Episode 88: Stage director, dramaturg – Sara Widzer
Sara Widzer is my guest, this week. Sara and I met once-upon-a-time, during a production of Faust. I had a tie-on beard. That's how long ago. She's since gone on to direct in A houses across the country. Directorial style, the process, and politics in opera are all on...
Episode 87: Soprano and KUSC radio host – Jennifer Miller
Jennifer Miller is my guest this week. Jen and I go back to 2009, where we performed together in a production of Faust- she as Marguerite and me as Faust. That's us in the picture, way back then. Jen has since moved on to KUSC, where she hosts a show entitled,...
Episode 85: Mezzo-soprano, illustrator, expert meditator – Veronica Christenson
Veronica Christenson has been a colleague of mine at the LA Opera for over a decade, and this was my chance to have a few minutes with this lovely lady all to myself. She's a world-class mezzo, but that's not the only reason I wanted to chat... she's also a student of...
Episode 83: Singer, producer, composer – Ron Dante
Singer, producer, composer, Ron Dante is my guest this week! You know him as the voice of the Archies and their smash-hit single, "Sugar Sugar." But did you know that he co-produced, along with the Schuberts, the Tony Award-winning musical, Ain't Misbehavin'? Or that...
Episode 81: Tenor, impresario – Mario Chang
Tenor, Mario Chang is my guest this week. We first worked with him in La Boheme, and now he's back, singing the role of Ismaele in our current production of Nabucco, here in LA. We also talk at great length about the opera company founded by him and his wife with the...
Episode 80: Mezzo-soprano – Kelley O’Connor
Kelley O'Connor is on LWAG! Kelley and I go way back, and this is the kind of chat you get when old pals get together. We dish, we reminisce, we dish some more. Kelly also sings around the world as a top-drawer concertizer, and we get into that, and why she prefers...
Episode 77: POP Artistic Director – Josh Shaw
Josh Shaw is the Artistic Director of the Pacific Opera Project, right here, in sunny Los Angeles. He’s a singer turned director and opera company owner. We talk the ins and outs of running a company, the motivation for undertaking such a crazy idea, and his take on...
Episode 76: Singer, actress, author- Gloria Loring
The indomitable Gloria Loring, y’all! We talk childhood, her marriage to Alan Thicke, divorce, motherhood, her number one hit, “Friends and Lovers”, Days of our Lives, and a whole bunch more! Happy Labor Day and thanks for listening- Enjoy!
Episode 74: Susan Bennett- The original voice of Siri
Musician, voice-over artist and the original voice of Siri, Susan Bennett is my guest today! It was great getting the scoop on how one becomes the voice of Siri, the hiring process and the secretive process that Apple uses for this kind of thing. Thanks for listening,...
Episode 73: Jasper Randall
Jasper Randall is my guest this week! Jasper is one of the very few titans of Hollywood vocal music in the world, having worked on COUNTLESS blockbuster soundtracks over the last two decades- little films like Frozen, X-Men, La-La Land, and the upcoming movies, It,...
Episode 72: Moira Smiley
The talented and lovely Moira Smiley is my guest, this week! Not only talented and lovely, Moira is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and composer whose music can be heard on feature films, BBC & PBS television programs, NPR, and on more than 60 albums. We play,...
Episode 68: Russell Thomas
Tenor, Russell Thomas, is my guest this week! We talk about career, rep, fees, finances, retirement and a whole lot more. Russell is a world-class talent, and he’s very thoughtful and quick to share his insights- especially regarding the precarious and careful climb...
Episode 66: Todd Strange and Arnold Geis
Hey y'all! It's our, "Three Tenors of the LAO Chorus" episode! Yup- Todd Strange and Arnold Geis are my guests this week, and I couldn't be happier. It was a VERY last minute proposition, but this episode is certainly in keeping with my need to mix things up. Totally...
Episode 65: James Martin Schaefer 2017
Marty Schaefer is my guest this week. Marty and I have known each other for twenty years now. I thought I needed a little break this week, so this chat is just a convo between buddies- nothing more. We're not experts in any of the topics we discuss and we don't talk...
Episode 64: Philip Cokorinos
Bass-baritone, Phil Cokorinos is my guest this week. Phil has sung with us at least a half-dozen times in my twelve years with LAO. Always the consummate professional and great colleague, Phil manages to turn in great performances, night after night. This is a...
Episode 63: Vittorio Grigolo
Superstar tenor, Vittorio Grigolo is my guest this week. I was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to sit and chat with this powerhouse of a performer. He's frank, candid, and very sure of his place in this crazy business. We talk about passion, life on and off...
Episode 62: Nicholas Brownlee
Rising star, Nicholas Brownlee is my guest this week. He's a bass-baritone currently working in the Domingo-Colburn Young Artist Program at LAO. I've watched and heard him grow over the past few seasons, and man, you all better watch out for him! There are a lot of...
Episode 58: Rodell “RoRo” Rosel
Character tenor, Rodell Rosel is my guest this week. I go way back with Rodell, and it's always great to see friends find success, especially in this very difficult business. Rodell has carved out a terrific niche for himself as a character tenor and sings regularly...
Episode 55: Julia Aks
Multidisciplinarian, Julia Aks, is my guest this week. She's a mezzo-soprano, friend, and colleague from LA Opera, but that's not all she does. She's an aerialist, actor, intermittent dancer, and probably also does a bunch of other stuff that we didn't cover. She very...
Episode 54: Brenton Ryan
Tenor, Brenton Ryan is my guest this week. He's a swell guy, as all-American as you can get and is one heck of a good artist. He's recently made his Met debut singing the role of Pedrillo in Mozart's Abduction from the Seraglio- the same show we're performing right...
Episode 52: Morris Robinson
Morris Robinson, bass, is my guest on this episode. We talk about family, preparation, perseverance, and the importance of being a good colleague. Lots of lessons here, and not a word about politics, which is pretty weird for me. I hope you enjoy the interview and...
Episode 47: Kristin Towers-Rowles
Multi-award-winning actress, singer, dancer, and director, Kristin Towers-Rowles is my guest this week. A mainstay of the Los Angeles theater community, Kristin is a consummate professional on stage, and off stage, she's frank, forthcoming and engaging. During our...
Episode 45: Joshua Guerrero
Tenor, Joshua Guerrero is my guest this week. I first met him a few years ago at LAO, where he started as a young artist. He's since gone on to sing principle roles at the opera, and is now well on his way to having a long and fruitful career. I enjoyed our chat, and...
Episode 44: Anthony Roth Costanzo
Anthony Roth Costanzo is my guest this week. He is currently starring in the title role of the Philip Glass opera, Akhnaten at LA Opera. Today is our final performance, but the chance to sit with this fine gentleman arose, so I grabbed it. He's insightful, kind, funny...
Episode 41: Levi Petree and Sean Novak
I met Levi through Sean, who I met through his wife, Christina, who went to college with my wife. Levi is cool. He plays country music, and I like it. Sean is also cool. We talk about music, politics, success, hardship, and keeping your nose to the grindstone in the...
Episode 34: Arturo Chacon-Cruz
Tenor, Arturo Chacon-Cruz is my guest this week. I've been a fan of his singing for years, and his personality is just as pleasant as his voice. We had a great chat- I hope you enjoy it, too!
Episode 31: Fletcher Sheridan
Fletcher Sheridan is a name you may not recognize, unless you're in the sequestered world of session work in Los Angeles. But, you've no doubt heard Fletcher's solo voice in films like The Lorax, The Hangover 3, Horton Hears a Who, and as a playback singer on just...
Episode 28: Christopher Job
Chris and I go way back to Cal State Fullerton. He's carved out a nice career for himself as a bass-baritone, singing all over the world, including the Metropolitan Opera. I hadn't seen him for over a decade, and it was great catching up over our chat. He's a...
Episode 27: Tim Campbell
Tim Campbell is an audio book narrator, working singer and all-around nice guy. He's narrated a ton of books in all different genres, using accents and the whole bit. Please check him out at www.timcampbell.me- his sample readings are amazing! I learned a lot about...
Episode 25: Edie Lehmann Boddicker
I'm thrilled to have as my 25th guest, Edie Lehmann Boddicker. Most of us around town know her as a vocal contractor, but there is definitely more than meets the eye. She's had an amazing career here in tinseltown- from concertizing as a classical pianist and learning...
Episode 22: Peabody Southwell
Peabody is a globally recognized mezzo-soprano and burgeoning set and costume designer. She has a strong personality, strong opinions and highly formed ideas about her work, and the worlds she inhabits. I've known her for years and I find her fascinating- She's...
Episode 18: Jamie Chamberlin
The lovely and talented soprano, Jamie Chamberlin is my guest on this episode. Jamie is a very successful working singer here in LA, singing with the Los Angeles Opera, Long Beach Opera and in recordings such as Mark Abel's new opera, "Home Is a Harbor". She's lively,...
Episode 17: Lesley Leighton
Lesley Leighton is the Associate Conductor for the Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Artistic Director of the Los Robles Master Chorale. She is also a certified chef and a former member of Michael Bloomberg's inner circle, during his mayorship of NYC. Lesley is...
Episode 8: Adriana Manfredi
Adriana Manfredi is a great friend of mine from Los Angeles. She sings all over the place- LA Opera, LA Master Chorale, Long Beach Camerata… and I guarantee you’ve heard her voice on your favorite movies. The interview itself is a departure from any interview style in...
Episode 5: John Holiday
Like many of my guests, I met John Holiday at LA Opera. We happened to be staged together, and every night we’d exchange pleasantries before the curtain rose. We hit it off and managed to keep in touch here and there, mostly through Facebook. I greatly admire his...
Episode 4: Hila Plitmann
Hila Plitmann is a Grammy award-winning soprano, and one of my closest friends. Full disclosure: she’s married to Eric Whitacre, who is also one of my closest friends. She and I have a lot in common, but she’s just a lot more interesting. A great thinker, shrouded in...
Episode 3: Ben Bliss
What can I say, I messaged Ben about being on this brand-new, nothing-yet podcast and he basically came right over. That’s the kind of guy he is. A supportive colleague, funny, kind and an amazingly hard-working and talented guy. That’s Ben Bliss, and I was so happy...
Episode 1: James Martin Schaefer
For my pilot episode, I picked James Martin Schaefer. I’ve known Marty for twenty years and we’ve been through a lot together. We both perform regularly at the Los Angeles Opera Company as soloists and choristers. This was my first-ever in preparation for this podcast...