ARIA SERIOUS?

San Diego Opera Audiences have gotten to know baritone Stephen Powell pretty well over the last two decades (made his SDO debut in 1997) and practically needs no introduction. With that being said, it's great to have him back, even better as the title role in Rigoletto! Stephen was kind enough to answer some casual questions during his time in between rehearsals. 1. What was your last gig before coming to San Diego? I sang the role of Oliver Jordan in the European premiere of William Bolcom's new opera DINNER AT EIGHT this past fall at the Wexford Festival in Wexford, Ireland. I debuted the same role in the world premiere in March of 2016 with Minnesota Opera. 2. How do you relate to/feel about your character, Rigoletto? As a father of two sons, I relate very personally to Rigoletto's need to protect his child from the real dangers of the outside world. In his world away from home, he leads a fragile existence under the protection of the Duke. He knows the precarious po...

We're excited to have Alissa Anderson back in San Diego! Alissa first joined us for Rossini's La Cenerentola (2016) and since then she's kept busy  with Opera in the Heights, Utah Opera, Arizona Opera, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Opera Santa Barbara. Before she sings Maddalena for us in Rigoletto, Ms. Anderson was kind enough to answer some casual questions for us to get to know her better! 1. What was your last gig before coming to San Diego? A one woman show with Mercury Chamber Orchestra in Houston called Flowers of Evil. Before that it was The Witch in Into the Woods with Utah Festival Opera. 2. How do you relate to/feel about your character (Maddalena) in Rigoletto ? Maddalena is a strong woman and a survivor who uses her skills and grit to survive...that being said, her career path isn't one I would aspire to personally ;) 3. Are there any dream roles that you would love to sing and why? And since we're dreaming it doesn't...

" Renowned not only for his luxurious voice, confidence, and style, but also for his versatility and ability to bring a character to life on stage, bass-baritone Kyle Albertson is taking the business by storm. His recent debut as Wotan in Wagner’s epic masterpiece Die Walküre   with the Dallas Symphony was met with critics calling him “the most impressive aspect of [the] performance” ( Theater Jones),  praising his “luxuriant tone quality” ( Texas Classical Review ), and exclaiming that his “gripping” and “high-intensity performance will surely rank as a legend in Dallas musical history.” (http://www.uzanartists.com) We're excited to finally meet Kyle Albertson in a couple of weeks when he arrives in San Diego for the first time during the run of RIGOLETTO (Feb 2-10 at the SD Civic Theatre). Kyle graciously took some time out of his Holiday "break" to talk about his love for Metallica, Greer Grimsley, and Whiskey; all things we at the Opera also enjoy. Special ku...

Lyric, coloratura soprano Alisa Jordheim will make her company debut as Gilda in Rigoletto in the beginning of February. Native of Appleton, Wisconsin, Alisa comes to us with a variety of experience in opera, oratorio, and musical theater performance ; and prioritizes her health and exercise to maintain an active career. Recent appearances include: Opéra national de Pari s, Palm Beach Opera, and Crypt Sessions NYC.  Miss Jordheim was kind enough to pause her Holidays to break the ice with us before we start rehearsals on January 14th, we can't wait to meet her! 1. What was your last gig before coming to San Diego? "Three concerts (in one day!) on New Year’s Eve with the New Philharmonic; and, a concert of opera scenes (including some from Rigoletto) with the New York Opera Society." 2. How do you relate to/feel about your character (Gilda) in Rigoletto ? "I relate to Gilda’s close relationship to her father as I am very close to mine (of course, a ...