In the Park with…
Scott Quinn
Tenor, Opera in the Park
1. Where were you born / raised?
Marshall, Texas.
2. What is in your ideal picnic basket?
Ribeye steak, mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, and sweet tea.
3. My most memorable moment performing outside was…
Singing my first Rodolfo in La Bohème at the Miller Outdoor Theater in Houston when it was 90 degrees and I had to pretend it was the middle of winter.
4. My favorite outdoor performance I’ve attended was…
Watching the Texas Rangers win their first pennant.
5. My favorite summertime activity is…
It’s a toss-up: golf or fishing.
6. My ideal vacation is….
Beach / golf / deep sea fishing in Destin, Florida. I’ve been going there since I was 3.
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
Q: If you could have dinner with any three people past or present, who would they be?
A: Frank Sinatra, Babe Ruth, and Jim Carrey.
Join Scott for Opera in the Park on Saturday, July 23 at 8pm in Garner Park. FREE admission; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
In the Park with…
Angela Brown
Soprano, Opera in the Park
1. Where were you born / raised?
Indianapolis, Indiana.
2. What is in your ideal picnic basket?
Cheese, grapes, mock chicken salad (I’m a vegetarian), chips, a bottle of moscato, citronella candles, and good bread or crackers.
3. My most memorable moment performing outside was…
In Garfield Park, outside Indianapolis, I was singing a moving spiritual, “Lord, How Come Me Here.” At one of the poignant moments in the song, a bug flew in my mouth and I had to swallow. The exact words I was singing were: “I wish I never was born”!!!
4. My favorite outdoor performance I’ve attended was…
The Indiana Black Expo’s Summer Celebration Concert in downtown Indianapolis at the American Legion Mall. It occurs every summer.
5. My favorite summertime activity is…
Swimming!!!
6. My ideal vacation is….
Driving anywhere with my family in tow.
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
Q: Where do you get your jewelry?
A: It’s my own creation from my jewelry company, “It’s a DIVA thang!” (www.itsadivathang.com)
Join Angela for Opera in the Park on Saturday, July 23 at 8pm in Garner Park. FREE admission; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
In the Park with…
Emily Birsan
Soprano, Opera in the Park
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born in Appleton, Wisconsin – the Fox Valley. I was raised in Appleton, Green Bay, Dubuque, and North Carolina. I went to middle school and high school in Neenah, Wisconsin, so by majority rules… I was raised in the Midwest. 🙂
2. What is in your ideal picnic basket?
CHEESE, cheese, and more cheese. And stuff to put cheese on. I also love olives, grapes, artichokes, roasted pepper spread, and of course, you can’t forget some wine! I have been into syrah / cabernet blends lately.
3. My most memorable moment performing outside was…
I had many great moments in Chicago with the Grant Park Symphony, but a favorite of mine was for a Stars of Lyric concert where I was covering a soprano whose flight was delayed. I sang the Mad Scene from Lucia di Lammermoor with sirens and the sounds of Chicago in the distance!
4. My favorite outdoor performance I’ve attended was…
Nina Simone – it was the must fun jazz outdoor vibe I’ve ever seen.
5. My favorite summertime activity is…
Camping and hiking with a lake nearby. I live in the Hudson Valley, New York, area, where there are mountains, streams, and lakes. My dog Rosie loves to hike and explore the trails with me. It’s a great way to exercise and meditate / enjoy the quiet.
6. My ideal vacation is….
Bali!! For the lush forests and beaches. Rich eastern culture.
Join Emily for Opera in the Park on Saturday, July 23 at 8pm in Garner Park. FREE admission; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions With…
Morgan Smith, baritone
The Villains, The Tales of Hoffmann
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was raised in White Plains, New York.
2. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
I’d probably be a singer/songwriter, or a marine biologist.
3. The first opera I was ever in was…
Die Zauberflöte.
4. My favorite opera is…
Oh… tough one… Probably Moby-Dick by Jake Heggie.
5. My favorite pre-show meal is…
Sushi.
6. People would be surprised to know that…
I used to race open canoes in whitewater slalom competitions.
7. A few of my favorite books are…
Parenting with Love and Logic, The Odyssey, In the Heart of the Sea.
8. If we were to turn on your ipod / music listening device right now, what five artists / songs would we see on you recently-played list?
Tim McGraw, Glen Hansard, Brandi Carlyle, Damien Rice, Steve Azar.
9. What is the worst costume you’ve ever worn?
Probably a fly costume in Klaus Guth’s production of The Barber of Seville. So cumbersome! I kept slamming into my poor colleagues with those wings! And it was a sweat box.
10. Everyone should see The Tales of Hoffmann because….
It’s unlike any other opera in the repertoire.
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer):
Q: At what moment did you decide to become an opera singer?
A: While watching a production of The Tales of Hoffmann, opening night at the Metropolitan Opera, 1992, starring Placido Domingo, Carol Vaness, and Samuel Ramey!
Don’t miss the chance to see Morgan in The Tales of Hoffmann, an extraordinary work that is equal parts fantasy, realism, and genuine passion. Performances are April 15 and 17 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions With…
Siân Davies, soprano
Antonia / Giulietta / Stella
The Tales of Hoffmann
1. Where were you born / raised?
Born in Dewsbury (Yorkshire), England and raised in Rochester, Michigan.
2. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
This is really hard to say… I enjoy bringing pieces together to make them into a finished product, so maybe something like event planning? At the same time, I absolutely love baking, so it would be fun to have a shop!
3. The first opera I was ever in was…
Bluebeard’s Castle by Bela Bartok.
4. My favorite opera is…
Ever-changing. Typically whatever I’m working on is a favorite, due to the nature of being fully immersed in the project. I’ve been fortunate to perform Le Nozze di Figaro the most in my career, so it is definitely in my top three!
5. My favorite pre-show meal is…
It really depends on the physicality of the show, but I usually have something light but with staying power 3-4 hours beforehand. Brown rice with chicken and vegetables is a great option! I’ll also have apple juice and bananas backstage with me to snack between scenes.
6. People would be surprised to know that…
I started college with the intention of becoming a biochemist.
7. A few of my favorite books are…
Dracula, Frankenstein, Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series.
8. If we were to turn on your ipod right now, what five artists / songs would we see on you recently-played list?
It would depend on if I’ve been alone or with my infant son! Led Zeppelin, Shostakovich 2nd piano concerto, Stevie Wonder, Disney movie tunes, and Pentatonix.
9. What is the worst costume you’ve ever worn?
I was once reviewed as looking like an escaped mental patient… I had a shiny white tunic and was barefoot. Looking back, the reviewer wasn’t really wrong.
10. Everyone should see The Tales of Hoffmann because….
It has something for everyone! It’s funny and dramatic with beautiful and luscious music.
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer):
Q: If you could be a different voice type for a day, what would be your dream role?
A: I would love to sing Eugene Onegin or Billy Budd!
Don’t miss the chance to see Siân in The Tales of Hoffmann, an extraordinary work that is equal parts fantasy, realism, and genuine passion. Performances are April 15 and 17 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
