Episode #3: 13 Sept, 2020. Debra interviews Daniel Belcher, Grammy-winning operatic baritone and champion of new operas. He’ll discuss his experience working directly with composers as they create opera roles and other works specifically with his voice in mind. (46 mins duration)

Recommended Listening: 

Premiered roles with composers and librettists mentioned by Daniel during our interview:

  • Abilene’s Father in “Edward Tulane” by Paola Prestini (composer), with Mark Campbell (librettist)
  • Alfred Stieglitz in “Today it Rains” by Laura Kaminsky (composer), with Mark Campbell and Kimberly Reed (librettists)
  • Inspector Kildare in “Elizabeth Cree” by Kevin Puts (composer), with Mark Campbell (librettist)
  • Addison III in “The House without a Christmas Tree” by Ricky Ian Gordon (composer), with Royce Vavrek (librettist)
  • Lord Bellingham in “The Scarlet Letter” by Lori Laitman (composer), with David Mason (librettist)
  • Brian Castner in “The Long Walk” by Jeremy Howard Beck (composer), with Stephanie Fleischmann (librettist)
  • John Brooke in “Little Women” by Mark Adamo (composer and librettist)
  • Prior Walter in “Angels in America” by Péter Eötvös (composer), with Mari Mezei (librettist)
  • Andy Warhol in “Jackie O.” by Michael Daugherty (composer), with Wayne Koestenbaum (librettist)

There is also mention of “The Invention of Morel” by Stewart Copeland (composer and co-librettist) with Jonathan Moore (co-librettist), the collegiate premiere on which Debra worked with Daniel’s wife Kathleen Smith Belcher (stage director).

Daniel Belcher’s website: DanielBelcher.com

Pamela Haynes and Daniel Belcher rehearsing “Your John Keats”