Carmen Interviews
Interviews with the cast of Carmen
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During 2020, we kept connected through online ‘singathons’ and some truly wonderful Zoom interviews with the soloists, narrator and director of our planned Carmen concert.
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Zoom interview with baritone José Carbó
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The delightful Argentine-Australian baritone José Carbó was scheduled to perform the role of Escamillo in our production of Carmen. During this interview, he demonstrates several excellent singing tips, and tells the surprising story of how he went from being a builder to an opera star!
Zoom interview with tenor Bradley Daley
You won’t want to miss this interview with Bradley Daley, as tells of his remarkable pathway to becoming an opera singer. He claims that he was booted out of his acting course at the end of his first year, but this man can definitely keep you captivated with the tales he has to tell! Bradley was scheduled to play the role of Don José in our production of Carmen.
Zoom interview with Desiree Frahn, Micaela (soprano)
Lyric soprano Desiree Frahn was scheduled to perform the
role of Micaela in our production of Carmen. In this engaging interview, she describes the challenges of getting a start on an opera career when you grow up in a country town. She demonstrates a yodelling warm-up and sings a delightful rendition of Christopher Robin is saying his prayers with her rescued tawny frogmouth sitting on her knee!
Zoom interview with Claire Patti-Chehade (soprano) and Celeste Haworth (mezzo)
There was a technical hitch at the start of this zoom, which Mario overcame by using his phone as well as computer so he could conduct the interview. This worked remarkably well. You will learn lots about these two wonderful singers who were scheduled to play Frasquita (Claire) and Mercédès (Celeste) in our production of Carmen. You will also get a chance to try out Claire’s fun warm-up, adding actions to singing ‘My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean’!
Zoom interview with Michael Lampard (baritone)
Michael Lampard, one of Australisa's leading young
dramatic baritones, was scheduled to play both Morales and Dancairo in Victoria Chorale's postponed production of Carmen. He made his debut for Opera Australia as Schaunard in the 2019-2020 Sydney season of La Boheme. He has sung over 50 opera roles, performing extensively with Victorian Opera and Melbourne Opera. Michael has also performed in Rome, Paris and the UK and at twenty-one years of age, was a finalist in Placido Domingo's Operalia competition.
In this engaging interview, Michael talks about some of his memorable career moments, one of which includes actually getting stabbed onstage when a retractable dagger got stuck! He also provides some singing warm-ups and encourages us all to 'Just sing' and 'Sing more'.
You can read more about the remarkable soloists who were engaged to perform in our production of Carmen here.
Zoom interview with Don Bridges, Actor
In this fascinating interview with Don Bridges, you’ll see him demonstrate some of the accents he has had to adopt for roles he has played, and what some of his favourite productions have been – with the Jack Irish TV programs rating highly. Don was scheduled to narrate our production of Carmen, adding great verve and flair.
Zoom interview with Sara Brodie, Director
In this thoughtful discussion with Sara Brodie, she talks about the ideas she was planning to incorporate into her direction of our production of Carmen, and illustrates how she draws on choreography in her productions.
Zoom interview with Henry Choo (tenor)
Henry Choo, one of Australia’s most versatile lyric tenors,
was scheduled to play Remendado in Victoria Chorale's production of Carmen. He has performed many principal roles for Opera Australia and many of Australia's state opera companies. On the concert platform, Henry has performed internationally and with almost all the major Australian and New Zealand orchestras.
In this interview, Henry demonstrates aspects of his voice technique, demonstrates two great warm-ups for choristers, and talks about his passion for AFL as well as for singing.