An Interview with Charles Reid By Natasha Barbieri Tenor Charles Reid has sung in opera For starters, I was very blessed with houses and concert stages around the important opportunities at many world. He is the host of the “This stages in my career. I did the bulk of Opera Life” podcast. my auditioning while working at the MET in New York City. There were As of last year, you became the so many auditions that they became director of vocal studies at Andrews almost as normal as ordering University. Was teaching something breakfast. One person offered the that you were always interested in observation that I would be doing pursuing? very well to get one offer out of every ten auditions. This took some stress I come from a long line of educators off. Later in the process, Philip and always assumed I might end up Langridge gave me profound advice. transitioning into teaching when the He basically said I should only be performance career was no longer interested in working for companies viable, but finding and accepting the and producers who get what I have to job at this stage in life came as a offer…and that there was a giant genuine surprise to me. The career world of opera out there with many was going along just fine, but I found people who would get me. He was myself increasingly yearning for a right…on both points. situation that would allow me to be home with my family on a regular Which character that you have basis. performed do you most identify with? And which character do you What do you think is the most feel is the complete opposite of who important thing a teacher can teach you are? his student? Performing Don Jose (Carmen) Singing is not about beautiful sounds, brought out the most in me on many rather it is about actually levels. The integrity of his emotional saying/communicating something. In journey became hard to distinguish other words, be an artist, not a singer. from real emotions at the time. The role that feels most foreign to me is Duca (Rigoletto). Simply put, I’m not Becoming successful in opera means a Don Juan, and trying to understand facing rejection over and over in that character, even like it, was a auditions and learning to manage challenge. your nerves in a consistent way. What drove your success? Have you ever heard a role for thought hit me that we needed another voice type that you wish you something like this in opera. There are could sing? (male or female) so many opera singers out there with real careers that the majority of the I won’t make a list of roles I wish fell opera-going community has never into the tenor repertoire, but I think even heard of. With this show, I the question alludes to something that wanted them to have a way to get to is very common. During the rehearsal know us, and perhaps, they’d also process, performers often draw near want to go see our work. I didn’t plan to the roles of their colleagues. We it, but aside audience has grown up in see, hear, and experience them over college students. I regularly receive and over. It is not uncommon to have emails from people thanking me for memorized lines from another role, the show and explaining that “This without trying. If only it were so easy Opera Life” has taught them more for the role you are actually doing. about what a singing career is like, especially in Europe than any other Opera singers, in general, are resource. connecting more to their fans these days through social media. How did What has been the most surreal you get involved with podcasting? moment in your career thus far? I produce a podcast titled “This Opera I’m not really sure how to answer Life”. In truth, the transition to this. In truth, I think the simple fact teaching has made it very challenging that I’ve been fortunate enough to to keep up with the podcast, but I have a singing career and provide for have a healthy backlog of interviews my family via that career, this is the and intend to start publishing again most surreal of all – and I’m eternally sometime this year. The podcast idea thankful. was born shortly after relocating back to the U.S. from Germany. I was Which composer’s music do you feel working at the MET in NYC and fits your voice the best? commuting from my home in P.A. So I started downloading podcasts to It has changed several times, and will keep me company. During these long likely change again in the years to drives, I heard interviews with actors, come. At the moment, I’m feeling at comedians, and others and often home with Bizet, Mendelssohn, found their life stories to be so Dvorak, and Puccini. interesting. It made me want to get to know their work more, and the Do you prefer to perform opera or cast’ your favorite opera, who would oratorio? be singing? The answer is ‘YES’. I’ve been I could come up with a list of famous fortunate enough to have a career singers, but the truth is, many of my active in both fields, and I love them favorite performances that I have seen both for different reasons. or been in were with little-known casts. I think I’m in favor of a great For the 10th anniversary of Les cast that really works together as an Miserables, there was a concert with ensemble. a ‘dream’ cast. If you could ‘dream Learn more about Charles Reid at Charles-reid.com Camilla Kerslake You founded the charity “Sing for Miserables.” What was that Breast Cancer”. Tell us what experience like? inspired you to get involved with this important cause. Being on the west end was one of my career highlights. I remember being In the summer of 2011, my mother more excited stepping backstage at was diagnosed with breast cancer. I the Queen’s theatre than I was singing decided to take a sabbatical to care for on the pitch at Wembley. It was also a her and during that time {which, in completely new challenge, something the end, was about 2 years} to really get my teeth into. we discovered first-hand how healing singing and music could be to a About the character of Cosette cancer patient. herself, many people tend to see her as being less complex than Eponine. I formed my Sing 2 Beat Breast Having played her, do you agree or Cancer choir to get breast cancer disagree? Also tell us what sufferers, past and present, singing similarities, if any, you share with and to raise lots of money for Breast her? Cancer Campaign the best way I knew how! Cosette is the most central character in the piece. She is the cause of You played the role of Cosette Marius’s, Fantine’s, Jean Val John opposite Nick Jonas in the and to a lesser extent Eponine’s 25thanniversary production of “Les actions throughout the musical. Yet she’s only on stage for 22 minutes! Such a short time to prove to the almost fatherly in his encouragement audience that she is worth the other and support of me on stage. characters adoration and sacrifice. She is soft and loving but underneath that You currently have collaborated with is made of very strong stuff indeed Blake on a single of “You Raise Me and endures what many could not. Up” to be released in support of your charity. What made you choose that Cosette and I are polar opposites. song? Playing her wasn’t easy. Sometimes, It’s a gorgeous uplifting song. during rehearsals, her placidity Everyone knows and loves it and I really irritated me. If she was a friend thought it suited our message of mine I’d be like “Run away from perfectly. your father and marry! Your discovery story was very You’ve performed with the tenors, interesting in that it showed an Alfie Boe, Russell Watson, and incredible amount of dedication on Andrea Bocelli. What was special your part. What advice would you about each one of them? have for young singers who are trying to break into the business but I was very new and inexperienced so far have been rejected? when I did the summer tour with Russell. At the same time, I was Just keep going. The most successful in rehearsals for Les Mis, touring with people in the music business are the the Priests and trying to ones who stick at it. Try to have make my second album so my overall fingers in as many pies as possible so feeling of that period was one when one musical bubble bursts (and of enormous stress and pressure they always do!) you’ll still have which is a shame. enough going on to keep you going Everyone loves Alfie! What can I Are you still actively training your say? His voice is beyond powerful, I voice? have no idea where he gets his strength/energy. He sure gave the I’ll never stop training. Your voice is musical theatre actors a singing a muscle just like any in your body. masterclass! The more you use it the better it becomes. Also, it's constantly Andrea has a very soft, relaxing growing and changing. There are so energy. It’s peaceful (but also many things I can do vocally now that thrilling) to perform with him.