Ten Questions with Alexandra LoBianco

Ten Questions With...

Alexandra LoBianco, soprano
Leonore in Fidelio






1.  Where were you born / raised? 
St. Petersburg, Florida.  Not to be confused with St. Petersburg, Russia (that's happened).

2.  If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
When I was younger, I wanted to go into Equine Science, but I quickly realized I'm just not that smart.  So if I had to make a choice outside of the profession, I'd be a therapist of some sort.  I'm actually considering going back for my Master's, because trust me, when you teach voice you are already a therapist.  I might as well get the diploma to go with it.

3.  My favorite opera is...
This is actually a difficult question.  It tends to be the one I'm working on.  I have my absolute go-to's, which are Tosca, Macbeth, and Cavalleria Rusticana.  (Yes, I love verismo.)

4.  My favorite post-show meal is...
Munchies and sometimes a bourbon neat.

5.  People would be surprised to know that...
I'm blind as a bat on stage.  I don't wear contacts.  Well, I can make out Maestro's hands, which keeps me on top of the beat, thank goodness.  I was also a competitive horseback rider when I was younger.  And last but not least, my favorite form of workout is boxing.

6.  What is your favorite song to belt out at the bar / in the car /for karaoke?
Oh, this one is easy.  You'll find me at my favorite little piano bar, Uncle Charlie's in New York with my dear friend / composer William Wade having me belt "Maybe This Time" from Cabaret, then right into "Quando m'en vo."  Don't ask, I don't get it either, but it's a lot of fun.

7.  What is your pop culture guilty pleasure?
Netflix has made it very easy to binge-watch TV.  When I'm on gigs, my favorite thing to do is find a new or old TV show and, well, indulge.

8.  A few of my favorite films are...
I must confess, I love movies but I'm not a huge movie buff.  When I go to the movies (or watch Netflix...  you see a trend here), I tend to watch things that are truly entertainment.  So, with that in mind: The Avengers (and all the others in the series), plus I love Pixar and most all Disney flix.  They are such a wonderful escape from reality while being a marvel of artistic abilities that I just don't comprehend.

As far as films that I feel are of major artistic worth, I love Cinema Paradiso, The Artist, Forrest Gump, and Amelie.  Cult classics: Clueless, Young Frankenstein, Willie Wonka (original version), Fight Club, Highland, and Coming to America.

Well, that surprised me to see that I'm a bit more opinionated than I thought! 

9.  If we were to turn on your ipod right now, what five artists/songs would we see on your recently-played list?
Honestly, the first thing you'd find would be about 5 different versions of Fidelio followed quickly by about 5 more versions of Don Giovanni, as I just finished that and haven't replaced it with Tosca yet. Once you're past work, you get into things like "Sandman" by Metallica, "Who I Am" by Alice Peacock, "Trouble" by P!nk and "Ben Aindi Habibi" by Mary Fahl.  You'd also find a bunch of musical theater followed by some of the greats: Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Edith Piaf, Tom Lehrer, etc. 

10.  What is the worst costume you've ever worn?
It was when I was in the chorus for Opera Carolina and we were in the midst of Nabucco.  One of the slave costumes was just pieces of burlap sack that had been dyed shades of blue and stitched together with no lining. Needless to say it was difficult finding your character while itching from the burlap and laying on the floor. 

Don't miss the chance to see Alexandra in Fidelio, Beethoven's only opera!  Performances are November 21 and 23 at Overture Hall.  Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.

Ten Questions with Clay Hilley

Ten Questions With...

Clay Hilley, tenor
Florestan in Fidelio 



1.  Where were you born / raised? 
Born in Athens, Georgia, and raised in a small town near there - Statham, Georgia.

2.  If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
Law.

3.  My favorite opera is...
Falstaff.

4.  My favorite pre/post-show meal is...
Steak and potatoes - but that's not unique to a show. ;)

5.  People would be surprised to know that...
I am the oldest sibling of four.  Because of my maturity level, most people assume I'm the baby.

6.  What is your favorite song to belt out at the bar / in the car /for karaoke?
I loathe karaoke.  The only thing I belt are corny jokes.

7.  What is your pop culture guilty pleasure?
American Horror Story.  All horror stories.  80s and 90s slasher films.

8.  A few of my favorite films are...
Return of the King.  Many horror movies.

9.  If we were to turn on your ipod right now, what five artists/songs would we see on your recently-played list?   
Fidelio.

10.  What is the worst costume you've ever worn? 
There are many, but one comes to mind.  While playing King Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors, I was dressed in a VERY heavy (and VERY HOT) costume.  It was so hot that I made a choice to forgo any sort of undergarment (as no one in the audience would ever be able to notice).  During the performance, I noticed an air-conditioning vent in the stage floor (we were performing in a church chancel), and "altered my blocking" such that I ended up hovering over said vent, enjoying the pleasantly-cooling streams of air while actively engaged in performing.

11.  Bonus:  One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer):
Q:  Would you like to have my UGA Bulldogs season tickets?
A:  YES.

Don't miss the chance to see Clay in Fidelio, Beethoven's only opera!  Performances are November 21 and 23 at Overture Hall.  Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.

Ten Questions with Kelly Markgraf

Ten Questions With...

Kelly Markgraf, baritone
Don Pizarro in Fidelio 






1.  Where were you born / raised? 
Cedarburg, Wisconsin.

2.  If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
Antique restoration and/or historical architecture preservation.

3.  My favorite opera is...
After studying it recently for an upcoming recording project, Carlisle Floyd's Wuthering Heights is near or at the top of my list.  From the traditional repertoire, probably Don Carlos.

4.  My favorite pre/post-show meal is...
Wild rice, a bit of protein, and a raw kale salad.

5.  People would be surprised to know that...
I have a tea company, importing fine loose leaf tea from all over the world.

6.  What is your favorite song to belt out at the bar / in the car /for karaoke?
"Country Road" by James Taylor.

7.  What is your pop culture guilty pleasure?
Antique Roadshow.

8.  A few of my favorite films are...
The Philadelphia Story, The Lion in Winter. 

9.  If we were to turn on your ipod right now, what five artists/songs would we see on your recently-played list?   
India Arie, Sam Cooke, Neil Young, Disney songs (for my daughter), Chris Paulson (the best street musician I've ever heard, who I came across this past spring in Bordeaux).

10.  What is the best costume you've ever worn? 
The Plant in Little Shop of Horrors.

11.  Bonus:  One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer):
Q:  Have you had a moment where you felt affirmed that all that you do and sacrifice to have the life of a musician is worth it?

A:  Absolutely.  I recently was on a plane and started talking with the guy across the aisle from me.  He was a veteran Army Ranger of multiple tours of duty in Iraq, and then two in Afghanistan.  He has now left the military and is hoping to start a new life.  Hearing about what he went through:  the stress, the danger, the injuries, the despair over watching all his friends die -- it was heartbreaking.  He asked what I do, and when I told him I sing opera, he was quite taken aback, and tears came to his eyes.  He said, "Man, you have no idea -- that's what gets us through out there.  So many of us, even though we don't really talk about it, listen to opera to help us get through.  The sheer power and beauty of it... to be able to turn that on when we're in the field and be transported to another place...  Thank you for doing what you do.  It means the world to us."


Don't miss the chance to see Kelly in Fidelio, Beethoven's only opera!  Performances are November 21 and 23 at Overture Hall.  Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.

Ten Questions with Tara Faircloth

Ten Questions With...

Tara Faircloth
Stage Director of Fidelio 

1.  Where were you born / raised? 
I was born and raised in a small town in Georgia called Fort Valley.  No fort, no valley.

2.  If you weren't a stage director, what profession would you be in?
My degrees are all in singing, but I discovered directing just before I completed my master's degree.  If I was not in the performing arts, I would like to make my living making beautiful things... like arranging flowers or creating watercolors.

3.  My favorite opera is...
Oh, lordy.  Pass.

4.  My favorite pre/post-show meal is...
Oysters and a dirty martini. (I'm not singing!)

5.  People would be surprised to know that...
I lived in an Airstream Travel Trailer for 3 years.  It allowed me to make the transition from singer to director without going bankrupt (yet).

6.  What is your favorite song to belt out at the bar / in the car / for karaoke?
None of the above.

7.  What is your pop culture guilty pleasure?
Like most of us, I tend to binge watch excellent TV like Breaking Bad, The Wire, etc., and also not-so-excellent TV like The Tudors (costume research!).

8.  A few of my favorite films are...
The Secret in Their Eyes.  The Lives of Others.  Pride and Prejudice.

9.  If we were to turn on your ipod right now, what five artists/songs would we see on your recently-played list?   
Fidelio, Fidelio, Fidelio, Midsummer Night's Dream, Nozze di Figaro.  If I am listening to music, it is generally to prep for work.  Also, I love to jam to the Monteverdi Vespers.  Hahaha.

10.  What is the best costume you've ever worn? 
I once had an AMAZING fuchsia satin Marie Antoinette-style gown for Casilda in The Gondoliers.

11.  Bonus:  One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer):
Q:  How does it feel to have just won that $55 million lottery, Ms. Faircloth?
A:  AMAZING!!!

Don't miss the chance to see Tara's production of Fidelio, Beethoven's only opera!  Performances are November 21 and 23 at Overture Hall.  Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.

Ten Questions with Matt Boehler

Ten Questions With...

Matt Boehler, bass
Rocco in Fidelio


1.  Where were you born / raised? 
Minneapolis, Minnesota.

2.  If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
Publishing, maybe?

3.  My favorite opera is...
Right now, at this moment:  Peter Grimes.  But that will change in five minutes.

4.  My favorite pre/post-show meal is...
Pre-show:  Something non-offensive and noodly.
Post-show:  ALL THE FOOD.

5.  People would be surprised to know...
At my height, 6'7", I'm asked pretty often if I play basketball.  I don't!  Believe me, if I had any talent for it, I'd have made my millions long ago.

6.  What is your favorite song to belt out at the bar / in the car / for karaoke? 
"Copacabana" by Barry Manilow

7.  What is your pop culture guilty pleasure?
Since True Blood is finished, the only program that I really follow now is RuPaul's Drag Race.  But if it's true that Twin Peaks is coming back, I'll be there in a flash.

8.  A few of my favorite films are...
Airplane! is at the top of the list.  Others, in no particular order:  The Shining, The Shawshank Redemption, Best in Show, Critters 2.

9.  If we were to turn on your ipod right now, what five artists/songs would we see on your recently-played list?   
Fidelio, Fidelio, Fidelio, Fidelio, and... Fidelio.

10.  What is the worst costume you've ever worn? 
Many, many years ago in summer stock, I was in a production of Harvey.  It was up to the cast to change the set, and the scene changes were all choreographed... to "The Bunny Hop."  We were all wearing little bunny ears and had little Peter Cottontail puffs snapped onto our rumps.  I remember thinking that wearing bunny costumes while hopping around and moving furniture was pretty lame at the time, but now I hear this is the whole concept for a new production of Don Carlo somewhere in Germany.

Don't miss the chance to see Matt in Fidelio, Beethoven's only opera!  Performances are November 21 and 23 at Overture Hall.  Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.

Ten Questions with Liam Moran

Ten Questions With...

Liam Moran, bass
Don Fernando in Fidelio 



1.  Where were you born / raised? 
Brookline, Massachusetts

2.  If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
I'd love to teach history.

3.  My favorite opera is...
Hard to say!  Often the one I'm currently working on.  If I had to pick, today I'd say... Eugene Onegin.

4.  My favorite pre/post-show meal is...
The answer to both is cooked vegetables with plenty of sriracha - add a Guiness post-show!

5.  People would be surprised to know that...
I can't wink my left eye...  I can hardly wink my right eye either.

6.  What is your favorite song to belt out at the bar / in the car /for karaoke?
None!  Once I leave the theater, I leave the singing to others.

7.  What is your pop culture guilty pleasure?
These days, Homeland.  Miss you, Brody.

8.  A few of my favorite films are...
Annie Hall, Dr. Strangelove, Best in Show.

9.  If we were to turn on your ipod right now, what five artists/songs would we see on your recently-played list?   
Anthony Hamilton, Kendrick Lamar, Joao Gilberto, Otis Redding, and Bill Evans.

10.  What is the worst or best costume you've ever worn? 
The best and worst was one I wore as the Bonze in Madama Butterfly.  I was painted red and wore a bald pate, so to get out of costume every nitght, I had to remove the pate (which rips out all the tiny hairs on the back of your neck) and scrub off the paint in the shower.  It took over an hour.  But it sure looked cool.

11.  Bonus:  One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer):
Q:  Would you like an Altoid?
A:  The answer is always "yes."

Don't miss the chance to see Liam in Fidelio, Beethoven's only opera!  Performances are November 21 and 23 at Overture Hall.  Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.

Ten Questions with Alisa Jordheim

Ten Questions With...

Alisa Jordheim, soprano
Marzelline in Fidelio 



1.  Where were you born / raised? 
Appleton, Wisconsin

2.  If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
Medicine / healthcare - a nurse or nurse practitioner (see my answer to #5).

3.  My favorite opera is...
Nixon in China by John Adams.

4.  My favorite pre/post-show meal is...
Pre-show:  A light combination of protein and carbohydrates, candied ginger, and always an apple!
Post-show:  Ice cream and/or french fries!

5.  People would be surprised to know that...
I danced ballet and en pointe for seven years.  I also became a State-Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA or CNA) in 2008.  I worked as an STNA with a healthcare company giving in-home care for nearly two years while I was in school at the University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music.  I couldn't keep up both my work as an STNA and my work as a traveling singer, so I chose to focus on singing.  However, I miss my work as an STNA very much and still have my scrubs!

6.  What is your favorite song to belt out at the bar / in the car /for karaoke?
I have no shame.  Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off."

7.  What is your pop culture guilty pleasure?
I am a big fan of the Food Network, HGTV, and TLC.

8.  A few of my favorite films are...
Some Like it Hot, The Seven Year Itch, Casablanca, Catch Me If You Can, 500 Days of Summer, The Shawshank Redemption, any of the Muppet movies (but especially The Great Muppet Caper), and so many more.  My favorite TV show was / is Breaking Bad.

9.  If we were to turn on your ipod right now, what five artists/songs would we see on your recently-played list?   
Fidelio (!), Maroon 5, Imogen Heap, Edvard Grieg (Norwegian Dances for Piano - Eva Knardahl), Beyonce.

10.  What is the best costume you've ever worn? 
One of my favorite costume wardrobes was for Albert Herring with Florentine Opera, and I was Miss Wordsworth.  The style was 1950s retro, and I had pink cat-eye glasses with rhinestones and a blonde wig curled in a flip.  It was like the whole cast stepped right out of Mad Men!

11.  Bonus question:
Q:  Do you sing in genres/ styles other than opera?
A:  I enjoy singing all different genres and styles of music - opera, oratorio, art song, musical theater, cabaret, jazz, chamber music, electronic music, etc.  I am also passionate about singing diction and Scandinavian vocal music (my heritage is Norwegian and Danish, and that is the inspiration for my interest in Scandinavian music).  My cognate field for my DMA degree from CCM is Scandinavian song and diction, and I recently completed studies in Scandinavia on the subject, thanks to grants from the Fulbright Foundation and the American Scandinavian Foundation.

Don't miss the chance to see Alisa in Fidelio, Beethoven's only opera!  Performances are November 21 and 23 at Overture Hall.  Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.

Ten Questions with David Blalock

Ten Questions With...

David Blalock, tenor
Jaquino in Fidelio


1.  Where were you born / raised? 
Chapel Hill, North Carolina / Burlington, North Carolina

2.  If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
I would absolutely love to be a sports writer.  I am an avid sports fan, and writing about sports for a living would be a dream job.

3.  My favorite opera is...
Peter Grimes, although the answer to this question changes about every 2 or 3 weeks.

4.  My favorite pre/post-show meal is...
Pre-show:  Something light:  either a salad or a small sandwich.
Post-show:  Double whatever I had pre-show.

5.  People would be surprised to know that...
My brother is also a professional opera singer.

6.  What is your favorite song to belt out for karaoke? 
"My Funny Valentine," in the style of Frank Sinatra.

7.  What is your pop culture guilty pleasure?
Going to see movies.  I absolutely love the experience of going to the theater.

8.  A few of my favorite films are...
The Shawshank Redemption, No Country for Old Men, Twelve Angry Men, Some Like It Hot, The Deer Hunter, Unforgiven.

9.  If we were to turn on your ipod right now, what five artists/songs would we see on your recently-played list?   
Kurt Elling, definitely Jonas Kaufmann, Lake Street Dive, probably some other young tenors like Bryan Hymel or Michael Fabiano.

10.  What is the best costume you've ever worn? 
A marionette costume for the world premiere of Oscar at Santa Fe Opera during the summer of 2013.  There was a scene that took place in a nursery and all of the toys came to life.  My character was a marionette dressed as a pirate.  I had giant strings attached to my limbs that were hooked to a handle above my head.  It's hard to describe, but I looked amazing.  Plus I got to walk around like a puppet, which was fun.

Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer):
Q:  What is your dream role in any voice type?
A:  My dream role is Rigoletto.  I would love to sing the role, but also it would be a fun challenge dramatically.

Don't miss the chance to see David in Fidelio, Beethoven's only opera!  Performances are November 21 and 23 at Overture Hall.  Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.