Ten Questions With…
Harold Meers, tenor
Hoffmann, The Tales of Hoffmann
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born in Huntington, New York (Long Island), but moved when I was very young to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Go, Steelers!). I was raised in Pittsburgh but spent my junior high and high school years in Visalia, California.
2. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
I would want to be in something creative. Possibly an architect?
3. The first opera I was ever in was…
I did scenes of different operas in college, but the first full opera I was in was Madama Butterfly… singing Pinkerton.
4. My favorite opera is…
I get asked this a lot and it’s so difficult to answer. There are things I love about so many. So, I’ll take the politician‘s approach and give several of my faves: La Bohème, Otello, and La Traviata.
5. My favorite pre/post-show meal is…
Whatever sounds good that day!
6. People would be surprised to know that…
I’m an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan and golfer.
7. A few of my favorite books are…
The Bible, any good spy novel, and any beautiful burgundy and gold hardcover Ricordi opera score.
8. If we were to turn on your ipod right now, what five artists / songs would we see on you recently-played list?
You would see an eclectic list for sure. It would look something like:
Mario Del Monaco
Metallica
Frank Sinatra / Dean Martin / Sammy Davis Jr.
Journey (The Steve Perry years)
My study playlist for The Tales of Hoffmann
9. What is the worst costume you’ve ever worn?
Probably the worst costume I’ve been put in was a costume for Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni. It was Mozart period costuming, but mine was light pink with mauve tights. Really??? Ottavio is wimpy enough without that! (I did finally insist they change it… which they did! Whew!)
10. Everyone should see The Tales of Hoffmann because….
It is an extremely theatrical work and is actually quite dark and mysterious. There is a lot going on and the possibilities and choices in staging and production are endless. I’d also encourage everyone who is interested to read the actual writings of ETA Hoffmann. The stories are all short, but give you a real insight into the mind and the “tales” of Hoffmann, thus making the experience of seeing the opera enjoyable on a much deeper level.
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer):
Q: Describe the similarities between singing and golf.
A: Check back for Part Two….
Don’t miss the chance to see Harold 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…
Tyler Alessi, baritone
Schlemil, The Tales of Hoffmann
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born and raised in Irvine, California
2. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
This is a little embarrassing, but if I were not a singer, I think I would I want to be a video game journalist. If not that, I would want to be a teacher.
3. The first opera I was ever in was…
Leonard Bernstein’s Candide. I played the Baron as well as the Governor and had to sing a B-flat!
4. My favorite opera is…
If I had to choose one opera, I think it would have to be Verdi’s Rigoletto. This is partly because, as a baritone, I love Rigoletto’s music.
5. My favorite pre/post-show meal is…
My favorite pre-show meal is eggs and toast. My favorite post-show meal is a bowl of cereal… I really like breakfast.
6. People would be surprised to know that…
I am currently completing my doctorate at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
7. A few of my favorite books are…
The Martian by Andy Weir, Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel, and Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk.
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?
Bach’s St. John Passion, Steven Mark Kohn’s American Folk Song Set; Finzi’s Let Us Garlands Bring; Stephen Paulus’ Bittersuite; and Coldplay’s A Head Full of Dreams. Basically, everything that I am preparing plus the music I sleep to!
9. What is the worst costume you’ve ever worn?
I wouldn’t call it the worst, but it was not the most flattering. I wore a bright salmon suit for a production that I was in recently. The costume designer was extremely proud of the piece. I didn’t have the heart to tell them that I didn’t really like it.
10. Everyone should see The Tales of Hoffmann because….
It is a truly unique and exciting piece of theatre that is filled with amazing musical moments.
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer):
Q: How did you get started in singing?
A: I initially played violin when I was in elementary school, but I would repeatedly lose my violin, so the following year my mother said, “You are going to be in the choir. That way you would never forget your voice.” The rest is history.
Don’t miss the chance to see Tyler 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…
Adriana Zabala, mezzo
Nicklausse / The Muse
in The Tales of Hoffmann
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born in Georgia and raised in Miami, Caracas, and Houston.
2. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
Art history, film directing, art direction, diplomacy (Foreign Service).
3. The first opera I was ever in was…
Gianni Schicchi!
4. My favorite opera is…
The Marriage of Figaro.
5. My favorite pre/post-show meal is…
Pre: Fruit, toast, tea.
Post: PASTA!!!!!
6. People would be surprised to know…
…that baseball is integral to my family history. My grandfather was a left-handed pitcher from Cuba who played for the New York Giants in the 1940s.
7. A few of my favorite books are…
There is not enough room! East of Eden, The Goldfinch, The Magic Mountain, The Complete Works of Shakespeare.
8. If we were to turn on your ipod right now, what five artists / songs would we see on you recently-played list?
Hamilton original cast album
Kendrick Lamar
Benjamin Clementine
Mitsuko Uchida
And pretty much more Hamilton
9. What is the worst costume you’ve ever worn? Or if no such costume, what was the best costume?
Well, “wore” one that was basically my birthday suit – very well done, but felt pretty darn brave.
10. Everyone should see The Tales of Hoffmann because….
It’s sumptuous! Clever, sexy, romantic, imaginative, vulnerable, and the music is one amazing piece after another – and it’s FRENCH! C’est si belle!
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer):
Q: Among so many, what’s your favorite role?
A: My first love is Cherubino, but the razor thin second is the mercurial, metrosexual, empathetic, smart-ass, loyal, all-gendered, romantic, and emotionally wise Nicklausse. Love. Him.
Don’t miss the chance to see Adriana 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…
Jared Rogers, tenor
The Servants, The Tales of Hoffmann
1. Where were you born / raised?
Carthage, Illinois, but my dad was in the Service, so, everywhere.
2. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
Race car driver, Formula One.
3. The first opera I was ever in was…
The Pirates of Penzance.
4. My favorite opera is…
Eugene Onegin.
5. My favorite pre/post-show meal is…
Pre-show: light snack.
Post-show: big steak.
6. People would be surprised to know that…
I did not study music in college; my majors were history, philosophy, and religion.
7. A few of my favorite books are…
Guns, Germs, and Steel; The Pillars of the Earth; Blink; and Harry Potter. 🙂
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?
Jon Vickers, Fritz Wunderlich, Alfredo Kraus, Bryn Terfel, and Maria Callas.
9. What is the worst costume you’ve ever worn? Or if no such costume, what was the best costume?
The worst was a winged helmet, a silver skirt, and rollerblades. The best was a custom-made grey suit. It fit so well, they let me keep it!
10. Everyone should see The Tales of Hoffmann because….
It is very funny, even without the supertitles, and it has so many beautiful musical moments as well.
Don’t miss the chance to see Jared 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…
Kristine McIntyre
Stage Director, The Tales of Hoffmann
1. Where were you born / raised?
Born in Philadelphia, grew up from age 8 in San Diego, California.
2. If you weren’t a stage director, what profession would you be in?
I was pre-med in college – so I’d probably be a neurosurgeon, as that was my interest. If I left opera now, I’d go into film. I really want to go to film school.
3. The first opera I ever directed was…
Ha! The first opera I ever directed was A Village Romeo and Juliet by Delius – I was in grad school and wound up taking over a production for which I was originally the assistant director. Otherwise, the first opera I ever directed was The Barber of Seville.
4. My favorite opera is…
Whatever I am directing that is going well.
5. My favorite pre/post-show meal is…
Scotch and french fries.
6. People would be surprised to know that…
My stage debut as a 3rd grader was as the head flying monkey in a school production of The Wizard of Oz. I got to pull the stuffing out of the Scarecrow.
7. A few of my favorite books are…
Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy, Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke, and The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood. Also anything by George Eliot. And the entire Calvin and Hobbes collection.
8. If we were to turn on your ipod right now, what five artists / songs would we see on you recently-played list?
Queen. The Who. The Rolling Stones. U2. Florence and the Machine.
9. What is the worst costume you‘ve had to deal with in staging a show?
I’ve worked on two different productions of Salome at the Met and San Francisco Opera – don‘t even talk to me about wardrobe malfunctions.
10. Everyone should see The Tales of Hoffmann because….
It’s about love and life and art and it’s in French, which means that instead of it being really depressing and there being lots of dead bodies onstage, we drink champagne and leave the theatre glad to be alive.
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer):
Q: Where do you get your ideas from and what influences your work?
A: I am hugely influenced by art and TV and film – art (in all forms) that was being made when a piece was written or when it’s set or now, because that influences how we look at different periods. Recent great historical series and films like Downton Abbey, or HBO’s Rome, or whatever has a huge visual influence on our audiences and how we tell stories to them.
Don’t miss the chance to see Kristine’s production of 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.
