(Photo credit: (c) Shervin Lainez)

Grammy-nominated American tenor Lawrence Brownlee is to appear on the Speaking Soundly podcast, hosted by Met Opera Principal Trumpet David Krauss.

The episode description reads, “The pickleball fanatic discusses his Metropolitan Opera auditions, why the high C’s aren’t the only notes that matter, and what it was like to be cast as Tamino in The Magic Flute before he had ever seen an opera. Reflecting on his childhood rooted in gospel music, Lawrence shares how ‘music was inside of him’ from the age of nine, what he felt at age twelve from the reaction to his first solo, and how he was inspired by The Three Tenors, specifically Pavarotti. Recounting the time an agent told him he’d never succeed because of his height and race, Lawrence talks about where he finds his confidence and what it’s like to get a standing ovation mid-performance.”

Speaking Soundly features candid discussions with performers on their creative process and lives as artists. Previous episodes have included Joyce DiDonato, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Terence Blanchard, and many more.

The tenor is currently singing the role of Ernesto in “Don Pasquale” at Teatro alla Scala. Later this season, he will appear as Don Ramiro “La Cenerentola” at Bayerische Staatsoper, and as the title character in “Mitridate, re di Ponto” at Boston Lyric Opera. Brownlee’s conversation will be made available on all podcast platforms on May 28.