Interview: Bass-Baritone Mark Steven Doss On His Journey To A Grammy, The Big Stage & Spiritual Fulfillment

Mark S. Doss is an artist recognized for his wide range, not just in his roles, but in his life experience. The singer has performed with the major orchestras of San Francisco, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, and Toronto. Additionally, he has sung 95 roles with more than 60 major opera companies around the world including Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, the Vienna State Opera, London’s Covent Garden, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Canadian Opera Company.

Dec 8, 2018

Q & A: Liv Redpath On Being Gretel & Empathizing With Characters

The role of Gretel has always had a special significance for soprano Liv Redpath. When she was in the youth program at The Minnesota Opera, she got the chance to take on the role for the first time in the program’s yearly “Hansel and Gretel” and she immediately knew that opera would be an essential part of her career. These {…}

Dec 7, 2018

Q & A: Pacific Opera Project’s Artistic Director Josh Shaw On Reaching New Audiences With A ‘Pop’ Aesthetic

POP, the acronym for Los Angeles’ youthful Pacific Opera Project has a number of meanings. It can stand for Pop-up Theater (Pacific Opera Project’s productions can take place in a variety of venues and even at short notice). It can also mean “popular” (POP makes opera accessible for audiences whose principle interest might simply be an affordable night out). Over {…}

Dec 6, 2018

Interview: Soprano Kristine Opolais On Finding Herself Through Tough Times

“Every artist needs to go through difficult times. It’s important because it lets us remember who we are and the things we can and cannot do,” soprano Kristine Opolais told OperaWire in a recent interview. Over the past few years, the Latvian artist has found herself questioning her own artistic identity and ending her marriage. She’s struggled with figuring out {…}

Dec 1, 2018

Interview: How ‘Howards End, America’ Became An Operatic Reality

“Howards End, America” is the newest chamber opera from composer Allen Shearer and librettist Claudia Stevens and its world premiere is set for Feb. 22-24, 2019 at Z Space San Francisco. The innovative and experimental Chamber Music company Earplay, in its first fully staged opera production, co-produces it with RealOpera. “Howards End, America” is an adaptation of E. M. Forster’s {…}

Nov 30, 2018

Q & A: Wallis Giunta On Giving Carmen A ‘Lighter Touch’ & The Joy Of Mozart

Earlier this year, mezzo-soprano Wallis Giunta took home the award for Young Singer of the Year at the International Opera Awards. To that point, she has been growing her career steadily as an ensemble member at the Oper Leipzig, among others endeavors. But the victory propelled her into the spotlight and since then, Giunta has made her BBC Proms debut {…}

Nov 29, 2018

Q & A: Cristina Pasaroiu On Singing Her First Baroque Opera & The Four Heroines In Les Contes d’Hoffmann

Cristina Pasaroiu is one of today’s most celebrated Romanian sopranos and has performed in some of the most prestigious opera houses, concert halls, and festivals. The soprano’s repertoire has ranged from spinto to lyric roles like “Adriana Lecouvreur,” “Manon,” “La Traviata,” “La Juive,” Magda in “La Rondine,” Leila in “Les Pêcheurs de Perles,” Mimì in “La Bohème,” Fiordiligi in “Così {…}

Nov 25, 2018

Interview: Mezzo Megan Marino On Growing Into An Operatic Career

Megan Marino still hadn’t quite committed to a life as an opera singer after completing her Master Degree at the University of Colorado. “Some of my greatest artistic development happened once I was out of grad school for a couple years,” she told OperaWire in a recent interview. She recalled taking a loan out against her car to buy a piano while living {…}

Nov 21, 2018

Q & A: Lisette Oropesa On Building Her Career & a Triumphant 2018

It’s a Lisette Oropesa kind of Year! After her huge success in the title role of “Lucia di Lammermoor” at the Teatro Real, she made headlines in Pesaro, Italy making her role debut in the title role of “Adina” at the Rossini Opera Festival. Then she went to Paris for two successful runs. First, she stepped in for a new {…}

Interviews