Oberon by Carl Maria von Weber Gods and Goddesses: From Opera to Pop Culture

There’s a humorous saying in the Judeo-Christian tradition warning the faithful not to make any assumptions about their future without first consulting their deity. The saying goes, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.”

Isn’t that just like a god, always wanting to “lord it over” his subjects? Then again, mortals have been having this problem with their gods for…well, for EONS! Plainly, we see it in mythology and religion -- both ancient and modern. But we also see it at the opera, in the movies, and even on TV -- all of which are often about mythology and religion even when we think they’re about something else. This week’s opera is an example. It’s Carl Maria von Weber’s OBERON, and it not only features an all powerful being meddling in the lives of innocent mortals -- it also follows themes that we still see in our entertainment today, in places ranging from Shakespeare to “Star Wars.”

So this week At the Opera, Lou talks with commentor Will Berger about the gods and goddesses of opera, and how they spill over into pop culture; Ed Rothsteen of the New York Times tells us about newfangled gods for the next millenium and beyond, and Thomson Smilley take us on a musical tour of OBERON. It’s an opera with lots of tunes you’ll recognize, even if you’ve never heard the opera itself.

That’s all this week on NPR’s At the Opera, with Lou Santacroce.

Hear Lou's conversation with William Berger about gods and goddesses in opera and pop culture.(Requires the free RealPlayer 5.0 or higher. You can also listen with a 14.4 connection.)

Music featured on At the Opera this week includes: