Interviews and Conversations

The following conversation follows up on my 2016 in-person interview with George Gagnidze, when he was preparing for a performance of Amonasro with the San Francisco Opera in a new Francesca Zambello production of “Aida”. Gagnidze returned to California in May 2022 to perform the role of Amonasro at the Los Angeles Opera, in their mounting of … Read more

In observance of the hundredth season of the San Francisco Opera, whose performances I have attended since my middle and high school years, I am conducting a series of conversations with artists associated with the company. The first of these conversations is with American bass Kevin Langan, who participated in the company’s Merola young artists … Read more

The first of a series of discussions with opera director Grischa Asagaroff about the production and performance of opera in Europe and North America in the late 20th century.

Wm: Since the first part of this conversation was posted [Bel Canto in Troubled Times: A Conversation with lyric tenor Michele Angelini, Part One], you have appeared at the Glyndebourne Festival in Rossini’s “Il turco in Italia” directed by Mariame Clément, whose work I have admired [ Review: Mariame Clément Mounts Wagner’s “Liebesverbot”: Opéra du Rhin, Strasbourg, … Read more

My conversation with Michele Angelini began at the Glimmerglass Festival where he was performing the lead tenor role in Rossini’s “La Gazza Ladra” and resumed during the global Covid-19 pandemic that has so disrupted the performance of opera.  [Below: tenor Michele Angelini; edited image of a Rebecca Fay photograph.]  Wm: Michele, the Glimmerglass performance of … Read more

Most of the following interview was conducted on the Santa Fe Opera “Ranch” with the much-appreciated facilitation of the Santa Fe Opera: Wm: I ask my interviewees their earliest memories of music, and of opera. What were yours? AM: My earliest memories of music come from piano and from dance.  As an only child, my parents … Read more

The following interview was conducted with American director Francisco Negrin, whose productions of operas by Handel, Gluck and Massenet I reviewed for this website, but whose scheduled Fall 2020 productions of Verdi’s ‘Il Trovatore” at the Los Angeles Opera was postponed for a year and of Massenet’s “Werther” at the Houston Grand Opera was canceled, … Read more

[Below: Canadian baritone Elliot Madore; resized image of a Cryil Mater photograph.] Wm: I like to know the earliest memories that my interview subjects have of music? What are yours? EM: My love of music was fostered at a young age singing with my school choir. I vividly recall being utterly taken and transfixed by … Read more

The following interview with New York countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen was conducted with the facilitation of the Houston Grand Opera. [Below: Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen; publicity photograph by Fay Fox.] Wm: Aryeh, often ask my interview subjects about the earliest memories that they had of music. What were yours?  ANC: I grew up in Brooklyn, NY, … Read more

This is the ninth installment in a series of conversations between myself and British opera director John Pascoe, regarding operas for which he created the whole production, or a production’s sets or costumes. This conversation follows: A Conversation with John Pascoe, Part 8: Memorializing “Radically Authentic” Conductor and Baroque Music Scholar Alan Curtis. Wm: John, … Read more

The following conversation is the follow-up to an in-person interview conducted in 2016 in Santa Fe. See: Opera as Drama: An Interview with Director Stephen Lawless. Wm: Stephen, since our interview in Santa Fe, I’ve reviewed your new productions of Weber and Mozart operas at Virginia Opera in Norfolk and at the San Diego Opera, … Read more

Note from William: The following conversation took place between myself and Director Paul Curran, following up on our previous interview [Telling the Story: An Interview with Director Paul Curran]. [Below: Director Paul Curran; edited image, based on a Dietmar Schulz photograph, courtesy of paulcurrandirector.com.] Wm: It’s been three years since my interview with you at … Read more

The following conversation continues discussions that began with Rising Stars: An Interview with Saimir Pirgu and continued through A Conversation with Lyric Tenor Saimir Pirgu. Wm: I am pleased that you have returned to Los Angeles, Saimir!  The first time I ever saw you perform was your American debut in Los Angeles as Rinuccio in Hollywood … Read more

The following interview was conducted on the Santa Fe Opera “ranch” with the much-appreciated facilitation of the Santa Fe Opera:   [Photo: Baritone Jarrett Ott; edited image, based on a publicity photograph, from jarrettott.com.] Wm: My first question to most artists I interview asks about their earliest memories of music, and their first memories of … Read more

The following interview took place on the Santa Fe Opera “Ranch” with the much-appreciated facilitation of the Santa Fe Opera:   [Below: Mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack; edited image, based on a Shervin Lainez photograph.] Wm: Tell me your earliest memories of music and of opera! DM: I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and lived there … Read more

The following interview with baritone Brian Vu took place at the Glimmerglass Festival with the Festival’s much appreciated facilitation: [Below: Baritone Brian Vu; edited image of a Karli Cadel photograph.] Wm: I usually ask my interviewees their earliest childhood  memories of music, and of opera. What are yours? BV: I’ve always been surrounded by it. My family was … Read more

The following interview was conducted with the much-appreciated facilitation of the Santa Fe Opera and the Glimmerglass Festival.   [Below: Baritone Joshua Hopkins; edited image, based on a Simon Pauly photograph.] Wm: I ask my interviewees their earliest memories of music and of opera. What were yours? JH: My parents didn’t listen to classical music, but … Read more

The following conversation was facilitated by through the deeply-appreciated auspices of the Opéra de Lyon, where Paul Groves is scheduled to sing Faust in Boito’s “Mefistofele” in Fall, 2018: [Below: Lyric tenor Paul Groves; edited image, based on a YouTube photograph.] Wm: It’s been seven years since I interviewed you [Master of the Lyric Voice … Read more

The following interview took place through the arrangements of the Houston Grand Opera, whose facilitation of this interview is appreciated. This is posted in coordination with the Spoleto Festival USA, where Costanzo will perform in concert.    [Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo; Matthu Placek publicity photograph from IMGArtists.] Wm: We are conversing just after your performance … Read more

The following interview took place in Russell Thomas’ Kennedy-Center dressing room with the much-appreciated facilitation of the Washington National Opera. [Below: Tenor Russell Thomas; edited image, based on a Fay Fox photograph, courtesy of Russell Thomas.] Wm:  What are your earliest memories of music? RT: Gospel music! I grew up in a community in Miami in … Read more

The following conversation with Alek Shrader was conducted with the cooperation of the Seattle Opera, whose facilitation of the conversation is deeply appreciated.   [Below: Alek Shrader as Jupiter in the Seattle Opera production of Handel’s “Semele”; edited image, of a YouTube performance.] Wm: Hi Alek. It’s been almost three years since I interviewed you in Santa … Read more

The following conversation with Kevin Burdette was conducted with the cooperation of the Seattle Opera, whose facilitation of the conversation is deeply appreciated.   [Below: Kevin Burdette as Don Alfonso in the Seattle Opera production of Mozart’s “Così fan Tutte”; edited image, based on a Philip Newton photograph, courtesy of the Seattle Opera.] Wm: Hi … Read more

The following conversation follows up on a previous interview [see: Rising Stars: An interview with Leah Crocetto.]   [Soprano Leah Crocetto; edited image of a Fay Fox photograph, courtesy of Leah Crocetto.] Wm: Since we last talked, you’ve had some career milestones, including your role debut as Aida in a new production of Verdi’s “Aida” and … Read more

The following conversation took place under the auspices of the Los Angeles Opera, whose facilitation of the conversation is deeply appreciated:   [Below: Basso Morris Robinson; edited image of a publicity photograph from morrisrobinson.com.] Wm: You’ve returned to the Los Angeles Opera to perform the role of Zaccaria in Verdi’s “Nabucco” under the baton of Maestro James … Read more

The following interview took place under the auspices of the Houston Grand Opera, whose facilitation of this interview is deeply appreciated:   [Below: Soprano Albina Shagimuratova; edited image, based on a Pavel Vaan and Leonid Semenyuk photograph, courtesy of the Albina Shagimuratova.] Wm: I begin my interviews with questions about each artist’s early experiences with … Read more