ARIA SERIOUS?

As we've mentioned before, Elizabeth Futral is on the great California Violetta tour with engagements in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego all in the same year. In between dying of tuberculosis on stage each night, Elizabeth was able to answer a few questions we sent over to her in our occasional series called "10 Questions With..." *** San Diego Opera (SDO): First, welcome back to San Diego. We last saw you as Nedda in Pagliacci in 2008. Is there anything new in your life that you would like to share with us? Elizabeth Futral (E.F.): I very much look forward to coming back to San Diego Opera! Since I was there for I Pagliacci last season I have been busy. Two highlights were singing my first staged performances of Thais (Massenet) in Athens, Greece, and singing a world premiere opera, Brief Encounter by Andre Previn, for Houston Grand Opera. SDO: You sing Violetta for these performances with us. In your own words can you tell us a bit about this character? E.F....

Although we're still shaking off the wild, wonderful, ride that was the 2009 season it is time now to look ahead to 2010. And so we thought we'd begin with the return of our occasional series called "10 Questions With..." Up first is tenor Piotr Beczala who makes his company debut with us as Rodolfo in La boheme . Mr. Beczala became the talk of the opera world when he sang in the Met's broadcast of Lucia di Lammermoor earlier this year and the phone hasn't stopped ringing. In between these calls Piotr was able to sit down and answer some questions we had for him. And so, without further ado, the first installment of San Diego Opera's 2010 "10 Questions With..." which if you are a better counter than me, will realize there are actually eleven... *** San Diego Opera (SDO): First, welcome to San Diego Opera. Of all the artists making a debut with us this season, you’re the one that everyone seems to be talking about; it seems everybody saw your Met...

Rigoletto is around the corner and our singers start arriving over the weekend for the first day of rehearsals on Monday. Joining us for the first time is Slovak soprano L'ubica Vargicova who sings Gilda in this production. Before jumping on the plane that will take her and her family to San Diego, L'ubica was able to sit down and answer 10 Questions from us here at Aria Serious. Yes, they're the same 10 questions we always ask, but really it is answers that are important. But if you have your own question you wish to be asked in future installments, submit in the comments section and we'll take it from there. So, without further ado, 10 Questions with L’ubica Vargicova... SDO : First, welcome to San Diego Opera! We are very happy you are making your Company debut with us as Gilda in Rigoletto. Before we begin, is there anything new in your life that you would like to share with us? L'ubica Vargicova (LV) : I am happy to be here, thank you for inviting me. In ever...

Carlo Ventre is one of the nicest men I've ever had a chance to work with and it is always a privilege when he performs on our stage. Carlo first joined us in 2005 in Simon Boccanegra and then returned to us last season as Radames in Aida . Since then he's had some important debuts and received some much deserved critical acclaim. It is always nice to read good things about good people. Carlo returns to us later next year to sing the role of Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly , a role he has become known for over the years. I was able to catch up with Carlo and talk about his upcoming appearance with us and a bit about the character of Pinkerton. So, without further ado, the next installment of our ocassional series called "10 Questions With..." which is actually eleven questions this time around for those paying attention. San Diego Opera (SDO): First, welcome back to San Diego Opera! We last saw you last year as Radames in Aida . Before we begin, is there anything ne...

I'm in awe of opera singers. Being tone deaf and born with a lousy voice, unable to act or follow simple directions, I'm amazed by what they do on stage. And then they do it over and over again, night after night, city after city, with a new cast, new audience and new orchestra. I'm also surprised how they can be contradictions of sorts and I remember a singer we had a few seasons back -- quite excellent and world renowned -- who confided in me they hated opera, and then proceeded to give me his best Homer Simpson snoring-on-the-couch impression. It was quite good. While I don't exactly share his sentiments, it was suprising to hear this. Enter tenor Marcus Haddock . Marcus makes his Company debut as Cavaradossi in Tosca next season. Marcus isn't your stereotypical opera singer although he loves to sing. He also loves to ride his motorcycle. And he listens to Whitesnake (yes, that's them above -- back in the day when rock was big and hair was even bigger). I li...

Being the first post of San Diego Opera's first blog, I thought this should be a post of firsts. To do this, I could think of no better way than to dive into our first opera of next season, Tosca and a chat with Sylvie Valayre who will be making her first appearance with us in January (but not her last -- we'll be welcoming her back in 2010 for Nabucco ). It is always exciting welcoming a new singer to our Company, especially one that we will be developing a relationship with over the years. Nerve wracking too; I have a tendency to ask a lot from our singers when they get here -- artist interviews, television programs, photographs, etc... all crammed around their busy rehearsal schedule -- I sometimes wonder when they find the time to sing. I was able to catch up with Sylvie via email a few weeks back and had the chance to ask her some questions. It is always nice when I can learn a little bit about a singer before they get here -- I can keep my distance if they seem difficul...