Ten Questions with
Andrew Bidlack, tenor
Tamino in The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born in Pittsburgh, PA, but we moved around a lot and I was raised in Denver, CO; Laramie, WY; and Wichita, KS; before finishing high school in Chambersburg, PA.
2. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
I think I would have stayed in music and focused on another instrument, although I’ve often romanticized the idea of being a free-lance visual artist. Unfortunately I’m color blind, so that might have hurt my prospects, although maybe I could have passed off my green sunsets as something deliberate.
3. The first opera I was ever in was…
I was Tom Snout in Britten’s A Midsummer Nights Dream.
4. My favorite opera is…
This changes all the time depending on what I last listened to. I always come back to Tosca, Le Nozze di Figaro, and Falstaff.
5. My favorite pre-show / post-show meal is…
Pre-show: Pasta (I’m half Italian, after all).
Post-show: Meat.
6. People would be surprised to know that…
I started playing piano when I was 5 and my mom was my first teacher. I started college as a guitar major and started singing in rock bands with my friends in high school.
7. My favorite musical instrument to play is …
Piano when I’m feeling focused, guitar when I want to jam.
8. I like to binge-watch…
I recently discovered this show Mad Men. Have you heard of it? It’s really good! (I’m a little late to the party…)
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
Louis CK, Jon Stewart, Patton Oswalt, and David Cross. Maybe not so much a dinner party, but that seems like a fun group to hang out with and I think we could all use some laughter right now.
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because….
There’s a reason it’s one of the most-performed operas! It’s got some of Mozart’s best music and since it’s a fantasy, every production is fresh and unique and can appeal to a wide audience.
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
Q: Would you like the Baltimore Orioles to win the World Series this year?
A: Sounds good, thanks!
Don’t miss the chance to see Andrew in The Magic Flute, Mozart’s sublime opera that is part fairy-tale, part adventure story, and all enchantment. Performances are April 21 and 23 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Emily Fons
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