"Across the Magic Fire" with William Berger -- VIDEO AVAILABLE NOW!!

  • William Berger Presents

  • Live, Vibrant, Star-Studded Online Courses

  • The Epic of Opera

  • Why is it the way it is? How did it become that way?

  • Opera and Film

  • How the Opera House Became the Movie Theater

  • Across the Magic Fire

  • The Mystical Convergence of Opera and Metal

William Berger Presents

Live, Vibrant, Star-Studded Online Courses

The Epic of Opera

Why is it the way it is? How did it become that way?

Opera and Film

How the Opera House Became the Movie Theater

Across the Magic Fire

The Mystical Convergence of Opera and Metal
Video of "Across the Magic Fire: The Mystical Convergence of Opera and Metal"

Video of "Across the Magic Fire: The Mystical Convergence of Opera and Metal"

$20.00
$20.00
Sold out

“Across the Magic Fire” was a webinar event, which took place on Sunday, December 6th, in a single live episode exploring the intersection of the two seemingly disparate performance genres of Opera and Metal. Anyone interested in either of these subjects, as well as theatrical history, storytelling, or performance will find the video of this seminar fascinating. 

We go far beyond the clichés of “screaming” vocals to examine the narrative and thematic commonalities of these two extreme art forms which also share similar daunting profiles to the average music consumer.

The session lasted over 90 minutes. The subject was introduced by William Berger, with some listening and visual clips, and was based on presentations he has recently given at such venues as Yale University and NYU. He was joined by two prominent performers, star bass-baritone Christian Van Horn and television star/Metal goddess Jessica Pimentel for a “panel discussion.” Throughout, there was a discussion/question-and-answer queue open to attendees.

The issue that emerges every time William Berger presents this rich and intriguing combination of subjects becomes not only a new point of view on the subjects themselves, but ultimately a paradigm for looking at our own aesthetic wants and needs: why do we like what we like, and what does that tell us about who we are?

COMING SOON! Along with the recording, links will be provided soon for further reading and watching that will expand the conversation even after the webinar ends.

Once the webinar is purchased, you will be provided with a confirmation email of payment, and then another email with a link to download the video.

If you purchased the live event, please check the information document that you downloaded before the event took place (where the Zoom links were provided) to obtain the Discount Code to use to download for free.


Opera and Film

“Opera and Film with William Berger” is a course for everybody who has an interest in storytelling in all its forms. “That’s all we’re doing all the time anyway,” Berger says, “whenever we get together with friends, talk on line, when we read books, when we turn on the TV, or when we sing songs: we’re telling stories. That’s what the word “media” means – the seen and unseen things (the ‘mediums’) between people, connecting them or keeping them apart.”

“This is the event I have always wanted to host,” says Berger. “My whole life, between L.A. and New York, has been about exploring the commonalities and the contrasts between movies and opera, and how they play with (and create) our senses and our sensibilities. The webinar format is making this possible at last: I can include the most illustrious guests from both worlds – from all over – in one two-week course.”

The Epic of Opera

“The Epic of Opera with William Berger" was an eight-session course/community convergence addressing the subject of opera itself: What IS it? Why is it the way it is? How did it become that way? What can be gained from engaging with it that can’t be gained elsewhere? The course followed the development of this most unusual art form. So, it was a sort of a history—but really it was an inquiry into context rather than a historical rundown. What emerged was a sense of how opera—far being merely a freakish side show to the pageant of history—is actually a sort of vast audio-visual-sensual kaleidoscope, providing a unique, profound, and essential perspective on that pageant.

These webinars intend to engage people on the deepest levels, no matter who they are or what their experience of these media is or isn’t. The goal is to leave no attendee behind, and no attendee unchallenged. “What we’re talking about, ultimately, is how some of the greatest visionaries have interpreted life, and how they’ve recreated life by the impact of their art,” Berger adds. “What we’re looking at as how we see ourselves and our world.”

Purchase one of our webinar series at a Savings of 35%!

  • $50.00
    $50.00
    Sold out
  • $50.00
    $50.00
    Sold out

ACROSS THE MAGIC FIRE: THE MYSTICAL CONVERGENCE OF OPERA AND METAL

Opera and Film Videos

The Epic of Opera Videos

Author / Commentator William Berger

William Berger has written on a variety of subjects, including architecture, religion, and sports. He is the author of several books and numerous articles, and has been a familiar voice on radio for over 20 years. He is a commentator for the Metropolitan Opera and is heard on Met Opera Radio’s Sirius/XM broadcasts and the podcast series “In Focus”, and is responsible for the Met’s Opera Quiz. He is a keen and active supporter of new music in a variety of genres and frequently produces and hosts live music events in New York City. 

For a longer bio, see the About Us page.

  • "Witty, knowledgeable, iconoclastic, and emphatically nonacademic...Often outrageously funny."

  • -- Library Journal

  • "...Amusing, educational..."

  • -- Publisher's Weekly

"Witty, knowledgeable, iconoclastic, and emphatically nonacademic...Often outrageously funny."

-- Library Journal

"...Amusing, educational..."

-- Publisher's Weekly
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Questions??

If you have any questions, please contact us at williambergerpresents@gmail.com!