Ten Questions with Caitlin Cisler

Ten Questions with...

Caitlin Cisler, soprano
Marie in The Daughter of the Regiment

1. My favorite thing about being a singer is:

I get to do what I love every day. And on really special days, I get to share what I love with lots of other people!

2. The greatest challenge in being a singer is: 

Subjection to constant self-criticism. I also feel, though this is a challenge, it makes me live my best life most days.

3. A live music performance I’ve attended that I will never forget is:
Carmina Burana, in college. In a live performance, that piece burrows into your bones and stays with you forever.

4. A few of my favorite films are:  
The Princess Bride and Zoolander - mostly because they remind me of great moments shared with great friends.

5. Three things I can’t live without are: 

The three C's: cheese, coffee, and cuddles. 

6. My number one hobby is: 

 Lately, hacking away at the ukulele.

7. If you could perform with any singer, retired or deceased, who would it be?

Maria Callas.

8. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
Medical research, probably.

9. What role do you wish you could sing that you could never sing because it’s the wrong voice type/gender?

The Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier. 

10. Describe your favorite moment on stage. 

It's impossible to pick just one favorite moment, but I will always remember a particular performance of Hansel and Gretel. Hansel and I pushed the witch through the oven and the set came crashing down around her. Hansel and I look at each other - each of us obviously thinking "What do we do?? The show must go on!" and then looking at our accompanist whose face is beet-red from stifling laughter. I don't know how we made it through the next number, but when it was through the set was standing again and the witch had disappeared behind that oven. The show must always go on!

See Caitlin in Madison Opera's production of Donizetti's The Daughter of the Regiment (La Fille du Régiment) February 7 & 9 in the Capitol Theater at Overture Center. Tickets start at just $25.

Ten Questions with Javier Abreu

Ten Questions with...

Javier Abreu, tenor
Tonio in The Daughter of the Regiment

1. My favorite thing about being a singer is:

Seeing so many new cities, and meeting so many wonderful people in my travels. 

2. The greatest challenge in being a singer is: 

Being on the road for so many weeks at a time. 

3. A live music performance I’ve attended that I will never forget is:
My first night at the opera. I was 15 years old, and my high school voice teacher gave me tickets to go see the dress rehearsal of The Elixir of Love.

4. A few of my favorite films are:  
Leap Year, The Incredibles, Y tu mamá también, Clue, and Blue Jasmine.

5. Three things I can’t live without are: 

Chocolate, cellphone, internet.

6. My number one hobby is:
Hard to say. Too many! 

7. If you could perform with any singer, retired or deceased, who would it be?

I would love to perform with Luis Miguel (Mexican ballad crooner).

8. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
If I were not a singer, I would probably work in accounting, or a non-profit, or as a recruiter in an admissions office.

9. What role do you wish you could sing that you could never sing because it’s the wrong voice type/gender?

If I were a soprano, I would love to sing the role of Violetta in La Traviata. If I were a baritone, I would love singing the role of the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro.

10. Describe your favorite moment on stage. 

My favorite moment on stage was when I made my New York City Opera debut in 2004. My voice teacher and first mentor in college is a very dear and influential person in my life, and he is very proud of his tenure at City Opera during the Beverly Sills era. He always spoke very highly of his experience there. As I walked on stage to sing my first line, I thought about him, and all the years he invested in me to get to that point, and I was proud that I was walking the same stage he once did years before.


Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
How did you start singing?
I was a pop singer until the age of 18. At the age of 16, I won a big competition in Puerto Rico that almost propelled me into the pop music world, but my parents had other plans for me. In the end, music ended up being my field of work, though an entirely different genre.

See Javier in Madison Opera's production of Donizetti's The Daughter of the Regiment (La Fille du Régiment) February 7 & 9 in the Capitol Theater at Overture Center. Tickets start at just $25.

Ten Questions with Nathan Stark

Ten Questions with...

Nathan Stark, bass
Sulpice in The Daughter of the Regiment

1. My favorite thing about being a singer is:

Having the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people and work with incredible talents everywhere I go. 

2. The greatest challenge in being a singer is: 

Trying to stay healthy during the frigid cold/flu season, busy travel months, bouncing around from different cities, time zones, and weather climates. Being able to perform and sing well is based heavily on our physical health, so I'm always trying to be conscious of that. Also, being away from home, spouses and loved ones for long durations of time is always tough.

3. A live music performance I’ve attended that I will never forget is:
I recently attended the Marilyn Horne 80th Birthday Gala at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Some of opera's biggest stars came out to perform and honor her: Frederica von Stade, Samuel Ramey, Renee Fleming, David Daniels and others. It was truly a special event, and exciting to see so many legends in our business under one roof.

4. A few of my favorite films are: 

The Princess Bride, Star Wars (the original trilogy), Glory, The Lord of the Rings (all 3 films), The Devil Wears Prada, and The Legends of the Fall.

5. Three things I can’t live without are: 
The performing arts, my cell phone, and fried chicken.

6. My number one hobby is:
Cooking! There is nothing more therapeutic for me than cooking in my own kitchen... with a bottle of my favorite wine nearby. :-)

7. If you could perform with any singer, retired or deceased, who would it be?

It would be a toss-up between Lady Gaga and Dolly Parton. Classically, I would have loved to have done a show with Marilyn Horne in her prime.

8. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
I'd probably have gone on to culinary school and become a chef... or something to do with food.

9. What role do you wish you could sing that you could never sing because it’s the wrong voice type/gender?

I'd love to sing the title role in Carmen.

10. Describe your favorite moment on stage. 

I recently made my mainstage debut at the Metropolitan Opera this Fall as the one-armed brother in Die Frau ohne Schatten. That opening night, as of right now, has been my favorite moment onstage. My family & friends from all over the world came to New York City to support me. It is something I'll remember the rest of my life. 

Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
What have you enjoyed most about being in Madison, WI? 
The people, the fried cheese curds, and the beer-cheese soup!

See Nathan in Madison Opera's production of Donizetti's The Daughter of the Regiment (La Fille du Régiment) February 7 & 9 in the Capitol Theater at Overture Center. Tickets start at just $25.

Ten Questions with Allisanne Apple

Ten Questions with...

Allisanne Apple, soprano
The Marquise of Berkenfeld in The Daughter of the Regiment

1. My favorite thing about being a singer is:

Singing and performing go hand-in-hand. What I like best is when people are moved by a performance, either to laughter or to tears.

2. The greatest challenge in being a singer is: 

Staying healthy!

3. A live music performance I’ve attended that I will never forget is: Hearing Renée Fleming live at Ravinia. Her singing was exquisite and flawless.

4. A few of my favorite films are: 

Singin' in the Rain, Moonstruck, and the seven hour version of Pride and Prejudice!

5. Three things I can’t live without are: 
My family (including the dog), my garden, and COOKIES!

6. My number one hobby is:
Gardening.

7. If you could perform with any singer, retired or deceased, who would it be?

Hmmm, that's a difficult one -- there are so many wonderful singers. First thought? Janet Baker.

8. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?Probably acting. Or else, organic farming.

9. What role do you wish you could sing that you could never sing because it’s the wrong voice type/gender?

Boris Godunov, Mephistopheles in Faust - love those bass-baritones. Otherwise, any Puccini soprano role. Sigh.

10. Describe your favorite moment on stage. 

There isn't just one, but a favorite performance was when I was in Madison Opera's production of Sondheim's Side by Side, with John DeMain and Ann Stanke on the two pianos. They were fabulous.

See Allisanne in Madison Opera's production of Donizetti's The Daughter of the Regiment (La Fille du Régiment) February 7 & 9 in the Capitol Theater at Overture Center. Tickets start at just $25.

Ten Questions with Douglas Swenson

Ten Questions with...

Douglas Swenson, tenor
Hortensius in The Daughter of the Regiment

 

1. My favorite thing about being a singer is:

The challenge. There is a lot going on: memorizing songs and lines, developing character, performing with an orchestra. It is exciting because it is very challenging. 

2. The greatest challenge in being a singer is: 

Relaxing into the role. Lots of people are watching and I get nervous.

3. A live music performance I’ve attended that I will never forget is: Caitlin Cisler singing Cunegonde from Candide. Those notes are so high it always made me smile when I heard her. You think - "How is that possible?" She nails it.

4. A few of my favorite films are: 

Billy Elliot. I think I cried for 5 straight hours after that movie. It gave me a headache. And Babe. I grew up on a farm. "That'll do, pig", and I'm a puddle.

5. Three things I can’t live without are: 
Love and family, gardening, and coffee.

6. My number one hobby is:
Dancing. Any kind or time of day. 

7. If you could perform with any singer, retired or deceased, who would it be?

Paul Simon (and Garfunkel).

8. If you weren’t a singer, what profession would you be in?
I'm a Project Manager at Sonic Foundry, so I guess that would be it!

9. What role do you wish you could sing that you could never sing because it’s the wrong voice type/gender?

Cinderella in Cinderella (La Cenerentola). Some serious vocal gymnastics in those arias. Gorgeous.

10. Describe your favorite moment on stage. 

My favorite moment on stage is in The Secret Garden when Archibald gets to say "And this, my lovely child, is your gaaahden!" You can imagine the sweeping arm gesture, tear on cheek, etc.

See Doug in Madison Opera's production of Donizetti's The Daughter of the Regiment (La Fille du Régiment) February 7 & 9 in the Capitol Theater at Overture Center. Tickets start at just $25.