Feature Fridays

Ben Wager, the French General, (bass)

Where are you based when not performing? 

Philadelphia, PA

What advice do you offer aspiring artists?

Soak up all criticism and advice you can.  When critiqued, always respond with “Yes, and…” rather than a “yes, BUT!”

Who are your biggest inspirations?

War vets.  It keeps things in perspective.

Where do you feel you delivered your strongest performance?

At the Academy of Vocal Arts as Enrico in Anna Bolena.

What tends to be the most challenging element of performing?

Keeping that little chaos-loving demon living in your brain on a leash!  It may sound strange but every performer I know has some version of that voice in his/her head who just likes to cause trouble when you’re trying your hardest to focus and take things seriously.

What do you think makes Minnesota Opera unique from other companies?

Positive attitude and an uncanny sense purpose and cohesion throughout the entire company.

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia.  It’s just musically very tricky: unusual harmonic shifts and rhythms.

How has music changed your life?

It has brought into contact with so many different types of people in countless places that I otherwise may not have.  It’s made me say to myself on numerous occasions:  I can’t believe I get to do this for a living.

If you had to choose a different field of work, what would you choose?

I was a Criminal Justice major in college, I planned to go into the U.S. Marshal’s service.  But if I had to choose one, I’d be a studio bassist.

Are there any favorite backstage stories/moments you would like to share from this or previous performances that our audience might enjoy?

I’m probably one of the last people to sing with Salvatore Licitra who was a good enough colleague to escort me down off a horrendously steep rake during a performance of Andrea Chenier because the costume department accidentally switched my boots so the ones I had on didn’t grip the copper plated surface AT ALL.

Andrzej Goulding (video/projection designer)

Where are you based when not in traveling for work?

I am based in London, England.

Are you really as scandalous as they say you are?

It’s just a rumour, I’m really quite tame.

What advice do you offer aspiring artists?

Work hard, as talent will always win out over just being able to talk the talk.

Who are your biggest inspirations?

I worked (and still do) in set design when I left university and the designer I have worked with all those years has been the biggest influence on my theatre work. From a film point of view it would have to be Tim Burton and Ridley Scott as they both started as artists before moving into film which I can relate to.

With what show would you most like to be involved and why?

As a child I always wanted to make Lord of the Rings as a movie because of the love for creating worlds from scratch. But then along came Peter Jackson and the rest is now history. I did get a slight recompense however, as I ended up working on the musical version.

How do you eat your eggs?

I tend to like mine fried with a little knob of butter thrown in at the end to baste the topside.

What tends to be the most challenging element of performing/producing?

The most challenging element is to find the time to fit all the ideas in. Video is very time consuming if done well, so part of it is knowing the limits of the show as with video you can within reason create anything you want.

If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring three things, what would they be?

My wife and our two cats.

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

Probably this one simply because of it’s scale.

Do you have Twitter, a Facebook page or website fans can follow?

I have a website; www.agoulding.com.

Michael Nyby, William Dale (baritone)

Where are you based when not performing?

My wife and I just moved last month to Toronto from Vancouver.

What advice do you offer aspiring artists?

The most helpful thing I ever learned was how to accept disappointment from defeat or rejection.

Who are your biggest inspirations?

Mozart, Verdi, and Indiana Jones

Where do you feel you delivered your strongest performance?

In the shower every morning, but unfortunately I have not been able to attain to the same level of genius on the stage.

What tends to be the most challenging element of performing?

For me it’s usually the first entrance in a performance, but once I get past the initial nerves, it’s pretty smooth sailing.

What is your favorite Twin Cities destination?

I have a running route through Boom Island Park, around Nicollet Island and over the Stone Arch Bridge. It’s gorgeous in the autumn.

If you had to choose a different field of work, what would you choose?

I would probably be working as a mechanic in a neighbourhood mountain bike store in Vancouver.

Are you really as scandalous as they say you are?

Yes. Absolutely. No question about it.

Are there any favorite backstage stories/moments you would like to share from this or previous performances that our audience might enjoy?

 Yes, but decency prevents me from sharing in a public forum!

Have you ever had hot dish, and if so what is your favorite variety?

Yes, because I have attended Minnesota Opera’s famous Church Basement Luncheon. I’m not sure what was in it, but I remember it had French’s fried onions as the top layer.*

(*editorial note, Green Bean Casserole)