John Concepcion: All Opera is About Murder and Sex

Kites and Strings

In this episode, Kites and Strings talks with John Concepcion. He’s a tenor working full time in the chorus at the world-renowned Lyric Opera of Chicago. I am fairly confident that few people can claim that they know an opera singer, but don't fret, John is gracious in sharing his experiences as an opera singer; from touring and playing opera houses all over, settling down in the chorus at the Lyric Opera, and literally filling the shoes of Luciano Pavarotti. He educates us about voice categories, how operas are cast and how new operas come into being. He shares a bit about his playlist, he weighs in on Cher, operatic heavy metal music and his founding and producing a program called Opera Up Close at Governor's State University. More seriously he speaks on how important it is to ensure Black voices are represented in opera and he shares about another program that confronts the forces that have kept opera white for far too long.
Note: There is some adult language in this episode
John Concepcion:
Founder & Director, Opera Up Close at Governors State University
https://www.govst.edu/About/Center_for_Performing_Arts/About_the_Center/Opera_Up_Closer/
Beyond Conversation, the Intreraction of Opera and Race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SHBLM7BDtQ
Chorus Member, Lyric Opera of Chicago
https://www.lyricopera.org/
Board Member, Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago
https://www.caichicago.org/