Following the premiere of its new production of Manon on September 30, the Los Angeles Opera has launched a podcast series which offers listeners insights into the creation of the production.

The four episodes of the Podcast series feature director/choreographer Vincent Paterson, soprano Anna Netrebko (who sings the title role), tenor Rolando Villazуn (who sings Chevalier des Grieux) and production staff.

Paterson also directed Anna Netrebko: The Woman, The Voice, which features an interview with the soprano interspersed with five classical arias with MTV style visuals.

“’The Behind the Curtain at the LA Opera’ podcast is a great opportunity for us to leverage new media to build excitement for Manon with young audience and technophiles,” said LA Opera’s chief Marketing and communications officer Hope Boonshaft. “We’re providing a rare and exciting look at how a production like this comes together.”

The four parts of the series are a chronological discussion of the process behind creating an opera. It is available at www.laopera.com.

San Francisco Opera also recently launched a podcasting venture, beginning with a conversation with soprano Deborah Voigt.