Ten Questions with
Kelsey Park, mezzo-soprano
2nd Lady in The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born in Washington State, but grew up in Nebraska.
2. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
I probably would have followed my mom’s career in architecture/interior design.
3. The first opera I was ever in was …
Die Fledermaus
4. My favorite opera is…
Gounod’s Faust: it was the first professional opera I saw while in college.
5. My favorite post-show meal is…
Any pub-food!
6. People would be surprised to know that…
When I was in second grade, I said I wanted to be an opera singer. I didn’t grow up in a family of musicians and thought the idea of wearing a viking helmet while singing was a good one.
7. The musical instrument that I wish I could play is …
I’ve always loved the cello but I don’t play it.
8. I like to binge-watch…
Any show with my husband.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
Daniel (my husband) and myself with my two grandfathers. Both shaped my life in ways I’ll never know and I wish my husband could have known them in person and not just memories.
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because….
It’s a classic!
Don’t miss the chance to see Kelsey 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.
Ten Questions with
Amanda Kingston, soprano
1st Lady in The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born in Madison, Wisconsin and grew up in Madison and Middleton. I graduated from Middleton High School.
2. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
I would probably be a pharmacist. I always enjoyed math and science while I was in school. My mother is a nurse and I had grown up being interested in medicine, but was queasy around blood.
3. The first opera I was ever in was…
Puccini’s Suor Angelica. I sang in the chorus at the University of Michigan, where I did my undergraduate degree. I was so taken with the beauty of the music and the tragedy of Angelica’s situation that I became infatuated with Puccini and opera in general. It was an amazing first experience.
4. My favorite opera is…
Puccini’s La Bohème. It was the first opera that I ever heard and the music and story are so visceral that it really resonates with me. I was initially drawn to it because I was such a huge fan of Jonathan Larson’s musical Rent, which was loosely based on the opera. When I sat down and listed to Bohème, I knew no Italian, but was shocked by how quickly I was engrossed by the show and could follow what was happening. It may be a bit cliche, but the ending always makes me cry.
5. My favorite pre-show meal is…
A hamburger. I know a lot of people don’t like to eat before a show, but eating something filling a couple of hours beforehand helps me to feel grounded.
6. People would be surprised to know that…
Halloween is my favorite holiday and I love scary movies. I decorate our house with spiders, cobwebs, bats, and a giant skeleton on our front porch. I’m not a huge fan of romantic comedies and will always choose a horror or suspense film first.
7. My favorite musical instrument to play (or that I wish I could play) is …
My favorite instrument that I have played is the flute, but I don’t really play anymore. If I could play any instrument, it would be the cello. It creates such a rich sound; I’d love to take lessons at some point.
8. I like to binge-watch…
Sitcoms. Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Parks and Rec. are two of my favorite shows. It is very easy for me to lose an hour or two just letting the AutoPlay go. I know it’s been going too long when Netflix or HuluPlus asks me if I’m still watching.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
That’s a tough one. I think I would invite Ruth Bader Ginsburg (ask her how to inspire more people to be politically active and hope to have some wisdom rub off), Whitney Houston (inspired me to be a singer when I was young and hopefully I would get to hear her sing live), Jesus Christ (go to the source and ask what he thinks about our path as human beings), and my Grandmother Marian (who helped take care of me when I was little and passed away suddenly when I was in elementary school).
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because….
It is a show with something for everyone. For those who like high-flying music, the Queen of the Night’s rage aria will definitely speak to them. For those who like more legato music, Tamino’s aria is full of long lines and yearning. There is dialogue that connects the musical numbers, which may bridge the gap between musical theater and opera for those new to the genre. It also contains comical characters such as Papageno who add light to the more serious themes. There is a monster in the show and supernatural themes for those who are fans of fantasy. There is also a happy ending, which never hurts.
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
Q: What is your favorite part of being a singer?
A: I love getting to collaborate with other creative people. The colleagues that I have had the pleasure of working with over the past few years are some of the most brilliant and giving people I have ever met. I have consistently grown as a person and as an artist just by knowing them.
Don’t miss the chance to see Amanda 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.
Ten Questions with
Dan Rigazzi
Director, The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born in Sacramento, California, but grew up a Navy and Marine Corps brat. I lived in a lot of different places like California, Japan, and Washington D.C.
2. If you weren’t a stage director, what profession would you be in?
I would be a chef.
3. The first opera I ever directed was…
The Rape of Lucretia.
4. My favorite opera is…
Monteverdi’s Orfeo.
5. My favorite pre-show / post-show meal is…
During tech week, I eat a lot of chicken wings.
6. People would be surprised to know that…
I’m a huge baseball fan.
7. My favorite musical instrument to play is …
Ukulele.
8. I like to binge-watch…
The Americans.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
Jonathan Swift, Louis Armstrong, William Shakespeare, and Theodore Roosevelt.
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because….
It’s a life-affirming celebration of the human family.
11. Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
Q: Why is opera the ultimate art form?
A: It combines the very best of the arts – music, dance, poetry, drama, visual arts, design, and fashion. All of these different branches come together to tell epic stories filled with larger than life characters. It’s the hardest form to perfect, but when you get it right, it’s unforgettable.
Don’t miss the chance to see Dan’s production of 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.
Ten Questions with
Joshua Stewart, tenor
Charlie Parker
in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana.
2. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
I guess I would be an OB/GYN for Doctors Without Borders.
3. The first opera I was ever in was…
Albert Herring when I was 16. I sang the role of the Vicar.
4. My favorite opera is…
… yet to be written. I believe in the future of music and the arts. The best is yet to come ….
5. My favorite pre-show / post-show meal is…
Vegan stuffed peppers.
6. People would be surprised to know that…
I was a professional jazz singer when I was a kid.
7. A few of my favorite books are…
A Doll’s House by Ibsen and A Cherry Orchard by Chekhov.
8. I like to binge-watch…
Nature documentaries.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
I would LOVE to have dinner with my parents, my nephew and my deceased brother for a good ol’ fashioned family dinner.
10. Everyone should see Charlie Parker’s Yardbird because….
It’s a wonderful tribute to an incredible artist that changed jazz and music forever.
Don’t miss the chance to see Joshua in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird, the Midwest premiere of this acclaimed new opera about the legendary saxophone player. Performances are February 10 and 12 in the Capitol Theater. Tickets start at $25; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions with
Angela Brown, soprano
Addie Parker in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana.
2. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
I would be a makeup artist or fashion designer.
3. The first opera I was ever in was…
Aida! I was in the Ethiopian slave chorus in 1983 for Indianapolis Opera.
4. My favorite opera is…
Tosca by Puccini.
5. My favorite pre-show / post-show meal is…
A cup of lentil soup and a piece of crusty bread.
6. People would be surprised to know that…
I’m a vegetarian.
7. A few of my favorite books are…
The Color Purple, any coffee table travel book with beautiful pictures, the Bible, The Shack.
8. I like to binge watch…
Breaking Bad.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
Luther VanDross, Michael Jackson, Natalie Cole, and Whitney Houston.
10. Everyone should see Charlie Parker’s Yardbird because….
It is a total twist from the normal opera. It is something that everyone will enjoy and understand, especially with the supertitles. The music is palatable, easy to understand. You can even leave humming some tunes. And you learn more about Charlie Parker’s fascinating life.
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer):
Q: Tell us about you accessory line, “It’s a DIVA Thang!”
A: It’s for the elegant, avant-guard woman who is never duplicated, but definitely appreciated.
(Ed. note: Find out more at its-a-diva-thang.myshopify.com)
Don’t miss the chance to see Angela in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird, the Midwest premiere of this acclaimed new opera about the legendary saxophone player. Performances are February 10 and 12 in the Capitol Theater. Tickets start at $25; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
