2015 is bringing a lot of fresh faces to the FGO stage. Così fan tutte consisted of a cast of almost entirely debuting artists. The Pearl Fishers does as well, and Florida Grand Opera is pleased to welcome baritone Corey McKern as our opening-night Zurga.
Corey will make his FGO debut in the role of Zurga in Florida Grand Opera's lush and exotic production of Bizet's The Pearl Fishers on February 28, March 3, 7, 12, and 14.
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Corey will make his FGO debut in the role of Zurga in Florida Grand Opera's lush and exotic production of Bizet's The Pearl Fishers on February 28, March 3, 7, 12, and 14.
Welcome to Florida Grand Opera! Can you please tell us a little about yourself?
I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, but definitely not in a classical music family. I played saxophone in band, and eventually I ended up at Mississippi State University on a saxophone scholarship. I had never sung a note, but my first semester I had to take a voice class. I sang the first day and the teacher, who had been a opera singer, said, "You have a natural voice. You should study."I changed my major, and never looked back.
That teacher become a mentor and we have been close ever since.
Famous family story: When I came home from Christmas break my freshman year and told my dad I wanted to be an opera singer, he said, "Opera singer? I've never even heard you whistle!"
I now live in Nashville, Tennessee, with my wife, Chandra, and my two and a half year old son, Quinn. My wife is the Director of Education and Outreach for Nashville Opera.
It definitely seems as though you've managed to create your own musical family, despite your auspicious beginning!
You have been traveling so much lately for all of your roles! I imagine you must get a lot of reading done. What is your favorite book and why?
Yes, I do love reading and certainly have plenty of time on the road. I never mind getting delayed in the airport. As long as I have a book, all is well.Whenever I'm asked what my favorite book is, I usually say it's just like my favorite opera: Whatever one I am working on at the time!
Part of the great thing about books is the variety and volume. It's impossible to even scratch the surface. I love Hemingway and Cormack Mcarthy. Lonesome Dove was a book that made a huge impression on me as a kid.
I read a lot of Biographies, and I remember during my undergrad reading 5000 Nights at the Opera by Rudlph Bing, the famous longtime impresario of the Metropolitan Opera. It helped solidify my decision to follow this career path. The characters were so fantastic that it was stranger than fiction, as they say. Being in this career for 15 years now, I have discovered the truth is often stranger than fiction!
What is your favorite city to sing in and why?
I have sung in some world-renown venues, but I have had the pleasure to sing in my hometown, Birmingham, Alabama, eight times. I always stay with my mom and see family and friends regularly. It is definitely the only venue where, everyday before rehearsal, my mom asks, "What time is play practice?"What is one opera house you haven’t been to that you aspire to perform in someday?
I have never sung in Europe. I would certainly love a chance to sing, hopefully, in Italy, Germany, and France. We will see! |
| As Marcello in 'La bohème' with Opera Hong Kong |
We certainly hope you do, too! However, we're glad that you decided to come to Miami!
Speaking of which, this is not your first time playing Zurga. Can you please tell us about your previous performances in this role?
I sang this role four years ago in Syracuse, New York. I enjoyed the production very much. Part of what I love about this business is that circumstances are always change and it keep things interesting. Revisiting this piece with a new cast and creative team has been an entirely different experience, and in this case with FGO, it has been great fun. I have very fond memories of my prior production, but you leave all preconceived notions at the door when you start a new one.
I have loved going to rehearsal every day here in Miami and working on this piece with the great team assembled here.
We're glad you are enjoying yourself! Now that you get to perform this role again, are there any specific aspects you wish to explore a different side of?
There are always things you want to work on the second time around! It's great to repeat roles so that you can add dramatic layers and even settle into singing it more solidly. In this case, the aria for Zurga in Act III, I felt didn't quite have the right dramatic emphasis I wanted last time. Now with the director, A. Scott Parry, I feel we are getting where I wanted to be last time. |
| FGO's final room run Photo: Brittany Mazzurco for Florida Grand Opera |
What would you say to someone who has already seen The Pearl Fishers to convince them to come and see this production?
Just as I said earlier about variety of productions for singers, the same is true for the audience. I love Pearl Fishers because I think French grand opera is so great musically—sweeping lines with beautiful vocal writing.If you aren't used to this kind of music, it is absolutely enjoyable. If you have seen the piece before, even better. It's so great to know the music and be able to compare singers in this beautiful opera!
We couldn't agree more! Now, just for fun: If your picture was featured on the front-page story of a newspaper, what would you like the headline to say?
Well, I hope it wouldn't say, like poor Zurga's story, "Man finds best friend is in love with wife, decides to be a hero and let them run away together, then gets stabbed to death by the local townsfolk."My dream headline would be, "Opera singer somehow manages to improve golf game enough to join the PGA tour."Not realistic, but fun to think of!
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