By THIRSTY
Trevor Neal is a Grammy-nominated baritone and the recipient of the 2018
Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition Encouragement Award. A resident
member of Opera San Jose, he will appear as Tonio in Pagliacci, Captain
Gardiner in Moby Dick and Sharpless in Madama Butterfly during
the 2018/2019 season. This July, he will appear at the Newport Music Festival
as the Festival baritone, singing works of Schubert, Bizet, Rossini, Copland
and Heggie. A graduate of the University of North Texas, he also sings with the
South Dakota Chorale,
a professional choral group of 28 singers, based in Sioux Falls, SD, and is a
featured soloist on their debut album, In Paradisum: The Healing Power of Heaven.
Stay Thirsty Magazine was pleased to visit with Trevor Neal in San Jose for these Five
Questions about his flourishing career.
STAY
THIRSTY: When did you first realize that your singing career
would be as a baritone in the opera world?
TREVOR
NEAL: I’m actually very glad you asked this question. I grew
up in a musical household, with both of my parents being Jazz musicians. From a
very early age, I was interested in music and knew that it would always be a part
of my life. Growing up, I played the trombone, and when it was time to
specialize, I chose Jazz as my track. It wasn’t until I got to college and
studied with a teacher who encouraged us to enroll in voice lessons to
compliment what we were being taught in our trombone studio, that I went down
this path.
It quickly evolved into a
love of the art form. The process of learning intrigued me, because before that
point, I never knew what went into singing, let alone, singing opera.
STAY
THIRSTY: As the
baritone in upcoming performances at the 2019 Newport Music Festival, how have
you prepared? Is your voice affected by different climates, regions, seasons or
time zones?
TREVOR
NEAL: Many times, we arrive to an engagement not really
prepared for what the situation is, so many of us have certain regimens we do
when we arrive, like a humidifier, if the climate is dry, or an allergy
regimen. Music preparation has already started as the Festival encourages the
artist to perform the music from memory. This allows the artist to be exactly
that, an artist. You’re able to better connect to the audience with emotion,
and most importantly, with the eyes.
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| Trevor Neal |
STAY
THIRSTY: What led you to become a resident member of Opera San
Jose and what roles stand out in your memory?
TREVOR
NEAL: As a Resident Company member, I sing and cover main
stage leading or supporting roles. For these services, the opera houses me and
pays me a salary with benefits. In the American system, this is very uncommon,
which makes it so attractive to emerging singers who are connected in Europe, but
enjoy the stability and constant work of a Residency. I knew about Opera San
Jose before coming here and had a good friend working with the company at the
time who encouraged me to submit materials for audition. My first season, I was
fortunate to do two dream roles, Germont in La
Traviata and Dutchman in The Flying
Dutchman. This year, I was reintroduced to the opera, Moby Dick, which I sang at the Dallas Opera premiere in 2010.
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| Trevor Neal as Dutchman in The Flying Dutchman (Opera San Jose) |
STAY
THIRSTY: How did you become involved with the South Dakota
Chorale and what is it about that group of 28 singers that continues to attract
your attention?
TREVOR
NEAL: When I started singing, I became interested in Choral
music, too. At North Texas, my eyes to this world became intoxicated with its
ability to heal. My friend, Dr. Brian Schmidt, who is also on faculty at Baylor
University, started the South Dakota Chorale while we were students together at
North Texas, and I was immediately onboard. Since its inception, the Chorale
has appeared at a number of music conferences and released a few albums. The
greatest day, though, was the announcement that we were nominated in five
categories at the Grammys. All this while doing what we love.
STAY
THIRSTY: In a perfect world, what part would you like to play
and with whom would you like to perform?
TREVOR
NEAL: My dream Role is Scarpia from Puccini’s Tosca. Scarpia is such a complex
character to play for someone who is the opposite of the character. The story
of Tosca is brilliant in its over-the-top drama and, unlike most opera, you
leave the theater knowing what happened to every single main character. If
you’re looking for me to tell you what happens, I’m afraid you will just have
to catch a live performance of it at an opera house near you!
(Trevor Neal photos credit: Jiyang Chen; Trevor Neal as Dutchman courtesy of Opera San Jose - photo credit: Pat Kirk)
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