Looking for a simple way to stay in the loop about arts and humanities news in the UCF community? Look no further than CAH-nversations: A UCF College of Arts and Humanities Podcast, created to bring the voices of creative minds in our community — from faculty to students — straight to your ear. Whether driving, exercising or multitasking, anyone can tune into these behind-the-scenes discussions about exciting news and events in Orlando.
The first series of CAH-nversations focuses on sharing stories behind performances at UCF Celebrates the Arts, an annual festival of creativity hosted by the College of Arts and Humanities (CAH). Featuring over 40 affordable events at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts from April 2 through 15, the festival has something for everyone. Hear members of the CAH communications department speak with artists behind different events at the festival, from musicians to playwrights.
In the podcast’s debut episode, CAH communications assistant Madeleine Mulford speaks with Alex Burtzos, endowed chair of composition at UCF, and Daniel Neer, a performer, music instructor and librettist based in New York City. Burtzos and Neer are developing a new opera, HE Who Gets Slapped, based on Leonid Andreyev’s 1915 play of the same name. Portions of the opera will be performed at the UCF Symphony Orchestra: When in Rome concert with members of Opera Orlando at UCF Celebrates the Arts on April 6.
In this 20-minute conversation, hear Burtzos and Neer discuss the opera’s story and music, the process of its creation as well as the powerful medium of opera and its innovative future. Listen to the episode here.