Articles Archive

On October 12, 2016, I posted to my blog the script you will see below.  I did it for fun because it's essence hit me one day while I was taking a long jog.  It turns out that I was right on the mark!  But I also follow up with…

October 12, 2016 Politics can surely be as entertaining as it is enraging, and 2016 has proven to be an exceptional year for both. But putting basic politics aside; I believe I have stumbled on a great example of 'Life Imitating Art' for the modern era.  When Richard Wagner wrote…

September 6, 2016 Many years ago I recall reading an article about the legendary Baritone Sherrill Milnes when he noted that his time with Boris Goldovsky's Opera Theater was when things really started happening...but he had by then already been thoroughly participating in the operatic art form.  As I think…

April 1, 2016 With an historic 'Der Ring des Nibelungen' just one month from opening at the prestigious Washington National Opera, I am both tired and excited. Rehearsals have been intense, compressed, and thrilling. Immediately post 'Ring' performances here in our nation's Capital; I will head to Boston with two…

February 19, 2016 With the 9th anniversary of the Vann Vocal Institute in Montgomery AL now storied history; I look ahead to the stunning Washington National Opera production of Francesca Zambello's 'American' Ring Cycle.  To move from "Vann to Wagner" in one fell-swoop may be a bit jarring but, with…

October 12, 2015 Many years ago when I made a dedicated decision to leave the 'night-club/showroom/supper-club' industry, and embark upon a career in opera, I had a goal in mind: Make a debut at the 'Big Four' by the age of 35 (I was 28/29 years old at the time). …

I spoke to a colleague the other night about my first Equity job… the one that got me that ever prized ‘union card’ when so many of us were looking for a break in show-business. It was 1985, and I didn’t attend my college graduation in order to be in…

And finally I awoke this morning to the glories of Spring: The sun broke over the East Side of New York, and bathed my Upper West Side 35th floor New York residence with a golden glaze.  An hour-long exercise walk in Central Park after morning coffee, found me in the…

January 21, 2015 The close of 2014 and start of 2015 found myself and my family in a state of panic as my father suffered a devastating head injury while visiting me in New York City. What was to be a fun visit for my parents to see me perform…

November 10 (my birthday), 2014 After graduating from Baldwin-Wallace College (now Baldwin-Wallace University) 30 years ago, I had never stepped foot back onto campus to speak to students, present a masterclass, or even sing an alumni recital.  This all changed recently thanks to an invitation from an old classmate (Nanette…

September 30, 2014 When your body (and your wife) finally tell you to throttle back, you had better listen.  Therefore I write this entry from my bed, bored to tears, but still panicked over what must be done in the next few weeks.  The Vann Vocal Institute in Montgomery, Alabama…

July 26, 2014 As I sit in Denver International Airport awaiting my flight to Tokyo and my next work assignment; I am reflecting upon the past four weeks of intense work at Land of Enchantment Opera Institute (LOEOI). There are more summer vocal study programs out there than you can…