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205 Plays4 years ago

“Sparkling” mezzo-soprano Madison Marie McIntosh has been praised for her “wondrously flexible voice,” “prodigious vocal skills,” and “richly textured and strong lower register” (Vocedi Meche). OperaWire has praised her “vocal power,” “enchanting voice,” “velvety mezzosoprano,” and “abundant vocal and dramatic technique, with no shortage of soaring high notes and flexible roulades.” She won The American Prize in Vocal Performance in 2020 and then performed a benefit concert for The American Prize that featured world premieres of works by eight composers. Madison has performed Ernesta (Un avvertimento ai gelosi) at Caramoor,

Delia (Il viaggio a Reims) with the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, and Alto Soloist (Messiah) with New Amsterdam Opera. In 2022, she performed in concerts with Gulfshore Opera and will sing the title role in La Cenerentola with Fargo Moorhead Opera, the title role in Giulio Cesare with Connecticut Lyric Opera, and Francesca Da Ponte in the premiere of Da Ponte, by composer Roger Neill and librettist Neil Cohen.

In 2021, she sang Beppe in Teatro Grattacielo’s production of L’amico Fritz at the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice, the Domme in Three Way with Fargo Moorhead Opera, Melissa in La liberazione di Ruggiero with Connecticut Lyric Opera, Ruggiero in Alter Ego Chamber Opera’s production of Alcina REVAMPED at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, and Lola Lowell in the virtual premiere of Theodore Christman’s opera The Impresario and the Dueling Divas with Mo. Eve Queler.

Madison has also performed Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia), the title role in Carmen, Isabella (L’Italiana in Algeri), Angelina (La Cenerentola), Cesare (Giulio Cesare in Egitto), Hansel (Hansel and Gretel), Dido (Dido and Aeneas), Sara (Roberto Devereux), Giovanna Seymour (Anna Bolena), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), and lead roles in the world premieres of six operas. She has premiered song cycles and other works by composers such as Peter Breiner, Paula Kimper, Roger Neill, Amy Scurria, Jeff Shankley, Myron Silberstein, Webster Young, and Paul Ayres. In 2019, she joined Eve Queler as a soloist in her 25th annual Bel Canto Opera Concert. She has been featured as a soloist in venues such as Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center, Symphony Space, the DiMenna Center, and the Teatro Rossini. She covered the title role in Tancredi and sang the Eco in the inaugural season of Will Crutchfield’s Teatro Nuovo. In 2019, she performed the role of Prinz Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus) at the Wiener Kammeroper as a result of winning First Prize in the Vienna Summer Music Festival Competition. She worked with the late Mo. Alberto Zedda as a young artist of the Accademia Rossiniana in 2014 and was an Apprentice Artist of Sarasota Opera in 2018.

OperaWire has praised her “vocal power,” “enchanting voice,” “velvety mezzosoprano,”and “abundant vocal and dramatic technique, with no shortage of soaring high notes and flexible roulades.” She won The American Prize in Vocal Performance in 2020 and then performed a benefit concert for The American Prize that featured world premieres of works by eight composers.

MMM

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Transcript

Podcast Introduction

00:00:03
Speaker
You are listening to something rather than nothing. Creator and host, Ken Zalante. Editor and producer, Peter Bauer.
00:00:18
Speaker
This is Ken Vellante with the Something Rather Than Nothing podcast.

Meet Madison Marie McIntosh

00:00:21
Speaker
Have a great guest, Madison Marie McIntosh, opera singer, mezzo-soprano, and she does a lot of things. She works on a lot of projects. We're gonna get into that, but first of all, I wanted to welcome you to Something Rather Than Nothing. Welcome, Madison. Thank you very much, Ken, for having me as a guest.

Opera Performances and Projects

00:00:42
Speaker
I'm really looking forward to this.
00:00:44
Speaker
Yeah, the show gets into opera at different times. It's an area of learning for me and I've just been very intrigued by the very different productions that you do and I know recently
00:01:05
Speaker
up in the wonderful area of Fargo. Morehead, you were Cinderella and I know you're out in New York right now. So just kind of jumping right in. Why don't you talk about just kind of like the recent couple of things that you did say your work up in Fargo and what your next project is.
00:01:27
Speaker
This past weekend, I was singing Cinderella in Rossini's version of the story with Fargo-Moorhead Opera. It's a company with which I love to work. I sang in a production with them last year, and I'm very grateful that they had me back this year. So yes, there are some different things about Rossini's version of this fairy tale. There's no fairy godmother. Instead, there's Alidoro, the princess tutor.
00:01:55
Speaker
And there are two bracelets, one of which Cinderella gives to the prince. There's not a slipper that she loses. And there's a stepfather instead of a stepmother. And this production was wonderfully effervescent. It was directed by the brilliant Maria Todaro and conducted by the marvelous Kevin Zutilin.
00:02:16
Speaker
And my next project, for which I'll begin rehearsal tomorrow, will be Julius Caesar, Handel's Giulio Cesare with Connecticut Lyric Opera. And I'm excited to work with them again with conductor Adrian Silveen and stage director Alan Mann. I had the pleasure of singing Cesare with Connecticut Lyric Opera in 2018. And this past November, I also sang in Francesca Caccini's La Liberatione di Ruggiero,
00:02:45
Speaker
And yes, I really love the role of Cesare as well, and I'm definitely excited to be in those performances in May. And I'll also be featured in a digital benefit concert for Ukraine. This is Artists for Peace, presented by Opera Cecilia.
00:03:03
Speaker
and you can check out opera to telia.com that's opera c e c i l i a dot com or check them out on instagram and visit the link in their bio or check them out on facebook
00:03:19
Speaker
And then in early June, I'll be singing Francesca da Ponte in the concert premiere of a new operatic musical based on the fascinating life of Lorenzo da Ponte, who wrote the libretti of Mozart's most famous Italian operas.
00:03:35
Speaker
Gaponte features music by Mozart and his contemporaries, as well as original music by composer Roger Neal, whose credits include the theme music of Mozart in the Jungle, and librettist Neal Cohen, who is the genius behind the entire musical. And when I say genius, I mean it. Neal is fantastic, and his script and lyrics are brilliantly clever. And this event will take place at West Wind Orchard in Accord, New York.
00:04:00
Speaker
And I think that I've bored you long enough with information about my upcoming projects. But yes, those are a few of the things that I'll be doing soon.

The Evolution of Opera

00:04:10
Speaker
Thank you, Noah, and thank you for making time for the podcast. I love those stories, and I love hearing the different elements of those stories, you know, as you describe them. So, thank you, Madison. I wanted to go back to the beginning, and as you know on the podcast, we focus on
00:04:31
Speaker
creatives of all types, you know, painters, singers, dancers, at times athletes. And I've been drawn to opera both to understand it, but to also see the different elements as it emerges, you know, within and without the pandemic over the last couple of years. But let's go way back
00:04:57
Speaker
to the beginning in a question I ask, yes.

Madison's Singing Journey

00:05:01
Speaker
So when you were born, were you an artist? Were you a singer then? Perhaps not from the moment when I was born, but I caught the singing bug pretty soon thereafter. In fact, my mother jokes that I was singing, even before I was talking, which is saying something because I was a chatty social kid from a very early age.
00:05:25
Speaker
And singing was something that I did for fun long before it evolved into my passion. When I was in kindergarten and we would sing the national anthem every morning, I would sing in my so-called opera voice, much to the consternation of my classmates. I would also embarrass my poor parents by singing very loudly in the congregation at church.
00:05:49
Speaker
And eventually I auditioned for a school play in third grade and the music director somehow contacted my parents and asked whether they knew that I had a voice for singing. And they said, well, we knew she was loud. I mean, my parents were exceedingly supportive of me and liked many different genres of music, but they weren't necessarily music aficionados. So they wouldn't necessarily have been able to identify a voice that could be developed.
00:06:18
Speaker
And anyway, I started to take voice lessons a year or two after that, by which time I knew that I wanted to be an opera singer.
00:06:26
Speaker
Yeah, and I wanted to ask a question about the different languages. I haven't really had the opportunity to ask that of guests, the singers in particular, the extensive training that goes on in language.

The Art of Language in Opera

00:06:44
Speaker
What is it like for you as an artist to be able to handle the intonation of the,
00:06:54
Speaker
of the various languages and to sing in them. What is your experience with language as it comes out through your voice?
00:07:06
Speaker
I love to sing in different languages, although I have to say that Italian is my favorite. As opera singers, we need to study not only the languages themselves, but also the diction, the pronunciation of each language in which we sing. So in college, I had language classes and diction classes, both of which
00:07:32
Speaker
were very important and of course we need to know the meanings of the words that we say so familiarity with languages can help a great deal with that and of course if we come across words that we don't know we need to look them up or else it will be obvious to the audience that we have no clue what we're saying but yes it's really a pleasure to sing in a wide variety of languages
00:07:58
Speaker
Yeah, it's a piece that I, you know, from the outside that I hold in the esteem and it's a unique characteristic to be able to range like that. It's beautiful to hear and, you know, your voice is beautiful and it's wonderful to kind of learn
00:08:20
Speaker
about opera and about how you create that emotional impact where other singers talk about the power of the voice and the power of performing.
00:08:37
Speaker
and the traditional elements of opera. And related to that, I have a question about opera and about the fact that I know you've gone into what might be considered modern interpretations or opera moving forward.
00:08:57
Speaker
For you performing in this area, 2022 in the world that we live in, what is the role of opera right now? What do you believe is its role? Has it changed or has it remained the opera that we know throughout the centuries?

Relevance of Opera Today

00:09:20
Speaker
I think that some elements of it have remained the same and that others have changed. Opera is timeless, in my opinion. And there are traditional productions, ones that are set in the periods in which they were originally set. And I think that that, in its own way, emphasizes the timelessness of the operas. But some stage directors
00:09:42
Speaker
put different takes on the operas, different spins on them, and sometimes update them to take place in more modern times. And I think that that in its own way emphasizes the timelessness of the stories that are told in operas.
00:09:57
Speaker
I wanted to know, Madison, one of the bigger questions here, and of course you could apply it to opera, but as an artist yourself, I mean, you dedicate your life, your time to creating this form of art. I wanted to ask you the big question about, you do that and you put a lot of effort in your life into that, but what is art and what are you trying to do with art?
00:10:27
Speaker
That's a question, of course, that artists, philosophers and other people have been pondering for years. And of course, there's not just one right answer. The Cambridge English Dictionary defines art as the making of objects, images, music, etc., that are beautiful or that express feelings.
00:10:44
Speaker
And I think that that's a pretty good definition, but art can also be used to send messages, to encourage people to consider new ideas, to make people more empathetic, and even to push the boundaries of what is considered art.

Art's Role in Society

00:11:01
Speaker
Yeah, do you think, and within art, sometimes I ask what the role of art is, and applying it now to our time. What is the role of opera for the modern audience? For me, it's clear that it has a role, it has the power that it has. But for us now,
00:11:29
Speaker
What do you think the role of opera is in our world at the moment? I'm really glad that you asked that question, Ken, about the role of operand art in general. I think that the role of art is immensely undervalued in today's society. It has basically been classified as non-essential, but I literally would not want to live in a world without art.
00:11:53
Speaker
From the time when I was knee-high to a grasshopper, I have considered practically everything else boring. I loved to sing and to listen to music. I liked to draw, even though I wasn't very good at it. I liked to read and to tell stories. I enjoyed movies and television shows. And I certainly wasn't alone. People looked to art for hope, comfort, inspiration, enjoyment.
00:12:19
Speaker
distraction from a challenging world and respite from the mundane. Art can inspire people to do better and to be better. It can raise funds for important causes, as in the case of Opera Chihilly's benefit concert that I mentioned. It can make people more empathetic and less judgmental. At the very least, it can make a person slightly less crabby on a bad day.
00:12:45
Speaker
It can reach many, many people at one time and it provides jobs for a lot of people. For example, a single opera production creates jobs for the singers, the members of the orchestra, the conductor, perhaps an assistant conductor, the stage director, the stage manager, any assistant stage managers, the costume designer, the makeup artist, the set designers and builders, the lighting designer, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. And so, yes, art is essential and art is work.
00:13:16
Speaker
Yeah, and we get into that topic a decent amount about the work inherent in art. And one piece going back to what you said that I really picked up, I really enjoyed you saying was the notion of empathy, right?
00:13:36
Speaker
through song and through, well, in this particular case with opera. But in general, I look at art and do my show in the sense of the connections that it makes between people, whatever the form that it is. And
00:13:53
Speaker
there's a deep part of it about the empathy or towards the human experience or it could just entertain as you said it can make your day a little bit better and for me this inquiry like gets into that because it has it has the potential and it is aimed towards i don't it seems to me like bettering our lives and increasing understanding uh the way i see it absolutely yes it's it's humanizes other people
00:14:24
Speaker
I got another question, and it is about creating and for you in particular as an artist. Again, another conceptual question but deep down why do you think you create.
00:14:39
Speaker
For me, it all started simply because I loved to sing. Everything else came later, relating to my characters, connecting with audiences, and loving to work with other artists. But long before I was a professional performer, I just loved to sing. And that set me on the path to doing what I do.
00:15:01
Speaker
Yeah. And again, thank you for just your spirit in moving towards that, because we get to enjoy your performances. And I wanted to thank you in particular about the Ukraine benefit. And recently I've encountered some of the history in the 20th century of
00:15:25
Speaker
and the great famine that the Ukrainian people were subject to in the 30s and into the 40s and the history of oppression and incursion there. So I think it's great that you put your efforts to a lot of things what art does is to transform, make people aware and
00:15:52
Speaker
like you said, to labor or to, you know, bring awareness towards, you know, towards issues. And I want to thank you for that effort because that's, I don't know, feels like that's what makes art, you know, real in our world. I want to ask you another big, big question, titular question of the show is, Madison, why do you think there's something rather than nothing?

Philosophical Musings: Something Rather Than Nothing

00:16:18
Speaker
I suppose that something comes into existence when a sentient being, human or divine, and of course there are many different beliefs about the latter, creates something or it is created by nature. And there we are, right?
00:16:39
Speaker
I wanted to ask you a bit more about the production you're going to be doing in New York City and what was the title of that again?
00:16:57
Speaker
That will be in Connecticut with Connecticut Lyric Opera. That's Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar in Egypt, which is julio cesar eine gito by Handel. That's my next production. And then in New York State, accord New York in early June, I'll be singing in the concert premiere of Da Ponte by Roger Neal and Neil Cowan.

Farewell and Recognition

00:17:20
Speaker
That's wonderful. One of the things I also wanted you to convey, if you could, is a big part of what you do in a way for the audience to be able to connect with you as a performer or the works. I know you're involved in a lot of different projects.
00:17:41
Speaker
But can you lead folks to whether it be like a website or social media presence about the work that you do so they can kind of come in contact with your work and with you to your comfort level?
00:17:54
Speaker
Yes, definitely. Thank you for asking. I'm Madison Marie McIntosh, Medzo Soprano on Facebook. And my Instagram handle is also my name, at Madison Marie McIntosh. And people can visit my social media platforms to see pictures of my productions and a few videos and to get in touch.
00:18:17
Speaker
Yeah, thank you. I understand you won the American prize and opera for one of your performances. And I also understand that is that is a high honor. Can you just tell us a little bit about that prize and about the performance that you wanted for?
00:18:32
Speaker
I'm very grateful, yes, to have won the American prize in vocal performance in 2020. That happened on the basis of a few different videos of my singing. And I would like to thank once again, Chief Judge David Katz,
00:18:53
Speaker
and the brilliant soprano Sharon Sweet who was also a judge. I wrote her a thank you note and she was very gracious, very kind in replying to me and I actually have not had the pleasure of meeting Maestro Katz in person but
00:19:13
Speaker
I wrote a thank you note to him of course after he let me know that I had been designated winner of the American prize but then a few months later I still felt very grateful to him and the American prize and I
00:19:29
Speaker
I admit that I'm the queen of crazy ideas. I became like that rather early during the pandemic. And I wrote to David, rather out of the blue, to make the offer to sing a benefit concert for the American prize. I love to support the organizations that have supported me.
00:19:50
Speaker
And he liked the idea and so in May of last year I sang a virtual benefit concert that featured world premieres of works by eight composers.
00:20:04
Speaker
incredible. Congratulations Madison and I encourage all listeners as Madison makes her way and performs with her beautiful voice that hopefully you get the opportunity to hear the
00:20:23
Speaker
Wonderful, unamplified human voice, Madison Marie McIntosh, Mezzo Soprano. Madison, thank you so much for coming out to the podcast. I know you're so busy, but thank you for giving us a peep into your thinking, into your performance, and into the opera world. I really, really appreciate your time and your thoughts. Thank you very much, Ken. It has been a pleasure to speak with you. Thank you very much for having me on this great podcast.
00:20:52
Speaker
Thank you, and I hope that we get the chance to talk again. Absolutely, I hope so too.

Live Opera Performance

00:21:01
Speaker
This will be a live and unedited recording of Un Altravoltan Cor from Partenope by Handel. My character is the Princess Rosemira, a very gutsy woman who has disguised herself as a man to seek out the man Arzache who has jilted her. He says that he still loves her, but although Rosemira loves him, she's suspicious.
00:21:28
Speaker
And she tells him, yet another time you told me that you loved me, and then you deceived me.
00:21:57
Speaker
Alleluia nasi, lekka nasi, oleluia nasi, oleluia nasi, oleluia nasi, oleluia nasi, oleluia nasi, oleluia nasi, oleluia nasi, oleluia nasi, oleluia nasi.
00:22:41
Speaker
You are the only one who will be with you. You are the only one who will be with you. You are the only one who will be with you.
00:22:55
Speaker
I am the only one who will be with you. I am the only one who will be with you. I am the only one who will be with you.
00:23:22
Speaker
I am the one, the one, the one, the one. I am the one, the one, the one, the one. I am the one, the one, the one, the one. I am the one, the one, the one, the one. I am the one, the one, the one, the one.
00:24:00
Speaker
O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O, O,
00:24:23
Speaker
This is something rather than nothing.