Evening Music

The Sexual Mystery

Thursday, May 03, 2007

It's a well known fact that music can arouse more than just the ears. On this installment of The Tristan Mysteries, Amy O'Leary uncovers the aphrodisiac qualities of Wagner's opera. Also, George Preston examines the sex-appeal of Tristan from the clinical—and decidedly non-clinical—point of view, with anthropologist Helen Fisher and adult film star/"Vivid Girl" Savanna Samson.

Contributors to The Sexual Mystery include:

Terrance McNally, Playwright & Librettist
Colin Levin, an opera student at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music
A Soprano who wishes to remain anonymous

Executive Producer, The Tristan Mysteries: Limor Tomer
Producer/Host, The Sexual Mystery: Amy O'Leary
Producer/Host, Blue Wagner: George Preston
Web Producer, The Tristan Mysteries: Brad Cresswell

The Tristan Mysteries is supported, in part, by a grant from The Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Listen to the whole show

The Sexual Mystery

Listen on Demand
In this episode of The Tristan Mysteries, we investigate multiple instances where Tristan und Isolde has elicited more than just applause—and discover why Tristan may well have been the world's first pornographic opera.

Blue Wagner

Listen on Demand
What makes Tristan und Isolde so sexy? Anthropologist Helen Fisher weighs in on just how Tristan gets the juices flowing. Also, adult film actress/"Vivid Girl" (and Tristan fanatic) Savanna Samson chats with George Preston about the lusty side of Wagner's music—and shares recordings of her favorite "sexy-voiced" singers.

Video: Savanna Samson on WNYC's Evening Music