New podcast: On the Barricade
Accompanying our groundbreaking opera La Révolution de Carmen is an equally compelling podcast: On the Barricade. In this three-part series, with an additional epilogue about the production, podcaster Dide Vonk delves deeper into the story behind Carmen and explores how the themes of this tale, set during the Paris Commune of 1871, remain relevant today.
What drives people to resist?
How far will people go for their freedom and ideals? And when does liberation turn into destruction? On the Barricadedraws connections between the story of the Paris Commune and political struggles today. From historical revolutions to current protest movements—women’s protests, climate marches, the storming of the Capitol, demonstrations for Gaza—what can we learn from the past?
Counter-revolutions
In episode two, we dive into the phenomenon of counter-revolutions. We often associate revolutions with progressive movements, but is that image still accurate? How is it that revolutionaries themselves often become oppressors? Increasingly, we see large groups of people rising up against all change, preferring that everything remains as it was.
A search for connection
In the final episode, we ask what freedom means today. Is it possible to remain in the middle in a world full of opposing forces? And is neutrality a sign of weakness? We look for ways to move beyond polarization. Can we learn from the experiences of the Paris Commune how to bring a divided society back together?
Bonus episode
The bonus episode is now online! In this episode, we return to the world of opera. Librettist and director Serge van Veggel and dramaturg Tiara Kobalt share how the Commune period influenced opera. How did opera originate? What connection does the Paris uprising have with Carmen? And why did opera singer Tania Kross come out of her Carmen retirement to perform the role one last time?
This podcast series is much more than a history lesson or an opera commentary. With music, sound design, personal reflections, and interviews, Dide Vonk creates a thrilling journalistic exploration of the mechanisms behind revolutions and counter-revolutions.
Listen to On the Barricade on your favorite podcast app!