As I’m backstage about to head out to sing Brahms Requiem here in Prague, I’m not nervous. I never get nervous for a performance. Maybe for an important rehearsal, but never an actual performance. Getting nervous seems so weird to me, and I recognize that this is not the norm. I’m often asked how my … More My No-Nonsense Tricks to Combatting Nerves
Before I head out on stage for any show, I have a few rituals that get me in the zone. It’s nothing like poppin’ my hoodie, jamming to Eminem on my headphones, and heading out to the Olympics Michael Phelps style… but in a way, it is! Get those Z’s This is the most important … More Getting in the Zone: My Pre-Show Ritual
Last week presented me with the biggest challenge of my operatic career so far: learning a role in just 5 days. And not just any role. This was Sam from Bernstein’s A Quiet Place—that means loads of 5/8, 7/8, and 9/8 time signatures, constant meter changes, counter-intuitive pitches, complex characters… the list goes on! Due to … More Is it Possible to Learn a Role in Just 5 Days?
Perhaps these answers are that of a typical baritone but man are they goodies! These are the roles I never tire of performing, and that I am excited about every time I set foot on stage to sing them. 1. Figaro – Barber of Seville What I love about this role is that I get to be … More My 5 Favorite Roles To Sing
I’m often asked what my favorite operas are and why, so I decided to write a post on it. As I was thinking about my top 5 favorite operas of all time, I wasn’t focused on certain composers, singers, recordings, or productions, of these operas. I went with my gut, my heart, and the hairs … More My Top 5 Operas (Of All Time)
Out of all of my operatic repertoire, Don Giovanni is my most performed role. Everyone loves to hate this guy—even me!—because of his loose morals, reckless behavior, and seemingly unquenchable appetite for women. It’s definitely fun to play a character that’s so different than me, but the Don’s got his challenges, too. Let’s just say … More How I Role | My View On Opera’s Bad Boy: Don Giovanni
There is a shortness to my breath. A bead of sweat drips down my forehead. My throat closes up. A pain appears in my chest. It’s tax season. Nothing stresses me out in this world more than doing my taxes. I would trade singing the most difficult baritone aria on opera’s biggest stage any day! … More Making Tax Season Less…Taxing!
Choosing an agent can be difficult, and there’s not a lot of good advice out there. Here are the lessons I’ve learned about working with agents along my opera journey so far. … More How to Pick the Right Agent for Your Career in Opera
It’s not every day you get to meet a celebrity, even in the opera business. Read the story of the time I met Stephen Fry – right in the middle of an aria! … More That Time When… I Met Stephen Fry Mid-Performance At The Royal Opera House
A few weeks ago, I had the immense honor – and pride – to attend and win a Grammy award. It is by far one of the highlights of my career and life. … More Why Don’t More Opera Singers Go to the Grammys?
