Country to La traviata, H.M.S. Pinafore, Ariadne auf Naxos, and Jenůfa, this conversation offers an introduction to Sarasota Opera's next chapter and the artists, productions, and experiences that await audiences in the season ahead. Whether you're a longtime opera lover or attending for the first time, this episode explores what it means to show up, share a live experience, and be part of a community brought together through music and storytelling.
Discover the Stories of Opera
Created for both longtime opera fans and those new to the art form, this podcast series features conversations with singers, directors, historians, opera fans and members of the Sarasota Opera team. Listeners will get the inside scoop on upcoming performances, learn about the creative process, and discover what makes Sarasota Opera’s programming and community unique.
From artist interviews and opera previews to historical insights and personal stories, Behind the Blue Curtain engages audiences to experience the season in a deeper, more personal way.
Whether you’re celebrating your 67th season at Sarasota Opera or planning your first visit, this podcast is your backstage pass to everything Sarasota Opera.
Meet the Host
Senior Digital Marketing and Content Producer
Hallie Geyh
Hallie Geyh is the host of Behind the Blue Curtain and Sarasota Opera's Senior Digital Marketing & Content Producer. Since joining Sarasota Opera in 2024, she has expanded the company's digital storytelling initiatives through podcasts, video, social media, and other content designed to bring audiences closer to the art form. Previously, she served as Digital Marketing Manager for Indiana University's renowned Jacobs School of Music. A lifelong performer and arts communicator, Hallie is passionate about sharing the stories behind the music and making opera accessible, engaging, and relevant for audiences of all backgrounds.
Episode Archives & Videos
2026-27 Season
Coming soon...
2025-26 Season
1) Opera 101 at 100 - October 3 - Listen here
Videos Shorts: The Opera Lover's Responsibility to Opera: Watch here
2) Modern Love for a Classic Art: Why Opera Still Resonates - October 10 - Listen here
Videos Shorts: Modern Love for a Class Art: Watch here
3) Così fan tutte: Duplicity, disguises and delightful deception - October 17 - Listen here
Video Shorts: A tale of duplicity, disguises, and delightful deception: Watch here
4) Brundibar: The Youth Opera with a Powerful Past - Listen here
Video Shorts: The Story Behind Brundibàr’s Powerful Prologue: Watch here
5) La bohème: Poetry, Poverty, and Passion - Listen here
Video Shorts: "It was literally bohème!": Watch here
6) The Merry Widow: Money, Mischief & Matchmaking - Listen here
Video Shorts: "Onstage Chemistry": Watch here
7) Il trovatore: Serenades, sieges, and family secrets - Listen here
Video Shorts: "Marco Nisticò on Directing Il trovatore for Maestro DeRenzi's Final Verdi": Watch here
8) Susannah: Sin, a Loss of Innocence, and Repentance- Listen here
Video Shorts: "A rare, first-hand account of working with Carlisle Floyd": Watch here