director of "War of the Worlds," The Industry
Director of The Industry, an experimental opera company based in Los Angeles
PROFILE
Yuval Sharon
Guest
FROM Yuval Sharon
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
'War of the Worlds' becomes an unconventional opera in LA Orson Welles’ 1938 broadcast “War of the Worlds” was a radio drama about Martians invading earth, based on the novel by H.G. Wells. It was remade into a movie starring Tom Cruise. Now it’ll be an opera at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Three wartime sirens will even blast the music out to the streets of Downtown LA. The show is a modern take on how information gets spread, and how reliable it is. “War of the Worlds” will run November 12 and 18. The new opera 'War of the Worlds,' directed by Yuval Sharon, comes to Walt Disney Concert Hall on November 12 and 18 . (Photo courtesy of LA Phil.)
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
LA's Viet Thanh Nguyen and Yuval Sharon on becoming MacArthur 'Geniuses' Four of the MacArthur fellows this year are from Los Angeles. They include theater artist Taylor Mac, painter Njideka Akunyili Crosby, novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen and opera director Yuval Sharon. Each will receive a so-called genius grant worth $625,000. We speak with Sharon and Nguyen about what the award means to them, how they’ll spend the grant money, and what projects are next for them. Viet Thanh Nguyen Yuval Sharon Images courtesy of the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Hopscotch, the Opera An outside-the-box opera called Hopscotch is being staged throughout the streets of downtown L.A.—including inside a fleet of moving limos. Hopscotch is the latest project from L.A.’s experimental opera company, the Industry. Over the past five years, the Industry has built a reputation for creating shows in unlikely places. And the L.A. Philharmonic recently announced it’s giving the company a three-year residency, starting next year.
Which Way, L.A.?
Behind the Scenes of LA Operas, Both Big and Small This weekend is big for high culture in Los Angeles with the LA Opera kicking off its new season. Off stage, it's trying to get past years of budget cuts, layoffs and emergency loans. We hear a report from KCRW's Saul Gonzalez, who went behind the scenes, then hear how smaller, avant garde operas, are appealing to younger audiences. LA Opera in final rehearsals for the production of Carmen, with Placido Domingo conducting Photo courtesy of Saul Gonzalez
Recommended
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
How do Trump supporters feel about the Paris Accord? Globally and around the U.S., there are strong opinions whether or not the Paris Climate Accord is a good idea. The American exit is either a horrifying abdication of American leadership or a forceful and long overdue statement about U.S. sovereignty.
The Treatment
Jordan Peele: Get Out Comedian Jordan Peele joins Elvis Mitchell to discuss his directorial debut Get Out. (REPEAT)
Bookworm
George Saunders: Lincoln in the Bardo (Part I) Lincoln in the Bardo dramatizes a grieving President Lincoln as he visits the grave of his beloved son Willie, who died at age eleven. In the novel, the buried dead believe they're not dead -- "they're sick and refer to their coffins as "sick boxes."
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Why did Jared Kushner want a back channel with Russians? News broke Friday that President Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner, tried setting up a back channel between the Trump transition team and the Russian government. What are the consequences for Kushner, President Trump, and the investigation into Russian meddling?