Lyric Opera 2019-2020 Issue 3 Luisa Miller

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 15 The 2019/20 seasn’s first-year members of the Ryan Opera Center are (left to right) soprano Mathilda Edge, mezzo-soprano Kathleen Felty, and bass Anthony Reed. Madeline Slettedahl at Rising Stars in Concert Todd Rosenberg Mario Rojas in Il trovatore Todd Rosenberg Lauren Decker in I puritani Todd Rosenberg In their final season with the Ryan Opera Center, third-year members Madeline Slettedahl (pianist) and Mario Rojas (tenor), and fourth-year member Lauren Decker (contralto) reveal their ambitions for the future. MADELINE SLETTEDAHL | I want to use the skills I’ve gained here: how each voice possesses different qualities; how phrasing through breath can impact all music-making regardless of instrument (all music is vocal music); how to change your sound on the piano to respond to the diversity of color and timbre in each person’s voice; how to play as both a soloist and as a part of a collective whole; how to rejoice in the singular beauty of purely playing the piano. I aim to achieve a music-staff position at an opera house and be involved in the rehearsal process, while also pursuing outside projects as a performer. MARIO ROJAS | I sang L’elisir d’amore in Mexico, and I want to continue singing that, also La fille du régiment , Lucia di Lammermoor , staying with bel canto as long as possible. Starting as a freelancer, I want to sing everywhere and discover the world in ways that enrich my singing and my artistic creativity. I want to work with great conductors to learn more about the art form. I learned here to always, always be prepared. Who knows when you’re going to have to go on? I had six hours’ notice when I went on as Alfredo in La traviata . You never know what’s going to happen, who’s going to want to hear you. LAUREN DECKER | I’d love to sing all the Verdi mezzos, and also Erda, after covering it here. My lifelong dream is to sing Julia Child in Lee Hoiby’s opera Bon Appétit – I’m just as tall as she was, I grew up watchin her, and I love the piece. I’d like to be consistently working, and doing work that is socially relevant, focused on the real-life situations that we’re dealing with as a society. My most impactful experiences here have been where the art has directly reflected what we’re living right now. Moving forward, I want to do more pieces like Dead Man Walking that have more of a social impact. That’s my greatest ambition.