A Few Questions for Major-General Stanley

Baritone Thomas Glass will make his Seattle Opera debut in The Pirates of Penzance this fall singing the role of Major-General Stanley.

Baritone Thomas Glass will sing the role of the Major-General in this fall’s production of The Pirates of Penzance. We recently caught up with Thomas in his hometown of Edina, MN, a suburb of Minneapolis, to discuss his childhood, his performance bucket list, and what he’s currently binge-watching.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street was released in 2007, starring Johnny Depp. The Film was, in part, an inspiration for Glass to pursue a vocal career.
Photo © DreamWorks/Paramount

Seattle Opera: Is there a person or a piece of music that inspired you to sing?

Thomas Glass: I started piano lessons when I was five. My three siblings all took music lessons. My parents thought it was also good to play sports. I was in the chorus in high school and did musical theater. But the year the school put on Les Misérables, I played football instead. I saw the show three or four times. Shortly after that the movie Sweeney Todd came out. That got me thinking that I could study voice and have a career as a singer. My inspirations were family and musical theater. Then I auditioned for the Minnesota Opera Chorus. My second show as a member of the chorus was Kevin Puts’ Silent Night. That show inspired me to focus on opera.

Seattle Opera: What position did you play in high school?

Thomas Glass: I was an offensive lineman.

Seattle Opera: You recently played Starbuck in The Metropolitan Opera’s production of Moby Dick. Now you are singing the role of Major-General Stanley. Are you building a career by performing in shows with nautical narratives?

Thomas Glass: One day I'd love to get to be in Billy Budd. But it’s funny that this is the way things have worked out for me recently. This year, all four of my roles have military tones of some capacity. Starbuck wasn't in the military, but a whaling vessel is analogous to the military. Then I covered Antony in Antony and Cleopatra at the Met. Now I’m singing Major-General Stanley. At the end of this year, I’ll be a soldier in Silent Night. It’s a weird coincidence for sure.

Seattle Opera: What are the three roles on your bucket list to perform?

Thomas Glass: Oh, that's a great question. It's funny you asked because The Dutchman is on the list. Then there is Scarpia and Rigoletto. I'm sure there's a dozen more that I would sing in a heartbeat.

Seattle Opera: Do you have a guilty pleasure or hobby?

Thomas Glass: I read. I’m in the middle of three books right now. I’ve been on a huge Stephen King kick lately. I believe that opera needs more horror and thrillers. But having grown up playing football, I really enjoy playing dynasty league fantasy football with a group of good friends. It’s how we keep in touch, you know. Dynasty league allows managers to keep their roster of players season after season.

Tan France (right) made his scripted television debut in the Hulu comedy series Deli Boys. In the show, France plays a gang leader named Zubar.
Photo © Disney/James Washington

Seattle Opera: What are you binge-watching?

Thomas Glass: I just started a series on Hulu called Deli Boys. It’s a comedy series that follows two Pakistani brothers after their father is murdered. The brothers find out that their father was a massive cocaine distributor. These bumbling guys are suddenly tangled up in the criminal underworld. It stars Tan France from Queer Eye, who plays a hitman. It’s funny seeing him in a role like this. I'm like, ‘Good for you, man. You can act.’

Seattle Opera: What is one item that you must take on the road with you?

Thomas Glass: Do you mean something other than music? It’s my Theragun massager. I don't know how I did this job without it. Gym workouts and then, of course, being on my feet all day rehearsing, the massager is the number one thing that I can’t travel without. It restores my legs and butt at the end of the day. And if I can—if I have room for it—I have nice pillows with memory foam that I like to have with me. I've been to too many places with crappy pillows. If I bring my own pillow, it's gotten to the point where I'll buy a pillow after I get there and then donate it when I leave. 

The Pirates of Penzance is on stage October 18–November 1, 2025 at McCaw Hall. Learn more and buy tickets at seattleopera.org/pirates.