Talking with singers: John Chest

Interview

American baritone John Chest is having a pretty stellar season. He was just announced as a Richard Tucker Career Grant winner, and this June, he'll be heading to Wales to sing as a finalist in the 2017 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition.

Don't miss: the 2nd annual New York Opera Fest

Interview

"New York is a magnet for talented and ambitious people, and we are seeing the benefits of the flowering of civic opera companies in the 60's onward who exposed people at a very young age to opera, and who are now grown up and want to participate and create. We are also seeing the benefits of our more connected industry."

Talking with singers: Riccardo Massi

Interview

"Indeed, having good strength helps when it comes to supporting the sounds with the diaphragm, however it's much better to be elastic and well stretched. I remember I had to do really hard work to relax my body when I was a student taking my first lessons, because my body was too hard and tense for the hard training I had to go through, since I was a fighter."

Nashville Opera's Carmen: "She dies because she told a man, 'no'."

Interview

"I think that neither Carmen nor José are hero nor villain, but people who make bad choices. I think that's why Carmen is perhaps the most performed opera of all time, partly because of its tragic love story. The stories of crimes and passion have documented throughout human history. We know these people and can identify with how they might feel or felt, based up personal experiences or from stories we have heard or read about."

Daniel Belcher returns to The Long Walk

Interview

"The best part is getting to know the man very well over the last four years. When I first met Brian in New York, I was very intimidated and, honestly, worried that he would think, 'Who is this guy to play me?' It was quite the opposite; he opened his arms, said, 'Opera Brian!' and gave me a hug. He has been nothing but supportive and in fact, over the years we have become very good friends."

Talking with singers: Matthew Polenzani

Interview

"If you're going through a divorce, or there's been a death in the family, or your children are misbehaving, or whatever it is, that stuff can be difficult on a voice." Polenzani has watched his own colleagues go through tough times in their offstage lives, and the personal costs are certainly audible in a singer's voice. "On the other hand, I also know singers who have been through divorce who are singing better afterwards, because the stress of a failing marriage was difficult on their voices."

Talking with singers: Saimir Pirgu

Interview

Though the risks are low in practicing one's craft within school or young artist productions, Pirgu feels that the benefits are equally low. "From nothing, comes nothing," he says. "That's what I learned in those years. I did things when I was not supposed to do it." In a way, he misses the carefree approach he had towards singing in these early years. "It was beautiful. Just go straight away and sing. Now, I think too much."

Talking with singers: Chen Reiss

Interview

"It is very important to leave a few weeks a year free from work so that I can truly rest, recharge and miss the stage. Saying NO to certain offers is not easy but sometimes necessary. I realized it during my maternity leave, in which I did not sing a tone for 6 months!! I did not even sing in the bath. It was wonderful but even more wonderful was coming back to the audience, to the theater, to the orchestras, I was so fresh and enthusiastic."

Don't miss: Sasha Regan's All-male Mikado

Interview

"The innocence, the memories of laughter, the pure voices and the playfulness of us all dressing up. All of these elements remind me of school and when I wanted to stage a Gilbert & Sullivan with a fresh take, my school days gave me the inspiration. I always try to retain that child-like, innocent feel in my productions."

Alexandra Bourque: "It is such a rush of adrenaline."

Interview

"I believe it is because of the subjectivity within the audition process that it is still difficult for women to gain entry into this profession. Even with the best education and experience, if you do not fit "the vision," which has traditionally been of a male conductor, you do not have a chance."