Season 7, Episode 1 - Ken Cazan and Adam Turner, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA

Central City Opera Podcast

On this episode, stage director Ken Cazan and conductor Adam Turner share their insights into the musical THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. This is Ken’s 20th season directing at Central City Opera, and Adam has worked on the music side for seven seasons since 2011, first as associate conductor, then as guest principal conductor. Ken and Adam dig into the story and sounds of this Tony-Award-winning musical, elaborating on the cast, the universal themes in the story, and the inspiration behind the work. And in celebration of our 90th Anniversary, they share what makes Central City Opera special to them.

Ken Cazan is currently a Full Professor, Resident Stage Director, and Chair of Vocal Arts and Opera at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where he has worked since 2004. He is in demand internationally as a stage director and masterclass clinician. In 2017, he was inducted into the Grove Dictionary of Music as an expert in the works of Benjamin Britten.

Conductor Adam Turner is currently Artistic Director of Virginia Opera. He is a champion of new works, and first emerged on the international stage at age 25 when he took over conducting responsibilities of a production of Les Miserables in Germany.

Find out more about Ken and Adam on past episodes of the Central City Opera Podcast at ccopodcast.org. Have questions or want to provide feedback? Email us at [email protected]. To hear more stories from inside Central City Opera and buy tickets to the shows, visit us at centralcityopera.org.