Audition season, or the annual Festival of Shattered Dreams

Op-ed

The business of opera is at times wonderful and at other times loathsome. It is, sadly, mostly run by the ill-informed and the ill-equipped. It is therefore oftentimes arbitrary and frivolous though it can sometimes be sublime.

Practicing spontaneity: be like Hillary & not like Donald

Op-ed

Isn't it possible, though, that you've taken all the fun out of it both for yourself and the audience? If you're running to a plan, there is no room for whimsy or spontaneity, for some little piece of improvisation that might turn a good performance into one which is delightful and memorable.

Fat phobia in opera? It's a thing

Op-ed

What I do know is I have questions that I hope we all can start to ask ourselves: Where does this critical conversation fit in this profession? What happens when superficial beauty standards discriminate gifted singers out of the business? Is there a way to have a body positive mindset and approach in this industry?

Dear me: advice to my freshman self

Op-ed

At the end of the day, there are certain things that you will not able to control, no matter how much you practice; and no matter how solid your technique is, you will hear, "no". You cannot take it personally, the thicker your skin is, the better you will fare. It will make the "yeses" you hear even sweeter.

United we stand, divided we fall

Op-ed

So, the next time you get hit with a flash of "inspiration" to change something during the middle of a live show, STOP! Take a moment to consider the consequences of your potential actions as well as who they might impact. Nine times out of ten, you'll put more than just your own career at risk; ten times out of ten, you’ll always put your own career at risk.

Familiar & exotic: a brief history of Bellini's Norma

Op-ed

For British audiences, the Druids were a healthy dose of exoticism; still, the connection to the ancient societies of their own land likely held some form of national and cultural pride. Perhaps it was just enough mystery to pique interest in Norma, and just enough familiarity to easily identify with the values and decisions of the characters.

A Letter to the Modern Diva

Op-ed

If you view fashion and the way you dress as an extension of your artistic personality, why would you allow others to put you in a box and stifle you? After all, isn’t your goal to show the audition panel exactly who you are and what makes you special and unique?

Redefining the goal

Op-ed

My own obsession with technique made me terrified to sing in front of my peers. I knew that they were only judging me: a baritone singing tenor rep. Worthless technique. I hated the feeling of judgmental eyes on me and I had nothing to say with the music I was singing. For me, technique was the only thing that mattered. But it’s not.

Michael Fabiano: Classical music deserves better

Op-ed

A recent article in The Atlantic titled "The Tragedy of iTunes and Classical Music" sheds a light on just how problematic iTunes and other major digital libraries are for storing and categorizing classical music. What exactly is the problem? Professional musicians, particularly classical ones, need quick and easy access to multiple recordings and iTunes just doesn’t cut it.

Networking for introverted performers

Op-ed

While it may seem to many people that "introverted performers" is an oxymoron, I assure you that this is not the case. Being an introvert in an extroverted field can pose its own challenges though. Perhaps the biggest challenge it poses is networking.