Mike Bolton
Classical HostMike Bolton is thrilled to bring you the music you love on WRTI.
He’s spent his entire professional life in music, including an over-two-decade tenure at Opera Philadelphia—16 years as Vice President of Community Initiatives. While there, Mike significantly expanded the company’s education and outreach programs, reaching hundreds of thousands of young people and adults. He also organized more than 80 “Random Acts of Culture” throughout the city, including a now-legendary 650-voice performance of Handel’s Hallelujah chorus at Macy’s, accompanied by Peter Conte on the Wanamaker Organ. The video of the event has been viewed 12 million times on YouTube.
Most recently, Mike served as Executive Director of the International Friends of Festival Verdi, in partnership with Italy’s Teatro Regio di Parma. In June 2025, he joins Philadelphia’s esteemed Singing City Choir as Executive Director. He can also be heard on Arizona PBS’s radio stations as the host of The Phoenix Symphony’s broadcast series.
An engaging and sought-after speaker, Mike has shared lectures with more than 65,000 people internationally, through institutions including Cincinnati Opera, Curtis Institute of Music, the Metropolitan Opera Guild, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera, and in conjunction with productions at Teatro alla Scala and La Fenice.
Mike brings a deep love of classical music and a storyteller’s heart to every broadcast—making the music come alive for the curious teen, the seasoned listener, and everyone in between. He looks forward to sharing your passion for music every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on WRTI.
-
This week's musical offerings remind us just how rich the classical music scene is in the City of Brotherly Love. Read more about Mike Bolton's picks in Fanfare, from WRTI. -
With Valentine's Day around the corner, Fanfare is full of concerts worth swooning over. Find your match among our options, handpicked by Mike Bolton. -
For Mike Bolton, an aria from 'The Magic Flute' was a pivotal entry point into the world of opera. He sees the same possibility in Julie Taymor’s spectacular production at The Met Opera, which airs Saturday, June 3 at 1 p.m. on WRTI. -
A new production of Mozart's 'Don Giovanni,' directed by Ivo van Hove and conducted by Nathalie Stuzmann, has earned acclaim. WRTI's own Mike Bolton explores the opera's themes, and its complex moral web. -
'Peter Grimes' returns to the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network on Saturday, April 29 at 1:00 p.m. As Mike Bolton persuasively argues, it's one of the greatest operas ever made. -
Richard Wagner's 'Lohengrin' will air at noon on Saturday on WRTI 90.1 FM and at wrti.org. -
A half-century-old broadcast of The Met Opera's 'Macbeth' provides an opportunity to marvel anew at the great American soprano Martina Arroyo, as she turns 86. -
Sondra Radvanovsky shines in The Met Opera's production of 'Medea,' airing this Saturday at 1 p.m. on WRTI. Before the broadcast, Mike Bolton offers insights about this rarely performed work.
