A Summer Pause – Reflections from the Road There is no new destination this month.

Instead, Sebastian F. Schwarz pauses to reflect on the first year of Opera Road Trip and on the many conversations that have taken us from Italy to Ukraine, Ireland, Austria, Croatia, Poland, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium and the Czech Republic.

How does an opera production actually come together? Why do singers cancel? Why don't opera singers use microphones? Why is opera so expensive?

Drawing on decades of experience behind the scenes at some of Europe's leading opera houses, Sebastian answers some of the questions he is asked most often and reflects on what opera can still teach us about listening, collaboration, craftsmanship, storytelling and community.

A personal summer essay on one of Europe's oldest—and most resilient—art forms.

Music featured * Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Le Nozze di Figaro: Overture (The Royal Opera, London) * Richard Wagner — Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Prelude (Teatro Real, Madrid) * Bonus track: Richard Wagner — Tannhäuser: "Dich, teure Halle", sung by Lise Davidsen (Queen Sonja Singing Competition, 2015)