An intermission conversation series
designed to bring you closer to the opera
On November 9 we held the first installment of BLO Exposed, featuring BLO Music Director David Angus in conversation with artists from Macbeth live from the stage. We took questions from the audience, who tweeted us their questions. (@BostLyricOpera)
Tell us a bit about being an opera
singer. What does it take to become a real singer?
I went through years of training: voice lessons, coaching, auditions, in addition to school and grad school. I continue to receive coaching and will throughout my career. My voice teacher attended the Final Dress Rehearsal, who was so insightful from dress rehearsal to opening that helped me make many wonderful adjustments to my performance. I've never had a voice teacher so involved before.
I went through years of training: voice lessons, coaching, auditions, in addition to school and grad school. I continue to receive coaching and will throughout my career. My voice teacher attended the Final Dress Rehearsal, who was so insightful from dress rehearsal to opening that helped me make many wonderful adjustments to my performance. I've never had a voice teacher so involved before.
What do you think of the color yellow
as the representation of hell?
Perhaps it was chosen because it contrasts so much with the red, I’m not sure.
Perhaps it was chosen because it contrasts so much with the red, I’m not sure.
What is the most challenging part of
singing the role of Lady Macbeth?
The stamina! In this
production, we’ve condensed the first two acts. You can sing an aria, but can
you sing the whole show for five performances?
Talking with Kurt Hakansson (Supernumerary)
Talking with Kurt Hakansson (Supernumerary)
Supernumeraries (known as supers) are
non-singing roles who volunteer to be a part of the show. They do it for
nothing! Why?
How can you not love being in a theater like this, being surrounded by people like here? It’s incredible for you to hear, but even more for me to hear being surrounded by 40+ singers. Got started as a super years ago with La Boheme.
How does it feel being onstage with those creepy body bags?
I get to poke out the eyes and carry them around; it’s gruesome and fun.
How many shows have you been in with BLO?
This is my 9th show. The most challenging moment is the synchronized stomp, watching David in the pit.
How can you not love being in a theater like this, being surrounded by people like here? It’s incredible for you to hear, but even more for me to hear being surrounded by 40+ singers. Got started as a super years ago with La Boheme.
How does it feel being onstage with those creepy body bags?
I get to poke out the eyes and carry them around; it’s gruesome and fun.
How many shows have you been in with BLO?
This is my 9th show. The most challenging moment is the synchronized stomp, watching David in the pit.
Talking with Marie McCarville (Chorister)
Tell us a bit about your training and background.
I didn’t realize I’d end up living in Boston for so many years. I started at Oberlin in Ohio and then moved back to NY to be near my family. I wanted to sing more, so I applied to NEC and got accepted, which enabled me to audition for BLO. And I have been a proud member of the BLO since ‘07 La Boheme.
Tell us a bit about your training and background.
I didn’t realize I’d end up living in Boston for so many years. I started at Oberlin in Ohio and then moved back to NY to be near my family. I wanted to sing more, so I applied to NEC and got accepted, which enabled me to audition for BLO. And I have been a proud member of the BLO since ‘07 La Boheme.
Do you think the chorus witches are
meant to be undead zombie like creatures?
The director and choreographer told us: this is YOUR show—make YOUR character whomever you want it to be, so I chose to be a sociopath who likes to wear a lot of tribal makeup, but the witch to my left prefers to consider herself to be a zombie.
Tell us about what it is like to be backstage?
It’s way smaller than you think! You look at the stage and you think it’s huge, but it’s not! This is where you really start to bond with your castmates. Especially since you see us all wearing this warm leather and undergarments, I never expected it to be so hot back there, when you have a 38-person chorus ready to jump up on stage, you really need to stay hydrated.
The director and choreographer told us: this is YOUR show—make YOUR character whomever you want it to be, so I chose to be a sociopath who likes to wear a lot of tribal makeup, but the witch to my left prefers to consider herself to be a zombie.
Tell us about what it is like to be backstage?
It’s way smaller than you think! You look at the stage and you think it’s huge, but it’s not! This is where you really start to bond with your castmates. Especially since you see us all wearing this warm leather and undergarments, I never expected it to be so hot back there, when you have a 38-person chorus ready to jump up on stage, you really need to stay hydrated.
----------------
Thank you
for all your fabulous questions! We received so many questions we didn’t have
time to answer, so we’ll answer more of them over the next few days here on the
blog. We hope you enjoyed the first ever BLO Exposed and look forward to
hearing from you at the next intermission conversation!
You can you join the conversation:
1) Tell us YOUR BLO
story. We can't wait to hear from you. (yourblo@blo.org)
2) Tweet
your questions to @BostLyricOpera
using the hashtag #BLOexposed
3) LIKE us on Facebook and post your question there!
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