Needless to say, we're a little busy here at the opera. Nevertheless, our own Guglielmo, baritone Isaac Bray, was kind enough to sit down for a few minutes and answer some questions to add to our "Meet Our Artists" series.
Isaac will perform the role of Guglielmo in Mozart's Così fan tutte on January 25, 30, and February 14.
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| The title role in Don Giovanni The Boston Conservatory, 2012 Photo Credit: Max Wagenblass |
Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule for this interview! Let's start off with learning a little about you.
My name is Isaac Bray, and I’m from Abilene, TX. I spent most of my life in Abilene and earned my undergraduate degree from Abilene Christian University. I later moved to Boston for a master’s degree at the Boston Conservatory (where I consequently met my lovely wife) and a professional certificate from the Boston University Opera Institute.I have been privileged to perform with Boston Lyric Opera, Florida Grand Opera, and Central City Opera. I grew up singing in church and choir and playing piano. I would have to say that my piano lessons were the most formative musical experience that I had growing up.
The role of Guglielmo is actually not your first time on the FGO stage. Your FGO debut was in our recent production of Madama Butterfly as the Official Registrar. Can you tell us what that experience was like?
Isaac Bray as the Official Registrar
Photo: Rod Millington
Madama Butterfly was a really awesome experience for me. I got to study the role of Sharpless, which is a role I hope to do many times when I am older. I got the chance to observe Todd Thomas singing that role, which was an invaluable experience to me. 
Isaac Bray as the Official Registrar
Photo: Rod Millington
The role that I performed in Madama Butterfly was very small, but I am so thankful for that experience for several reasons. First, I got to be a part of a wonderful cast of fantastic and supportive singers, and I learned a lot from watching and getting to know them.
Second, it was great to get the opportunity to perform in the Arsht Center and Broward Center for the first time in a more “low pressure” situation and get a feel for what the space was like as I was preparing for my role in Così fan tutte.
I don’t mean to say that I didn’t take my responsibilities in Madama Butterfly very seriously, but both of these theaters are the largest that I have ever sung in, and it was nice to get to ease into that experience with a smaller role rather than diving right in with something more challenging.
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| Isaac Bray as The Official Registrar Photo: Rod Millington |
We are thrilled that you chose to spend your residency with the Florida Grand Opera Young Artist Program. What made you choose FGO over other programs?
I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to perform a leading role with a major opera company. FGO has given all of us young artists such a wonderful gift and learning experience in getting to actually perform a leading role and not just be a cover/understudy.I think that many companies are nervous about giving younger singers opportunities like this until they’ve “proven themselves” in some way. What FGO has done for us in this program is given us a challenge and allowed us to rise to the occasion, rather than having us watch from the sidelines.
From my experience in Madama Butterfly, as well as the current rehearsals for Così fan tutte, the Young Artist Program at FGO has the right idea. All of my colleagues in the program are rising to the occasion every day and exceeding already high expectations.
We see that your undergraduate degree is in music education. What prompted you to forgo teaching and pursue a performance career?
My voice teacher from my undergraduate degree was Dr. Michael Scarbrough, and he was the person who really opened my mind up to the possibility of singing as a career. I thought that it was just for a chosen few who got lucky, but he taught me how to think and prepare like a professional. He believed in my talent and never pushed me toward teaching or performing, but rather gave me the tools and guidance to make the best decision that I could for my career path.It was a scary decision to forgo being an educator and attempt something that was way less stable, but I’m so glad that I did! Because of singing, I met my wife, and I have been to places that I had never been before (like Florida, haha).
Even if something catastrophic were to happen tomorrow, ending my singing career, I feel very blessed to have had the experiences that I’ve had so far. I wake up every day thankful for this unique life.
Do you ever teach privately on the side?
I really would like to teach someday at a university or even a high school. I love teaching. It was my first passion, so I hope to return to it someday.I think that learning how to sing or play a musical instrument offers many valuable life lessons, such as discipline, perseverance, and an appreciation for beauty in the world. I really want to be a part of that growing process for people, and I want to be an ambassador for opera and all musical art forms.
Another career you've had was as a backpacking guide. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
Yes, I spent five summers in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado working for Wilderness Expeditions, a Christian outfitting and guide service. This was before I had decided to become a singer. I probably should have been at opera training programs during those summers, but I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.For 10 weeks every summer, my fellow guides and I would take youth groups, inner-city teens, and others into the wilderness for 6-day backpacking trips. Being a guide was a very rewarding experience.
I feel that many of the skills that I developed working as guide have translated into my work on the stage. Being able to adapt to different situations quickly, pushing myself physically and mentally, as well as interacting with people in a caring and positive way, are things that I try to do every day as an opera singer.
Ultimately, I learned to be a servant to others, which, for me, is what opera is all about. Without an audience, we are just singing alone in a big room. I believe that music is not just for the singer, but it is a selfless act in which you give of yourself to others.
During this time you climbed 24 of the 54 “fourteeners” in Colorado (mountains with elevations over 14,000 feet). Do you plan to hike them all someday?
I hope to get them all someday but, unfortunately, I don’t get paid to climb mountains anymore. I have been lucky over the past two summers, though, to participate in the apprentice program at Central City Opera, so I have actually added two more mountains (Mt. Bierdstadt and Mt. Evans) to my list.One of my dreams is to eventually live in Colorado and, if that happens, I will start chipping away at the other 30 fourteeners. I love the outdoors so much, and even though there aren’t any mountains in Florida, I spent my first day off exploring in the Everglades, and I have spent most of my other days off playing disc golf and enjoying the lovely weather.
Every place I go offers a different outdoor experience, and I love to explore.
Sounds like you are making the most of your time here! Let's talk about Così. Which aspect of this opera are you looking forward to the most?
My parents and my wife are coming to this production, and my dad hasn’t gotten to see me perform in about four years now. I’m so excited that they will be here to see me perform in such a large theater for such a great company!I am also excited to be working with such a great cast and crew. We are already having so much fun, and I can’t wait to share the stage with them and hopefully make the audiences smile.
Which moment in the opera do you think audiences will most enjoy?
I think that audiences will love the Act I finale. It is such an absurd scene in which the two young men, Ferrando and Guglielmo, drink “poison” because the two women have spurned their advances.Hilarity ensues as the maid Despina comes in disguised as a doctor and uses her special skills to revive them. I think that it will be really fun for the audiences.
That is certainly a hilarious scene! Finally, just for fun, let's put your backpacking skills to use.
If you were stuck on a deserted island and were stranded with only the items contained in a small backpack, what would you want to be in it?
I’m way too practical because all of the things that came into my head were, like, a radio, a satellite phone, flares, dehydrated food, etc. I would really like a deck of cards and some kind of solar radio so I could still listen to music.It looks like my backpack is getting pretty full of boring stuff, so I will have to just keep working my imaginative skills (haha).
To see Isaac Bray perform the role of Guglielmo and purchase tickets to Così fan tutte simply call our Box Office at 800-741-1010, Monday–Friday, 10am–4pm. You may also order securely online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at www.FGO.org.
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