Interviews and Conversations

The following interview of the great 20th century star of opera and musical theater took place on the ranch of the Santa Fe Opera, whose hosting is gratefully acknowledged:   [Below: Soprano Reri Grist; edited image of a publicity photograph.] Wm: I ask each of the artists I interview about their earliest memories of music. … Read more

The following interview took place on the “ranch” of the Santa Fe Opera, whose facilitation of this interview is deeply appreciated:   [Below: Jay Hunter Morris; resized image, based on a Vii Tanner publicity photograph.] Wm: My first question asks your earliest memories of music. JHM: I grew up in Paris, Texas. Wm: There is a … Read more

The following interview took place at the War Memorial Opera House, with the much-appreciated facilitation of the San Francisco Opera.   [Photo: Baritone Efraín Solís; resized image of a publicity photograph, courtesy of Efraín Solís.] Wm: Tell me, Efraín, about  about your earliest memories of music. ES: I grew up in the Orange County California town … Read more

Lee Blakeley’s production of Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” is performed by the San Francisco Opera seven times during September, 2015. The following interview took place at the Santa Fe Opera, whose facilitation is deeply appreciated.   [Photo: Director Lee Blakeley; resized image of a Roy Tan photograph, courtesy of Lee Blakeley.] Wm: Please relate how you came … Read more

Wm: This post is part of a series of interviews on the impact of Young Artists programs, both on the career of opera singers and the opera companies that offer them. The interview took place at the Glimmerglass Festival, whose facilitation is greatly appreciated.   [Below: Michael Heaston; resized image of a publicity photograph, courtesy of … Read more

The following interview took place in the administrative offices of the Santa Fe Opera, whose facilitation of this interview is deeply appreciated. Following the conversation, the Santa Fe Opera announced that it has commissioned its 15th world premiere for its 2017 season, Mason Bates’ opera “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs”   [Below: Santa Fe Opera General Director … Read more

This post continues a series of conversations that I have had with British opera director John Pascoe.  Wm: Last week, your long-time colleague, Maestro Alan Curtis,  so important to the movement to prepare scholarly and performable editions of baroque opera works, died in Florence. I learned of his death from you as I was on my way … Read more

This post continues a conversation that began with The Art of Staging Opera – A Conversation with José Maria Condemi Part 1. Wm: The San Francisco Opera, among other companies, has on several occasions given you the task of reviving an older production, such as Jean-Pierre Ponnelle’s production of Bizet’s “Carmen” or their current production of … Read more

The following conversation began in the administrative offices of the San Francisco Opera, whose facilitation of this conversation is deeply appreciated.   [Below: Opera stage director José Maria Condemi; resized image of a publicity photograph from josemariacondemi.com.] Wm: When I interviewed you five years ago [Rising Stars: An Interview with Stage Director José Maria Condemi], I did not … Read more

The following interview with Philippe Sly took place at the War Memorial Opera House of the San Francisco Opera, whose facilitation of this interview is deeply appreciated:  [Below: Bass-baritone Philippe Sly; resized image of an Adam Scotti photograph.] Wm: What were your earliest memories of music? Of classical music? Of opera? PS: My parents lived in … Read more

This continues the series of conversations that I have had with British opera director John Pascoe. This is the seventh part of the conversation. This part follows: Homage to Dame Joan Sutherland: A Conversation with Director John Pascoe, Part 6.     [Below: Director John Pascoe; resized image of a personal 2014 photograph, courtesy of John Pascoe.] … Read more

Previously, I conducted an interview with basso Kevin Burdette, which can be accessed at Buff Buffo: An Interview with Kevin Burdette. The following conversation took place in anticipation of Burdette’s scheduled appearances as Doctor Beck Weathers in the world premiere of Talbot’s “Everest” at The Dallas Opera.   [Below: Basso Kevin Burdette; resized image of a publicity photograph.] Wm: … Read more

The following interview took place in the administrative offices of the San Francisco Opera, whose facilitation is deeply appreciated. [Mezzo-soprano Elizabeth DeShong; resized image of a Kristen Howbermann photograph, courtesy of Elizaveth DeShong] Wm: What are your earliest memories of music? ED: Music was always a part of my family. My father is a United Methodist … Read more

This continues from A Conversation with Lyric Coloratura Soprano Laura Claycomb, Part 2.   [Below: Lyric-coloratura Soprano Laura Claycomb; resized image of a Sergio Valente photograph, courtesy of Laura Claycomb.] Wm: Your show at Glyndebourne the summer before wa also Vladimir Jurowsky’s last show as Glyndebourne’s Music Director. What did that add to the mix of “Ariadne auf … Read more

This continues a conversation that began with A Conversation with Lyric Coloratura Soprano Laura Claycomb, part 1.   [Below: Soprano Laura Claycomb; resized image of a Sergio Valente photograph, courtesy of Laura Claycomb.] Wm: In your performance as Adele in Johann Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus,” Houston Grand Opera has announced that they are using microphones for the … Read more

The following conversation with San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley took place in the administrative offices of the San Francisco Opera, whose facilitation of this conversation is greatly appreciated. It has updated my previous interviews with him [See An Interview with San Francisco Opera’s David Gockley, Part 1 and  An Interview with San Francisco Opera’s David Gockley, Part 2.]   [Below: … Read more

The following conversation with soprano Laura Claycomb began in the administrative offices of the Houston Grand Opera, whose facilitation of this interview is greatly appreciated. It has updated my previous interviews with her [See Rising Stars: An Interview with Laura Claycomb, Part 1 and  Rising Stars: An Interview with Laura Claycomb Part 2] and has continued subsequently on a wide … Read more

Previously, I conducted a two-part interview with baritone Lucas Meachem, which can be accessed at Rising Stars: An Interview with Lucas Meachem, Part 1 and Rising Stars: An Interview with Lucas Meachem, Part 2. The following conversation took place in anticipation of Meachem’s scheduled appearance as Figaro in Corigliano’s “Ghosts of Versailles” at the Los Angeles Opera. [Below: Lucas … Read more

The following interview took place on the “ranch” of the Santa Fe Opera, whose facilitation of this interview is deeply appreciated:   [Below: Tenor Alek Shrader; edited image of a publicity photograph for IMG Artists.] Wm: What do you consider your home town? AS: I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and lived as a small child … Read more

The following interview took place in the administrative offices of the Houston Grand Opera, whose facilitation of the interview is deeply appreciated:   [Below: Soprano Melody Moore; resized image of a publicity photograph.]   Wm: My custom is to ask each artist what their earliest memories of music were. What are yours? MM: I was involved … Read more

This continues the series of conversations that I have had with British opera director John Pascoe. This is the second of three parts of the conversation that will memorialize Dame Joan Sutherland. OM. DBE, AC. who (in John’s own words (“passed into legend”) on 10th October 2010. This part follows: Homage to Dame Joan Sutherland: A Conversation with Director John … Read more

This continues the series of conversations that I have had with British opera director John Pascoe. This is the second of three parts of the conversation that will memorialize Dame Joan Sutherland. OM. DBE, AC. who (in John’s own words) “passed into legend” on 10th October 2010. This part follows: Homage to Dame Joan Sutherland: A Conversation with Director John … Read more

This continues the series of conversations that I have had with British opera director John Pascoe. The following three parts of the conversation will memorialize Dame Joan Sutherland. OM. DBE, AC., who passed into legend on 10th October 2010: [Below: Dame Joan Sutherland in the final act of Donizetti’s “Anna Bolena” in the 1988 Royal Opera House … Read more

The following interview took place at the War Memorial Opera House, home of the San Francisco Opera, whose facilitation of this interview is deeply appreciated.    [Below: Composer Carlisle Floyd; edited image, based on a publicity photograph, courtesy of Carlisle Floyd.] Wm: Often, I ask artists whom I interview about their childhood interests in music. That … Read more

This interview took place on the “ranch” of the Santa Fe Opera, whose facilitation of the interview is deeply appreciated.   [Below: Bass-baritone Greer Grimsley; edited image of a publicity photograph, from www.greergrimsley.com.] Wm: What are your earliest memories of music? GG: I grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, so there was no lack of … Read more