I came out of the womb singing. I couldn’t help myself. I sang all the time and didn’t care where I was! What about you? Is your child a natural singer? Do you walk into the room and find them singing to themselves? To the point that they can’t help themselves from singing?Congratulations! These may … More When Your Child Wants to be an Opera Singer: A How-To Guide
Here I am in the sunny Spanish countryside, about to sing my 6th production of Le Nozze di Figaro as The Count. I figured it was about time I gave my thoughts on the man that is loathed by the audience but much loved by his own self. I love having the chance to delve into … More How I Role | The Perfect Opera’s Imperfect Aristocrat: Count Almaviva
Next week marks my first anniversary with my wife, Irina, and I can’t help but write about love. I’ve learned a lot about this juicy topic over the years, especially the difficulties with love and relationships that come with being an opera singer. In my blog post 10 Truths About Life On the Road, I … More Making Love Last As An Opera Singer
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!
