Earlier in the week, you may have seen a live interview on WLFX Fox 29 Morning News about family opera.  Palm Beach Opera was in the news once again last night.  This time it was on the local ABC affiliate WPBF 25 News.

Here’s a look at the story by WPBF Anchor, Shelli Lockhart.

Our Director of Artistic Operations, Scott Guzielek joined Matthew Burns, Megan Marino, and Megan’s pooch Vito to discuss Saturday afternoon’s family opera performance of La Cenerentola (Cinderella).

Matthew plays the role of Alidoro in the full-length mainstage performances on La Cenerentola on Friday and Saturday nights as well as on Sunday afternoon.  He takes on the role of Don Magnifico in the family performance.

Megan plays the role of Cinderella in the family performance, and Vito plays the dog in the all the performances.

Here’s a look at the interview:

Scott Purcell is a baritone who comes to Palm Beach Opera as a Young Artist from Westville, New Jersey.  Here’s how he answered my questions about how he got his start in opera and what he enjoys doing when he’s not singing.

Amanda Kahan: How did you get into singing opera?
Scott Purcell: To be honest I don’t know. I started taking voice lessons when I was in 8th grade but I sang mostly music theater then. Sophomore year of college I started singing arias and next thing I knew I was doing opera chorus and small roles. Everything sort of molded together for me.

AK: Do you have any pre-show rituals you do before performances?
SP: I wouldn’t call anything I do before performances rituals per-se. I always make sure I’ve had enough water and have been warming up throughout the day. That way, when it’s performance time all I have to do is go out and sing.

AK: If you weren’t a singer, what kind of career would you pursue?
SP: This is an easy one. I would be a doctor. I have always been fascinated with the human body and medicine. I also love to help people, so being a psychologist is on that list, too.

AK: Who is someone you look up to (personally, professionally, historically, etc.)?
SP: He may or may not know it, but I really admire my father.  He’s an auto body technician and has been working hard all of his life. He always says to me when I ask him about his job, “I do quality work, not fast work.” I use that as motivation in my singing and study

AK: One of your hobbies is cooking, what is your favorite dish to prepare?
SP: Not to brag, but I have a reputation back home for my chili. It’s a long story, but essentially I came up with the recipe for a class project. After some tweaking, it has become a must have at parties and for dinner.

Amanda Kahan: How did you get into singing opera?
Alexandra Batsios: Up until 7th grade, I sang and performed in musicals. Around that time, my great aunt suggested I take voice lessons. I learned classical technique from my teacher, and started competing in school competitions. I had a lot of success in the competitions and realized that maybe I could make a career out of classical singing. The rest is history!

AK: Do you have any pre-show rituals you do before performances?
AB: The only pre-show ritual I have is popping Altoids before I go onstage.

AK: If you weren’t a singer, what kind of career would you pursue?
AB: I’m kind of a jack-of-all-trades. In high school, I wanted to be a chemist. I’ve always been an entertainer though, so who knows!

AK: Who is someone you look up to (personally, professionally, historically, etc.)?
AB: I look up to my parents–my mom because she is a strong woman and always has the answers and my dad because he built a new life for himself after coming over from Greece and his sense of family and tradition.

AK: Tell me a bit about playing billiards. How did you start? Do you play for fun or professionally? How often do you play?
AB: I started playing billiards when I was taking a year off between college and graduate school. A friend invited me to watch him play in a league and I became interested in the game. I practiced eight and nine ball with him and our friends, and was a very intuitive player. I have a competitive nature, but I only played for fun on league teams. I used to play almost every day, but now I play occasionally.

The wonderful people at WFLX Fox 29 Morning News in West Palm Beach were generous enough to have us on their show for an interview yesterday morning.  Anchor, John Favole sat down with our General Director Daniel Biaggi along with the stars of Saturday night’s performance of La Traviata, David and Sarah Joy Miller.

Daniel spoke about how Palm Beach Opera strives to make our performances accessible to everyone and what a magical experience it is to see a live opera. David talked about the difference between performing with the internationally acclaimed Il Divo and working on a show like La Traviata. Sarah Joy discussed the training that goes into performing without a microphone or any type amplification. They also talked about what it’s like working together as a married couple and playing lovers on stage.

Check out full interview in the video below.

Palm Beach Opera interview on WFLX Fox 29 Morning News

A big thank you to FOX 29 for having us and we hope to see you all again soon!

If you haven’t purchased your tickets for La Traviata yet, you can buy them right on our website or give our box office a call at 561-833-7888.

Amanda Kahan:  How did you get into singing opera?
Marco Stefani: My parents realized my talent and love for classical music when I was a child and encouraged me to try a singing lesson during my junior year of high school.  I then decided to study music and voice during my higher education.

AK: Do you have any pre-show rituals you do before performances?
MS: I do not do anything special.  I make sure to sleep and eat well and that I am physically warmed up for a performance.  I’ve recently started tai chi and yoga and use some movements and postures to help calm my nerves before a show.

AK: If you weren’t a singer, what kind of career would you pursue?
MS: I have no idea.  Hopefully something personally fulfilling or lucrative, at least.

AK: Who is someone you look up to (personally, professionally, historically, etc.)?
MS: My parents and grandparents.  I was raised by five parental figures and am fortunate to have all but my paternal grandfather still alive.

AK: Please, tell me more about Greek folk dancing.  How you got into it? When you do it?
MS: The Greeks won the battle of the baptisms in my family and my brother and I were raised in the Greek Orthodox Church.  A huge part of the church’s culture, particularly on the west coast, is Greek folk dancing.  It was something my mother did as a child and so, we followed suit. I was a part of a couple dance groups and we learned and performed regional dances from Greece at festivals and the Folk Dance Festival.  I have not danced since graduating from high school, but it remains a fond memory and interest that I seek out whenever I have time.

In a series of blog posts, we’ll get to know the person behind the voice.  First up is the bubbly mezzo-soprano Megan Marino.                               

Amanda Kahan: How did you get into singing opera?
Megan Marino: I did my first opera role when I was 16 as Amahl in Amahl and the Night Visitors, even though the score specially calls for a 12 year-old boy. I thought opera was cool and the grand spectacle was so alluring to me. I started out doing theater at a very young age.  My parents were awesome about encouraging me, even when that meant dragging me kicking and screaming to “awful” classical singing lessons.  My undergrad degree started as a jazz/musical theater focus on voice and piano.  I had to take classical voice lessons as well.  Little by little I grew to love it and by the end I was a full-blown classical convert.

AK: Do you have any pre-show rituals you do before performances?
MM: I love yoga and I listen to some positive thinking/guided meditation tapes to help me to be my very best self.  I also love to have the biggest, greasiest breakfast I can find the morning of a big performance or audition.

AK: If you weren’t a singer, what kind of career would you pursue?
MM: I would love to teach kindergarten and elementary school music -preferably in Italy.

AK: Who is someone you look up to (personally, professionally, historically, etc.)?
MM: Ellen Chickering, my first voice teacher in my undergrad.  She is in the top 5 most amazing people I’ve ever known.  Patti LuPone.  I often ask myself “what would Patti Lupone do?”  Ewa Podles – contralto, she’s just an absolutely unique, tour de force.  And my little brother, Steve, he’s hands down the most solid, stand up guy I know.

AK: How did you get into bread baking?  What’s your favorite kind to make?
MM: I have always enjoyed baking and cooking, especially yeast breads. A little over a year ago I had a bad rock-climbing fall and had to have my ankle and elbow surgically repaired. I was laid up for a while and found that one of the things that I could do everyday to help around the house was cook and bake fresh bread. All the kneading served as low-impact physical therapy for my recovering elbow. I got pretty good at it and my family and friends started expecting it.
My favorite breads to bake are challah, ciabatta and soft pretzels (baker’s lye is quite fun to mess around with in the kitchen. It appeals to my super mischievous, inner 5 year old).

On Saturday, the 19th, the opera-singing couple of David and Sarah Joy Miller will perform opposite each other as Violetta and Alfredo Germont. David is one member of the opera/pop singing quartet, Il Divo. Il Divo has many fans that travel around the world to see them perform – and David without the rest of the group is no exception. There are at least 30 people traveling far and wide to come see David and Sarah Joy right here in West Palm Beach.

I reached out to one of these super-fans because I just had to know what it’s like to be such a dedicated fan.  Sue Blancato is a 60-something year-old woman from North Carolina who says she loves great music and will go wherever she can to support great musicians. Blancato credits her husband and two sons who have helped make her musical adventures possible. She is the driving force behind a large group that is making its way to our area from all around the country.

The following is how Sue answered some of my questions:

Amanda Kahan: Can you tell me a bit about the large group you have coming?
Sue Blancato: The group is made up of Il Divo, David, and Sarah Joy fans as well as their friends. We have members of the group coming as far away as Seattle, Detroit, Ohio, Pittsburgh, New York City, North Carolina, and several from all over Florida.

AK: How was the group assembled?
SB: I initially posted on Il Divo’s official forum when we found out David and Sarah Joy would be performing. I also tweeted and posted on Facebook that I was organizing a group. Thank goodness for social media!!

AK: Do you have any history with David and Il Divo in terms of fan club interaction?
SB: I became a member of Il Divo’s Official Fourm in 2006 after I was told of the group by a friend who had heard them in Europe. From what I understand there was more personal interaction with the group in the early years, now it is more difficult due to the number of fans. I have made many wonderful friends from the members of the forum.

AK: Have you met David and Sarah Joy or the group?
SB: I’ve been to over 35 Il Divo concerts on 3 continents and an island with several Meet and Greets. In 2007, David had a solo Christmas Concert in Chicago where he introduced us to Sarah Joy. That was where my true love of their voices started. In September of 2008, I went to NYC to hear David participate in Broadway Gives Back at the Town Hall Theater. I followed Sarah Joy while she was a member of the fabulous Three Graces for several concerts and am still an active member of her “Street Team.” We do grass roots PR. I was fortunate to meet David and Sarah Joy at a reception for a benefit concert they participated in New Jersey in 2008.
I have made several quilts that Il Divo has signed and were auctioned on eBay for their charity, AMTM (Assistance Medicale Toit du Monde). It’s a Paris-based organization that helps the Buddhist refugees from China settling in Nepal.

AK: What first got you interested in Il Divo?
SB: Years ago I started listening to Josh Groban. I enjoyed the way he would give popular music that ‘operatic’ flavor. When I heard Il Divo, it was all over. Their music has an ethereal sound. I grew up with opera, so hearing them sing in different languages wasn’t an issue. I’ve learned to hear the voice as a instrument of it’s own. The Il Divo ‘instrument’ is enjoyed by all ages and they have created a genre of their own!

AK: How long have you been following them?
SB: Since 2005.

AK: What is the farthest distance you’ve traveled to see David and/or Il Divo perform?
SB: The farthest I’ve gone to see Il Divo would be South America; Peru, Argentina and Chile. I’ve gone to Detroit to see David and Sarah Joy and plan to go to Dallas in May to hear Sarah Joy. I once said I’d go to the moon to hear them sing but now that our space program has been dissolved guess I’ll have to stick with here on Earth.

This is the nearly completed Vocal Studio.

There is a staircase leading up to the vocal studio, it is being taken down and a new staircase is in the process of being built.

Half of the new staircase is on the left. The stairs that will be torn down are on the right.

A wide view of the space. The panels on the floor will be painted and used for the walls.

One of the great crew members painting the panels.

Of course, we couldn’t stop by without lending a hand!