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Opera Interviews

The latest interviews about live + streaming theatre in Opera.

Feature: Director Mary Birnbaum Readies EMIGRE—Oratorio by Zigman, Campbell and Walsh—for US Debut at Geffen Hall
by Richard Sasanow - February 27, 2024

“I think the story is about survival, and about people sheltering one another,” director Mary Birnbaum told me in our conversation about EMIGRÉ, the oratorio that features what she called “composer Aaron Zigman’s sweeping score” and the “complex storytelling” by librettist Mark Campbell and lyricist...

Interview: Theatre Life with Jeanine Tesori
by Elliot Lanes - December 03, 2023

Today’s subject Jeanine Tesori is a two-time Tony Award winning composer whose work spans the gamut from large scale and chamber musicals for Broadway to grand opera and beyond. Her holiday children’s opera The Lion, The Unicorn and Me premiered ten years ago at Kennedy Center as a commission for Wa...

Interview: Audra McDonald Lighting Up LA Opera Again
by Gil Kaan - November 28, 2023

Broadway legend Audra McDonald returns to LA Opera backed by the LA Opera Orchestra and her four-piece ensemble (led by musical director Andy Einhorn) December 2, 2023. Be prepared to experience the stunning vocals of six-time Tony winner singing her expansive Broadway and opera repertoire filling t...

Interview: Theatre Life with Sir Bryn Terfel
by Elliot Lanes - November 13, 2023

Today’s subject Sir Bryn Terfel is a Grammy, Classical Brit, and Gramophone Award–winning recording artist with a discography encompassing operas of Mozart, Wagner, and Strauss, and more than 15 solo discs including Lieder, American musical theatre, Welsh songs, and sacred repertory. He is, rightful...

Feature: A SHINING East Coast Premiere in Atlanta for Moravec and Campbell's Operatic Re-Telling of the Stephen King Novel
by Richard Sasanow - September 14, 2023

Nearly a decade ago, when composer Paul Moravec and librettist Mark Campbell started work on an operatic version of Stephen King’s novel “The Shining” for the Minnesota Opera they were dealing with one of the most popular psychological thrillers of the 20th century—as well as one of the scarier movi...

Interview: Anne Wieben of DIE CSÁRDÁSFÜRSTIN (THE CSARDAS PRINCESS) at Opera On The Lake
by Jared Fessler - July 18, 2023

This absolute gem of a piece tells the story of Sylva Varescu, a successful cabaret performer who falls in love with a nobleman. Can their love survive the pressures of society? Full of lush melodies, humor, emotion and wit, you’ll see and hear why Die Csárdásfürstin (The Csardas Princess) remains a...

Guest Blog: 'My Journey Has Been Almost as Long as His!': Writer and Librettist Glyn Maxwell on Adapting Wagner's THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
by Guest Author - June 12, 2023

My journey with The Flying Dutchman has been almost as long as his. I was enthralled by the story as a child – a sailor who lost a bet with the Devil! – and then, twenty-five years ago, wrote a 10,000 line epic poem called Time’s Fool, where I substituted an endless ghost train for the cursed ship....

Interview: Celisse Reveals How She Created an Opera With No Rules
by Michael Major - May 25, 2023

After being seen on Broadway in the 2012 revival of Godspell, Celisse has toured with acts like Brandi Carlile, Dave Matthews Band, John Legend, and John Mayer. Now, she has partnered with the new company, Catapult Opera, to create a 30-minute opera and short film entitled “When All I Knew Changed.”...

Interview: Charles H. Eaton of DON GIOVANNI at Minnesota Opera
by Jared Fessler - May 09, 2023

Don Giovanni is an egotistical and infamous womanizer, brazen in his shameless seductions. But his betrayals soon catch up to him when divine retribution exacts the ultimate price. Set in the 1930s, this new production centers the women who cross paths with Don Giovanni and ultimately deliver his gr...

Interview: Michael Chioldi of LA TRAVIATA at McCaw Hall
by Erica Miner - May 06, 2023

A company and audience favorite, Chioldi made his SO debut as Baron Scarpia in Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca in 2021...

Interview: Tara Branham of TOSCA at Opera San José Shines a New Light on the Operatic Canon
by Jim Munson - April 12, 2023

BroadwayWorld chats with Tara Branham who is making her mainstage debut as director at Opera San Jose with the Puccini classic 'Tosca' running April 15 to 30....

Interview: Stephanie Blythe of SAN DIEGO OPERA'S PUCCINI DUO at The San Diego Civic Theater
by Ron Bierman - February 13, 2023

Stephanie Blythe looks for “creativity, imagination and curiosity” in her students. The first two are required of any good artist. Curiosity is a little less obvious, but she credits it for her ever expanding interests. Kate Smith led to reading about song writers, which In turn led to playing ukule...

Interview: Stephanie Blythe of SAN DIEGO OPERA'S PUCCINI DUO at San Diego's Civic Theater
by Ron Bierman - February 06, 2023

Stephanie Blythe is probably the only opera singer who represents an ukulele company. That she embodies the unexpected is further confirmed by her upcoming roles in the San Diego Opera's next production, two one-act operas by Puccini. The mezzo soprano will first sing a deeper contralto as the Princ...

Interview: Darren Drone & Chanáe Curtis of FALSTAFF at Opera San José Represent the New Face of Opera
by Jim Munson - February 03, 2023

BroadwayWorld chats with baritone Darren Drone & soprano Chanae Curtis, stars of Verdi's comedic masterpiece 'Falstaff' at Opera San Jose February 11-26. The 2 up-and-coming singers represent the new face of opera....

Interview: Monet X Change of THE DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT at Minnesota Opera
by Jared Fessler - December 22, 2022

The Daughter of the Regiment has romance, humor, vocal pyrotechnics-and one of the most unique roles in the repertoire, the Duchess of Krakenthorp. This cameo role has a storied history of portrayal by actors and public figures (including late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg and Golden Gi...

Interview: Inside Paul Moravec's 'Method' of Composing A NATION OF OTHERS
by Richard Sasanow - November 07, 2022

When Paul Moravec calls himself as “a sort of Method composer,” in describing his work on A NATION OF OTHERS, commissioned for the Oratorio Society of NY, debuting at Carnegie Hall on Nov. 15, he’s likening his writing to the “Method Acting” technique: getting inside the heads of his characters, und...

Interview: Allen Shearer, Claudia Stevens of PROSPERO'S ISLAND at Herbst Theater
by Erica Miner - November 06, 2022

Set for a March 25, 2023, premiere at the Herbst Theater, the upcoming opera is based on The Tempest...

Interview: Professional Opera Singer Frank Pitts is Guest Music Director of BIG FISH at Arkansas State University Beebe
by Theresa Bertram - November 02, 2022

In theatre, as well as in life, we all need a little help from our friends. This holds true for Director Ryan Gibbins at Arkansas State University-Beebe Theatre Department, who will be presenting BIG FISH this Thursday through Saturday, November 3 through 5, in the Owen Center Theatre, beginning at ...

Interview: Alma Deutscher of CINDERELLA at Opera San José Knows the Score - Because She Wrote It
by Jim Munson - November 02, 2022

BroadwayWorld chats with 17-year-old classical music phenom about her opera 'Cinderella' which she will be conducting in Opera San Jose's lavish production November 12 to 27....

Interview: Kip Cranna of SAN FRANCISCO OPERA CENTENNIAL at War Memorial Opera House - Part 1
by Erica Miner - September 04, 2022

Cranna’s unique history with the company extends over a 40-year period....

Interview: Brian Watkins Talks New Play EPIPHANY, OUTER RANGE on Amazon Prime Video & Writing for TV Vs. Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - June 28, 2022

Brian Watkins is the writer of Epiphany, which just opened at Lincoln Center Theater. He is also the creator, and showrunner, and executive producer of Outer Range on Amazon Prime Video, and has a film project in the works. Read BroadwayWorld's interview with Watkins about Epiphany, the differences ...

Lawrence Brownlee of LAWRENCE BROWNLEE IN CONCERT at McCaw Hall
by Erica Miner - April 20, 2022

He expresses himself as articulately when speaking as he does when singing...

Erin Morley of ARIADNE AUF NAXOS at Teatro alla Scala
by Erica Miner - April 07, 2022

The Richard Tucker award-winning singer’s star is rising at an astonishing rate...

Baritone Etienne Dupuis Brings His 'Je Ne Sais Quoi' to DON CARLOS at the Met
by Richard Sasanow - March 21, 2022

Can you imagine the Met--or any other major opera house--cutting the length of a new opera so commuters could make the last train? That’s what baritone Etienne Dupuis told me about the world premiere in Paris of Verdi’s DON CARLOS (1867). Dupuis is starring as Don Rodrigue, Marquis de Posa, at the M...

The Every-Busy Kelli O'Hara's Always Singing Whether Benefits, Opera Or Concerts
by Gil Kaan - March 17, 2022

One of Broadway’s favorite leading ladies Kelli O’Hara will be appearing with SiriusXM Radio staple Seth Rudetsky for a one-night concert at The Wallis April 2, 2022 as part of The Wallis Broadway @ concert series. Kelli was gracious enough to carve out a little time to answer a few of my theatrical...

Yves Abel of SAN DIEGO OPERA'S ROMEO AND JULIET at San Diego Civic Center
by Ron Bierman - March 14, 2022

Conductor Yves Abel arrived in San Diego from Europe a few days ago to begin rehearsals for Romeo and Juliet by French composer Charles Gounod. The Maestro does get around a lot, even for an internationally in-demand musician. His wife and boys five and eight sometimes travel with him when he conduc...

Conducting ST. MATTHEW PASSION's Only One of James Conlon's Many Current Commitments
by Gil Kaan - March 02, 2022

LA Opera’s next production St. Matthew Passion will open March 12, 2022, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. LA Opera’s music director James Conlon conducts with choreographer John Neumeier staging Johann Sebastian Bach’s scared masterpiece with members of the Hamburg Ballet. The always busy Maestro f...

Reginald Smith, Jr. in SAN DIEGO OPERA'S COSI FAN TUTTE at San Diego Civic Center
by Ron Bierman - February 10, 2022

'I'm just Reggie from Atlanta' baritone Reginald Smith, Jr. explained during our hour-long discussion on Zoom. That may be how he would like to view himself, but it's hardly how most others do since he's also a Grammy winning opera star who's performed at the Met. Until high school, neither o...

Third Time's The Charm For IL TROVATORE's Guanqun Yu
by Gil Kaan - September 30, 2021

LA Opera has opened their 35th season with Verdi's IL TROVATORE. Conducted by James Conlon and directed by Francisco Negrín, live performances at The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion through October 10th will be supplemented by two live streams October 3rd and 6th. IL TROVATORE stars Guanqun Yu in the role...

Sidney Outlaw of MOZART AND SALIERI at Opera San José Finds Himself Entering the Prime of His Career
by Jim Munson - September 23, 2021

It would appear that acclaimed baritone Sidney Outlaw is having the busiest year of his career. In addition to starring as composer Antonio Salieri in Opera San José’s new virtual production of Rimsky-Korsakov’s 'Mozart and Salieri,' Outlaw will be performing 'Barber of Seville,' 'Porgy and Bess,' a...

David Bennett of THE SAN DIEGO OPERA
by Ron Bierman - September 10, 2021

David Bennett is now six years into his job as general director of the San Diego Opera Association. When hired, he faced shaky finances, a loss of major donors, and huge turnover in the membership of the board of directors. The new board hired him with the understanding that downsizing and reinventi...

Eric Owens of DIE WALKÜRE at Fisher Pavilion
by Erica Miner - July 18, 2021

The first live post-pandemic opening for the company....

Michael Chioldi of TOSCA at St. Paul's Cathedral
by Erica Miner - June 11, 2021

The New York City-based award-winning baritone and Pittsburgh, PA, native specializes in dramatic roles of Verdi, Puccini, and Strauss...

Artistic Director Marcus Desando on Presenting Second Edition of CANTIAMO - MZANSI OPERA CELEBRATION
by Lindsay Kruger - April 13, 2021

After a highly successful debut hailed as 'an operatic musical extravaganza', CANTIAMO - MZANSI OPERA CELEBRATION returns to the Mandela Theatre this month. Directed by acclaimed artistic producer and director Marcus Desando, he discusses with BroadwayWorld his role as director in this celebratory s...

Candace Johnson of CJ'S FITNESSING on MarshStream Combines Singing & Exercise to Help You Find Your True Voice
by Jim Munson - April 09, 2021

You may not be aware of World Voice Day, but it’s celebrated every April 16th to demonstrate the enormous importance of the voice in the daily lives of all people. I can’t imagine a better person to observe it with than Candace Johnson, who leads CJ’s FitnesSing!™ on the MarshStream platform every F...

Emily Fons of San Diego Opera's THE BARBER OF SEVILLE at Pechanga Arena
by Ron Bierman - March 31, 2021

As I write this, mezzo soprano Emily Fons is driving from her home in Milwaukee to San Diego to rehearse the role of Rosina, the wife of roving-eyed count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville by Rossini. Three years ago Fons sang Cherubino here in the related comic opera The Marriage of Figaro by Mozar...

Emily Fons of San Diego Opera's THE BARBER OF SEVILLE at Pechanga Arena Drive-in.
by Maria Nockin - March 19, 2021

Emily Fons received a Grammy nomination for her work on the recording of Jennifer Higdon’s opera Cold Mountain. Fons has been lauded for her virtuosic abilities in the Baroque and Bel Canto repertoires and for the dramatic commitment and musicality she brings to modern works. She has performed with ...

Vanessa Goikoetxea of DON GIOVANNI at McCaw Hall
by Erica Miner - March 15, 2021

Her Mozart is lyrical, lush, secure and dynamic, with a forceful top range and fluid technique that makes her vocality perfect for a role such as Donna Anna, which has challenged sopranos over the past two centuries. Yet soprano Vanessa Goikoetxea showed her versatility when she won immense kudos fo...

Beth Morrison of "The PROTOTYPE FESTIVAL Opera-Theatre-NOW"
by Erica Miner - February 04, 2021

One of the world’s foremost, most adventurous, female producers of contemporary opera, and a tireless champion of diverse voices, Beth Morrison unequivocally embraces her seemingly limitless drive....

John Riesen Talks Upcoming Christmas Album CHRISTMAS AT HOME!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - November 10, 2020

John Riesen made headlines earlier this year when in the early days of the health crisis, he helped bring income to artists by creating the COVID-19 Artist Support - Pure Voice Spotify playlist, Now, Riesen is continuing to bring beautiful music into the world, this time through the release of his ...



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