This summer a group of young, conservatory-trained singers from all over the United States and Canada is living opera 24 hours a day in Princeton as participants in the Victoria J. Mastrobuono Emerging Artists program of Opera New Jersey.
The 38 singers selected after a marathon 500 auditions in three cities are attending master classes and coaching sessions, performing, and enjoying total immersion in the field they’ve decided to devote their lives to.
They serve as the chorus in the season’s three mainstage opera productions (opening Sunday, July 11, in McCarter Theatre with Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”), have an opportunity to learn the principal roles in these operas and are featured in several programs designed to showcase their talents and provide performance opportunities.
The first three events, featuring arias from a variety of operas and Broadway show tunes, were presented late June at the Princeton Public Library, Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, and on the Green at Palmer Square.
Still ahead for the young artists are two programs at McCarter’s Berlind Theater, offered at an affordable $15 ticket price, and a reading of a new work for which admission is free. On Saturday, July 10, at 7:30 p.m., “A Night at the Opera,” a selection of scenes and arias, will encourage the audience to use their imagination to discover history, color and texture through opera. On Tuesday, July 27, at 7:30 p.m., “Air for a Summer’s Day” will feature arias and scenes from Shakespeare- inspired operas.
The premiere read- through of Michael Ching’s new opera, “A Midsummer’ Night’s Dream,” is scheduled for Sunday July 24, at 2 p.m. It’s a free program.
We sat down with a small group of the singers between rehearsals for the program of Broadway show tunes they were doing next day at Palmer Square to find out about their lives and their ambitions. After these interesting interviews, we were sorry that we couldn’t spend time with all of the others.
All of the singers have impressive educational and performance resumes that include stints with opera companies and other musical groups throughout the country. Jeffrey Dinsmore, Opera New Jersey’s marketing manager, said, “This kind of opportunity fills a gap for young singers after conservatory because the operatic voice matures slower. When a singer is 30, she’s just entering full stages and this is an opportunity to develop.”
Echoed Corinne Schaefer, a soprano from Belford (Monmouth County), “Like an athlete we gain wisdom through training and are more valuable afterward, like a fine wine.” Ms. Schaefer was in high school in Belford when she attended a Westminster Choir College summer program for singers. She went on to get a degree in music from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and to advanced training and performances here and in Europe.
All aspire to earn their living singing and they aim high, but in the meantime they audition and do opera work when they can, and work outside of their field to pay the bills.
“It’s wonderful to focus on music here and not have to temp or waitress or substitute teach”, said Kirsten Knutson who is forced to take these job during the year “to pay the rent in New York.” But, with rehearsals and classes often from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and studying the score late at night,” said Simon Lee of Houston, “we can be totally engulfed in what we love. It’s a huge time commitment but we love it,” he said.
There’s no time for carousing or enjoying the nightlife of Princeton. Though headquartered at the Woolworth Building on campus, none of the students even knew that there’s a world- class art museum on campus, just a short walk from the music building.
For several of the young people, singing was not something they were committed to from childhood but was a passion developed later in life. Mr. Lee, as an example, graduated from medical school at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. “I took voice lessons in late high school, then went on with my studies and did a medical residency and then took voice lessons again,” he said.
Now Mr. Lee works part time as an anesthesiologist to pay the bills, but opera is his first love and he is ecstatic to be spending two months “doing what we all love.”
Wesley Landry of Houston originally wanted to be a veterinarian. He never sang as a child but “got into singing at high school” and went on to major in chemistry at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. The turning point came when he had a role in a show and a huge chemistry test loomed ahead. “I chose the show, failed chemistry and transferred to the University of Nebraska in Omaha,” he said.
Mr. Landry graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Vocal Performance. He has performed with the Houston Grand Opera as well as at various concert series. “I’m very fortunate,” said the singer, “that all of my jobs involve music.” Back home in Houston he gives private voice lessons to high school students, works for a music publishing company and is involved in church music.
Chemistry was also the major for Patrick McNally, who earned his degree from Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, with a double major in music, and then went on to gain a master’s of music at New England Conservatory. Now 27, he’s already performed with Sarasota Opera, Opera Iowa, Des Moines Metro Opera and other groups.
A series of 16 master classes with prominent teachers, conductors and coaches is one of the highlights of the summer. And everyone looks forward to the Audition Day, when casting directors from opera companies and artist managers come to Princeton to scout talent. Many of the singers in past years have landed contracts and jobs as a result of this event.
“Because of our proximity to New York,” Mr. Dinsmore said, “we get a large turnout of professionals for this showcase of our talent.” He said that Opera New Jersey is especially proud of its “alumnus” of two years ago, Adam Herskowitz, who is now at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, with a promising career ahead.
All the students said they enjoy the dedicated positive environment here and the support and encouragement they get from the professional singers who star in the mainstage operas. “Several of the principals come to our rehearsals and attend our performances,” Ms. Schaefer said, “and that’s so heartening to us.”
The worst part, they all agree, is going back to real life when they have to work to pay the bills in order to support their passion.
On the Web: www.Opera-
NJ.org.
