10 Questions with Alisa Jordheim
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 Paris, 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 big difference I have with Gilda is that my
mother is alive and I am very close to her, too!). I also know what it’s
like to be blind to reality because of love, and I believe we all have
experienced that at some point and in some way in our lives. Because
Gilda has been so sheltered by her father, she has never experienced the
feelings the Duke awakens in her, and as a result, her reactions to him
and his behavior are believable. From the first time we see Gilda in
the opera, it is apparent that she is a curious, strong girl longing for
identity, knowledge, and independence. She is naïve and selfless, yet
simultaneously a young woman who is strong in her convictions. I believe
she is a character of many layers, and Verdi masterfully depicts her
journey in his music – I can’t wait to portray her for the first time!"
3.
Are there any dream roles that you would love to sing and why? And
since we're dreaming it doesn't even need to be in your fach.
"I would love to sing Ophelia in Thomas’s Hamlet, because she would be
such a fascinating character to play from beginning to end. I would
also LOVE to sing the mezzo role of Hermia in Britten’s A Midsummer
Night’s Dream – she has been one of my favorite characters ever since I
had the opportunity to portray her in Shakespeare’s play. She is such a
feisty lady, and being of small stature myself, I relate to her on both
personal and physical levels! I actually wear a bracelet engraved with
Helena’s line, “And though she be but little, she is fierce,” just to
keep some of Hermia with me on a daily basis!"
4. What was your introduction to opera and how did you decide this was the path you wanted to pursue.
"Both of my parents are professional musicians and professors at
Lawrence University in my hometown of Appleton, Wisconsin; my dad
teaches classical saxophone and music education, and my mom teaches
flute and music education. I grew up around music, played several
instruments, studied ballet, and sang in choirs until it became clear
that the activity I was best at and loved the most was singing. I enjoy
singing all genres of music, but my voice seemed most at ease in
classical musical theatre and opera. So, I started taking voice lessons
when I was 10 and decided to pursue vocal performance in college and as a
career." 5. Name a singer you loved working with in the last year.
"Oh, I have a very hard time naming just one! I loved working with the
entire cast of Candide when I sang Cunégonde at Palm Beach Opera in
February 2018! Among those wonderful singers/people were
Miles Mykkanen as Candide, Denyce Graves as The Old Lady, Ron Raines as
Voltaire/Pangloss, and Tobias Greenhalgh as Maximilian."
6. What are your hobbies that keep you busy outside of music?
7. Fill in the blank: "If I was not an opera singer, I would be ____.”
"A hospital nurse or nurse practitioner."
8. If you could trade lives with one person for an entire day who would it be and why?
"Kate Middleton – wouldn’t it be fun to see how royalty lives for a day?!"
9. Name three artists, bands, or composers on a current playlist that aren't opera related.
"Jessica Vosk, Astor Piazzolla, and Panic! At the Disco"
10. What are you most looking forward to doing in San Diego while you’re in town?
"Soaking up some sun, visiting the beach and the zoo, exploring the
city, and seeing family and friends who live on the west coast."
(Bonus) 11.What’s next for you after your gig in San Diego?
(Bonus) 11.What’s next for you after your gig in San Diego?
"Ninetta in Rossini’s La gazza ladra, although I’m not at liberty to say any more yet!"
Photo: Rebecca Fay Photography
Photo: Rebecca Fay Photography
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