On Tuesday, Aug. 30, at noon, singers from Minnesota Opera's 2016-17 Resident Artists will perform at the MPR booth at the Minnesota State Fair; the performance will be broadcast live, and Mindy Ratner hosts.
Before the broadcast, mezzo-soprano Nadia Fayad, one of the Minnesota Opera's Resident Artists, gives us a preview of the performance and shares her thoughts about singing opera selections at the State Fair.
Which singers from Minnesota Opera will be performing on Tuesday?
All of the first-year Resident Artists at Minnesota Opera will be singing at the fair. This includes me, Alexandra Razskazoff, Will Lee Bryan, Thomas C. Glass II, and Christopher Colmenero.
The Resident Artist Program is a training program where young professional singers gain mainstage experience alongside more experienced singers. Outside of the performances, we have workshops that strengthen our skills in auditioning, languages and movement. This will prepare and inform us for our future performing careers.
Can you share any of the repertoire you'll be singing at the Minnesota State Fair?
We are still putting the finishing touches on the program, but I know we'll be singing some palatable and popular opera solos and ensemble pieces that sound just as beautiful outdoors as they do in the concert hall.
What sorts of things do you bear in mind when preparing a performance for a place like the Minnesota State Fair?
The music selection should be fun, and something that the audience can jive to. Getting out into the community is a great opportunity to get people excited about opera, especially people who might have never been exposed to it before.
Since we will be singing outside, adapting to the environment is crucial. Often when you are singing outdoors, you have to sing with a microphone, but opera singers are known to never use an amplification system in the concert hall. When you position the microphone, we need to make sure we aren't overpowering the sound system, while still making sure that we are heard.
When you're done with your performance, what are some of your must-have State Fair treats or must-do activities?
I love all the rides at the State Fair, but my real guilty pleasure is the fried bread. But, hey — it only comes once a year!
Listen to Classical MPR on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016, at 12 noon, to hear the Minnesota Opera's Resident Artists as they perform live at the MPR booth at the Minnesota State Fair. Mindy Ratner hosts.
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