Doing The Work With Matthan Black

This week we have composer Philip Thompson on the podcast! Philip and I sat down a few months back to chat about his opera The Final Battle for Love and it’s Chicago premiere with Thompson Street Opera. Philip and I talk about Mahler, writing for voice, and playing guitar for Jesus. Enjoy!

This week we have Bernard Holcomb and Cecilia Violetta Lopez! These two just starred in Loft Opera’s production of Rossini’s Otello and it was a smash hit! Devotees of the podcast will remember Bernard, and on his recommendation, I sat down with Cecilia. She’s so great! We talk Music Ed degrees, Forgetting Words, and Beverly … Continue reading Episode #86: Doing the Work with Bernard Holcomb and Cecilia Violetta Lopez →

This week we have Kirsten Scott on the podcast! Kirsten is a fantastic mezzo and the Artistic Director of New York’s Bare Opera. We sit down to talk about indie opera, crossover technique, and rattlesnakes! We also talk about Bare Opera’s new production of The Magic Flute that opens on June 1st. Tickets and info … Continue reading Episode #85: Doing the Work with Kirsten Scott →

This week we have Dennis Kalup and Aaron Wardell! Devotees of the podcast will remember Aaron from EPISODE #9!!!! Back when we were babies… Aaron and I sit down with Dennis to talk Auditioning, Failure, and taking bets on how many times we’ll get interrupted while recording! The three of us are currently making art in … Continue reading Episode #84: Doing the Work with Dennis Kalup and Aaron Wardell →

We’re back! With new intro music and Bethany Brautigam! Bethany, I’m sorry it took so long to post this. You’re wonderful. Bethany and I chat music, personal training, and the world under our new governmental regime. Bethany is so charming, smart, and productive! Follow her on FB and Insta for a deeper look into her … Continue reading Episode #83: Doing the Work with Bethany Brautigam →

This week we chat with Claire DiVizio from Thompson Street Opera! Claire is a great singer and innovative administrator who recently moved her opera company here to Chicago. We talk championing modern music, relocating for work, and why Detroit is still a killer city for art. Come see Thompson Street’s production of Philip Thompson’s The … Continue reading Episode #83: Doing the Work with Claire DiVizio →

We start the New Year off right with more jolly co-operation! This week’s episode is an interview I did with George Cederquist and three of the founding ladies of New York’s Bare Opera for Zack Singerman’s podcast VOiCEtalks! Zack is a great friend of our show and is out there on the front lines Doing the … Continue reading Episode #82: VOiCEtalks with Fringe and Bare →

It’s almost a New Year! 2016 has been… interesting. George Cederquist of Opera Box Score and I sit down to chat all things opera in 2016 in this collaborative episode of DTW/OBS! We also get a bit introspective as to our own careers and think up predictions for a new world of opera in 2017. … Continue reading Episode #81: Doing The Work Year In Review 2016 →

This week I’m re-releasing episode #51 with Jon Clements in honor of the life and death of Weston Noble. I had the honor of singing with Dr. Noble in an All-State Choir back in High School and he had a profound musical impact on me even then. Jon and his wife Barbara sang under Dr. … Continue reading Episode #80: Jon Clements Re-Release →

This week we talk with Sarah Thompson Johansen! Sarah is a highly skilled soprano and hedgehog lover. We talk modern opera, extended technique, and how to spend your time in the practice room. You can check her out on the upcoming Parma recording of Ross Crean’s The Great God Pan, slated for release July 2017. … Continue reading Episode #79: Doing the Work with Sarah Thompson Johansen →