La Traviata’s Artists Up Close
By Glenn Hare
Here’s your chance to discover how these singers got their start, learn about the operas they aspire to perform, find out what they’re binge-watching, and more.
To read their full interview, click on the photograph.
VUVU MPOFU, Violetta
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SINGING? HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
I’ve been singing since I was maybe five. I used to sing in church. My granny made me sing solos in church. I loved singing in church and just loved singing in general. I was in choirs throughout school—primary school and high school. I discovered opera in high school at the Eisteddfod Competition, where I heard singers performing. A friend let me borrow two DVDs—The Magic Flute and La traviata. The 1994 La traviata Royal Opera production with Angela Gheorghiu and Leo Nucci took my breath away. Then I went to the University of Cape Town to study.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST OPERA YOU SAW?
The first performance I saw in person was L’elisir d’amore in 2009 at the University of Cape Town. It’s funny because I was in the production, singing in chorus. When I wasn’t singing, I watched the principals.
WHO ARE YOUR MUSICAL MENTORS?
That would be Angela Gheorghiu because she was in the La traviata DVD that I watched. And Leontyne Price is another mentor. Obviously, she’s a Black soprano who had a beautiful career and whose story is amazing. Reneta Scotto’s singing just blows me away. Professor Kamal Khan at the University of Cape Town is the person who believed in me and supported me.
ARE THERE ANY TITLES THAT YOU THINK HAVE IMPACTED YOUR CAREER OR SINGING?
La traviata definitely. It was the first opera that made me fall in love with opera. I had a chance to sing the opera while I was still in the university and at the Belvedere Competition, which I came in second. The next piece of music would be the role of Gilda in Rigoletto. I performed it at Glyndebourne in the UK. It was also one of the pieces that made a significant mark on my career. The last piece of music is very personal, sentimental. The hymn “Bulelani KuYehova” (“Give Thanks to the Lord”) is one that my mom used to love. She’s passed away now. Every time I think of her and our relationship, I remember this hymn. It makes me feel closer to her.
DO YOU TRAVEL WITH ANYTHING OR HAVE ANY ROUTINES TO MAKE LIFE ON THE ROAD MORE COMFORTABLE?
I take my daughter’s hair bow—it’s white and pink. I pin it to my clothes I also wear a wrist band that belonged to my mother. I also take my grandma’s scarf, which my mother also wore. I always carry these three things with me. They remind me of home and my baby and my granny and my mum. I feel like I’m carrying them with me.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU PERFORMED LA TRAVIATA?
This will be my third time. The first time was at the University of Cape Town while I was in school. I don’t know if that counts. The second time was in Switzerland at St. Gallen.
WHAT ARE YOU BINGE-WATCHING?
I go from one show to the next, very fast. I get bored watching the same things. There is this one I’m currently watching. It’s on Netflix. It’s called “YOU.” It’s a psychological thriller.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE OUR AUDIENCE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
Although I make a living in front of large audiences, I’m actually very shy. I’m reserved and I stay at home most of the time.
WHAT ROLES ARE ON YOUR BUCKET LIST, THE ONES THAT YOU ASPIRE TO PERFORM?
I have a long list. I would love to sing Adina by Rossini and Manon by Massenet. Luckily, I’m going to perform Adina next season. And La sonnambula is another opera I’d like to sing.
Photo © Jacobus Snyman
MANE GALOYAN, Violetta
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SINGING? AND HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START?
I started going to music school when I was nine. I started as a pianist, and I was taking voice lessons just for fun. Over time, very smoothly, singing took over.
IS YOUR FAMILY MUSICAL?
My family's very musical. My parents are not musicians, but they also went to music school just for general education. My aunts are both professional pianists and they’ve helped me since I was very young. And my grandpa was a trumpet player. He played in a jazz orchestra, played the piano, and he loved to improvise. He was the person who introduced all the grandchildren to classical and jazz music.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR ARTISTIC MENTORS?
In my younger years my aunts were very good mentors, especially my younger aunt who was my accompanist. After not playing actively for twenty-five years, she started practicing so that she could accompany me. My older aunt was always very supportive. She would conduct masterclasses for me and a few others. I'm very lucky, because I’ve always had a support system. And then, yes, I went to the conservatory. I had the best teacher in Armenia. Then I came to the States to work with Diane Zola and to attend the summer program at Houston Grand Opera and study with Stephen King.
DID YOU KNOW THAT DUKE KIM IS ALSO A STUDENT OF STEPHEN KING?
Yeah. I’ve known Duke since 2016, I think. I was in the young artist studio at Houston Opera and he was at Rice at the same time. There was a group of us that hung out together. Then Duke and I went to the Aspen Festival together. We’re looking forward to seeing each other again.
ARE THERE ANY TITLES THAT YOU THINK HAVE IMPACTED YOUR CAREER OR SINGING?
Yes, this season, in the fall, I sang the part of Avis in The Wreckers at Houston Grand Opera. It was an opera I wasn't looking forward to. It’s in English and it's always very difficult to sing in English, especially for non-native speakers. I had to have special coaching. Because I didn’t want to do it, I started learning the piece late. But when rehearsals started, I had the most fun ever. I loved the cast, I loved the music, I loved the role, which was a villain. It was the first villain I've ever sung. I like being a villain! I loved it. This role gave me more courage, I think.
LIFE ON THE ROAD CAN BE TOUGH. WHAT DO YOU TRAVEL WITH TO MAKE IT MORE COMFORTABLE?
I’m a coffee snob. So, I take my Clever Dripper to make coffee. The one I travel with is small and made of plastic, so it’s easy to take. I take my travel yoga mat to work out, because some places it’s hard to find a gym. Sometimes my husband and I travel with our own kitchen knives. It can be so annoying not to be able to cut your food.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU PERFORMED LA TRAVIATA?
I think about forty performances. I count because this is the role that I sing the most. I started singing it in Houston Grand Opera when I was a young artist. I’ll never forget that performance because it happened right after Hurricane Harvey. The theater was underwater. The basement and the first few floors were underwater. We performed in the convention center. It was extreme, I have to say.
WHAT ARE YOU BINGE-WATCHING?
Oh my God, I love K Drama—Korean TV shows. Now I'm watching “Lawless Lawyer” on Netflix. And I called Duke for suggestions.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE AUDIENCE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
My husband is a big golfer, and I started learning. I really enjoy it. It's like singing, you must focus.
WHAT ROLE IS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST, THE ONE THAT YOU ASPIRE TO PERFORM?
Two of the roles that I really would like to perform are Anna Bolena and Electra in Idomeneo. I'm just dying to sing that one. The crazy Electra, she's not that mean, she's just misunderstood.
Photo © Lynn Lane
DOMINICK CHENES, Alfredo
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SINGING? AND HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START?
I was eighteen, in high school participating in a Mr. High School Pageant. I sang pop song by Brian McKnight. The choir director was one of the judges. He said I was good and wanted to know why I was not in the choir. He asked me to sing on choir. So my senior year, I was on the choir and the director taught me a few Italian pieces. The choir director was friends with a voice professor at the University of Nevada. And he had me sing for the professor, but he didn’t tell me it was an audition. But it was. I thought I was singing for his friend. Then afterwards the professor offered me a music scholarship. My choir director said the reason he didn’t tell me it was an audition was because didn’t want me to be nervous.
WHO ARE YOUR ARTISTIC MENTORS?
My first two are Maria Callas and Jessye Norman. I’ve always been inspired by their recordings. I love their diction and intonation. You can understand every line they sing. Angela Brown is another mentor. The first opera I saw was Aida with Angela Brown singing. I was in. the very last row of the very top balcony. It was incredible. These artists are inspire me and I have kept their recording with me for most of my career.
WHAT THREE PIECES OF MUSIC WOULD YOU ATTRIBUTE TO YOUR LOVE OF MUSIC AND YOUR CAREER?
It’s so hard to select three pieces. So, I’ll tell you some of the pieces that are on my pre-show playlist. This is what I listen to before every show: the “Ave Maria” from Otello, the “Intermezzo” from Manon Lescaut, and “Vissi d’arte vissi d’amore from Tosca, just to name a few. Some of the other pieces are Leontyne Price singing “O patria mia” from Aida and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony #4 in F minor.
LIFE ON THE ROAD CAN BE TOUGH. WHAT DO YOU TRAVEL WITH TO MAKE IT MORE COMFORTABLE?
I bring a portable speaker so I can play the playlist in my dressing room before I perform. And I bring photos of my partner and children who are six and nine. I also bring little trinkets that I’ve picked up over the years.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU PERFORMED LA TRAVIATA BEFORE?
Four previous times. Alfredo is a youthful role with youthful energy. His emotions are on full display whether its love or anger.
WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGE-WATCHING (STREAMING SHOWS)?
I’m always watching “The Golden Girls”. I have all the seasons on my iPad. “The Golden Girls” go everywhere with me. I watch it all the time. I also watch “Schitt’s Creek.”
WHAT ROLES ARE ON YOUR OPERA BUCKET LIST (WHAT ROLES ARE YOU EAGER TO PERFORM)?
I would love to perform Andrea Chenier from Andrea Chenier, Manrico in Il trovatore, Radames in Aida, and Riccardo or Gustavo from Un ballo in maschera. I’d like to sing Otello from Otello too. But I love Desdemona’s music more.
Photo © Dominick Chenes
DUKE KIM, Alfredo
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SINGING? AND HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START?
I started in between my freshman and sophomore years of high school. I wanted to be a Korean pop singer. My teacher was an opera singer and he suggested that I train in opera first so that I can learn good technique. And in sophomore year, I joined choir and the accompanist and choral director both encouraged me to pursue classical music.
SO, DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE K-POP GROUP OR SINGER THAT INSPIRED YOUR K-POP DREAMS?
I liked a singer named Park Hyo-shin. One of my favorites songs he sang was “Snow Flower” that was featured on a television show. I really liked his voice.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR ARTISTIC MENTORS?
I've had many. My teachers, Patrick Goeser at Chapman University and Stephen King at Rice University, were wonderful teachers and mentors. Gayletha Nichols is another. She was instrumental in bringing me to Santa Fe Opera. They all taught me how to be a healthy singer. They taught me how to recognize what doesn’t work vocally as well as ways to be a curious singer. I remember Gayletha stressing the importance of CQ—Curiosity Quotient. She believes it’s important for singers to question and explore. That was one a big lesson to learn. They also taught me to be flexible and learn every day.
IS YOUR FAMILY ARTISTICALLY INCLINED?
My mother plays piano and she loves music. Both my sister and I played piano and violin as children. Music was always part of our family.
LIFE ON THE ROAD CAN BE TOUGH. WHAT DO YOU TRAVEL WITH TO MAKE IT MORE COMFORTABLE?
I just started traveling more and I don’t really bring anything particular with me. But going to the gym helps keep me grounded. If I can find a gym nearby that’s great. But I’ll work out in the hotel too. I just need to get moving in some way.
HAVE YOU PERFORMED THIS ROLE OF ALFREDO BEFORE?
I haven't. This is my role debut. I covered it in the summer of 2016 in Aspen.
ARE YOU NERVOUS?
I'm not nervous, but I am thinking how I will sound with the orchestra in the opera house. So, I'm curious.
WHAT ARE YOU BINGE-WATCHING RIGHT NOW?
Oh, I just watched “Physical Hundred.” It's on Netflix and is about these super fit people competing to win games.
WHAT ROLES ARE ON YOUR OPERA BUCKET LIST?
My dream role has always been Rodolfo in La bohème. Ever since high school, I’ve loved this opera. I listened to Pavarotti sing “Che gelida manina” over and over and dreamt of doing it.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WOULD SURPRISE AUDIENCE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I like playing sports. So, if there are pickup games around, I want to play. Basketball or soccer or baseball, it doesn’t matter. Honestly, not even team sports, any sports, I love.
Photo © Jiyang Chen
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