Talking with singers: Russell Thomas

Interview

He considers the impetus for professional singing a simple one, through those moments of encouragement as a teenager in school. Yet when asked why he still sings, Thomas nods to the freedom he finds onstage. "I could escape my own life by trying to be somebody else. And that's the reason why I still do it now, because it's the escape from all of my own baggage."

Talking with singers: Christopher Purves

Interview

"He knows exactly, with one look or brief conversation with a person, he knows exactly what their sexual proclivities are, and he knows exactly what they would like to do." Paired with confidence and unhindered by morals, Giovanni is free to say, "I'm gonna shag her, I'm going to screw this woman."

New operas: Craig Bohmler's Riders of the Purple Sage

Interview

"For me, it is important to make an audience comfortable before we take them on an unexpected journey. My mentor Carlisle Floyd says that if an audience has a vocabulary of 200 words, give them those words plus 200 they don't know. I have stood by that in all of my writing."

Talking with singers: Lise Lindstrom

Interview

"I sing because I couldn't NOT sing. There was nothing else I was particularly good at or interested in, so thank heaven it worked out! I am truly an artist at heart, and the joy I feel when being able to express myself through my voice is absolutely unparalleled."

New roles: Janaka Welihinda of MYOpera

Interview

"I'm very passionate about mentoring and coaching young people; helping them grow and trying to get them to reach their full potential. I feel like it's a way to pay forward all the time my mentors have generously invested in me. I’m really looking forward to watching and supporting the artists this year throughout the process. From the auditions, to their first sing through, to their final performances and beyond, I'll feel honoured to share each step of their journey."

Talking with singers: Layla Claire

Interview

Claire makes her debut at the Salzburg Festival this summer, singing Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, and she's part of a stellar cast, including Ildebrando D'Arcangelo (Giovanni) and Luca Pisaroni (Leporello). We were able to chat with Claire about the dream of singing Mozart in his birth-city, and how a cast of Italians helps her raise the bar with all those recits.

Magic & high standards: Midsummer at Glyndebourne

Interview

"Peter Hall's Midsummer is the first 'traditional' production of this opera that I have been a part of. It is specific without being rigid, magical without being obvious, and true to the story and setting. It is important to not shy away from the harshness within Midsummer, and to acknowledge the individual journeys of each of the characters, joyful and pitiful, alike."

Nate Douglas: "Writing songs is fun."

Interview

"I know a lot of people that like to sing and play, but they don't really like it the way I like it," admits Douglas. "If you really like something you'll just keep doing it. I didn't know how much I like it until really recently."

Tales from the Kammeroper at Rheinsberg Castle

Interview

"I think the most important thing I've learned working in Germany over the summer is patience and flexibility during the rehearsal process. With so many people coming from various backgrounds and with so much interpreting and so many languages, you have to be patient with both yourself and everyone else as we all slowly but surely figure out the story we want to tell."

Spotlight on: Will Liverman

Interview

"I enjoy singing because of the rush I get every time I'm onstage. There's absolutely nothing like it and there's nothing better than having that chance to move someone to tears or laughter through the power of music and performance."