Baritone Michael Adams, who stars as Ping in Turandot and Donald in Billy Budd (and was last seen at DMMO as Lescaut in Manon), answers questions about growing up, opera, family and BASEBALL.
Q: Did you grow up in a musical family? When did you start singing?
Yes, my father is a singer so I grew up listening to him daily. My mother has played flute in the Fort Worth Symphony for 40 years. I began singing around the age of 18, though having heard my father sing my whole life, I had a fairly clear idea of sounds I should be striving for.
Q: If you couldn’t be a singer, what other careers would you have pursued?
BASEBALL. This was the love of my life until a skiing injury when I was 18. Either that or Engineering.
Q: What’s been your most memorable role (or production) to date?
Thus far, probably Marcello in La Bohème. Aside from the fact that it is one of the greatest operas ever written, it is too much fun goofing around with those guys.
Q: Have you sung the role of Ping before? Have there been any surprises about the character or the music during your study of the role?
Yes, I sang it November of 2015 at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. The music is a joy to sing though it is initially very difficult. The voice is constantly jumping throughout registers and it can be easy for the voice to pull apart if you let your guard down.
Q: If you could sing any role (regardless of fach or gender), which would you most like to sing?
Rigoletto
Q: If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Flying. Or being able to eat anything with absolute impunity.
FAST FACTS!
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Family: Pam – Mom; Robert – Dad; Jacquelyn- Sister; Paula – Sister
Education: TCU – undergrad; Academy of Vocal Arts – Artist Diploma.
Favorite composer: Verdi or Puccini.
Favorite singer: Bastianini, Guelfi, Merrill, Gianfranco Cecchele, Astrid Varnay
Favorite opera: La Bohème
Favorite book: “Unlimited Power” by Tony Robbins
Favorite foods: CHICKEN NUGGETS!
Favorite color: Blue
