An Interview with Lady Macbeth, aka Brenda Harris

Brenda Harris, Soprano

1. How did you first start singing?
I was singing when I was a small child. I used to give “recitals” with an uncle who played the accordion (no less) when I was 3 years old. Eventually, while in junior high school, I started singing with choral groups and decided to declare a music education major in college. That lasted for two years until I took my first teaching methods course! I ended up with a double major (music performance and music ed) because my Dad insisted I have “something to fall back on”!

2. Did you love opera immediately or was it a gradual love? When did you first fall in love with opera?
I didn’t actually “get” opera at first. My original orientation was concert and recital repertoire. But, while I was still in college, I got a summer job singing in the chorus of Opera Theatre of St. Louis (where I met my husband to be) and that did it! After the very first day of rehearsal, I came home and told my Dad that THIS was what I wanted to do with my life!

3. What are your other non-musical hobbies?
I can’t begin to tell you how busy I can be “non musically”! I adore cooking, reading, knitting, gardening, do-it-yourself home projects. I’m addicted to the HG-TV network! LOL

4. What was your first “big break”?
Well, there were several “pivotal” moments for me. When we first moved to New York, I was cast as Donna Anna in the Bronx Opera’s production of Don Giovanni and Peter G. Davis gave me a glowing review in New York magazine. That was a leg up for me with regard to securing management.

A little later, I won the Oratorio of Society of New York competition and was cast as Euridice in Gluck’s Orfeo with Dame Janet Baker as Orfeo. She was doing concert performances of the opera around the globe as part of her career farewell and the experience of singing with her and observing her exemplary professional behavior had a permanent, positive effect on me. It was a wonderful and life changing experience.

5. What is your favorite role to perform?
The answer to this question is always the same: THIS one! I’m a lucky gal. I love my repertoire and every role I sing so my favorite role is always whatever role I’m doing at the time.

6. What role would you most love to perform that isn’t in your voice type?
The Strauss boys: Octavian and Composer…you know, those ARE noted as “soprano” in the score. Any ideas here?….

7. How do you prepare for a character like Lady Macbeth?
With regard to preparation, I always start with whatever source material there is. Often, it’s thin at best. In this case, it’s Shakespeare. Brilliant. So, I start with reading the play. I listen to recordings, too. I know there are some singers who don’t. I completely disagree here. I think it’s absolutely necessary to listen to recordings for so many reasons; interpretation, style and the way style changes with time, conducting (differences in their tempo choices, etc.) to name only a few. And I do a lot of “visual” prep. I’d be an absolute basket case if I ever lost my score. I have zillions of markings…text, tempo, expression, vocal choices. In fact, I find very little in life more frightening than a clean, new score! LOL

8. So many fabulous sopranos such as Maria Callas have brought this character to life; do you look to any of them for inspiration?
No question that I find these great singers of the past inspirational. I’ve always felt that I’m a “re-creative” artist. I love to bounce off, or against, other’s choices. So, studying these great singers…Callas, Rysanek, etc. is essential to me.

9. What makes Macbeth relevant to audiences today?
You know, a few years ago while I was singing Lady MacBeth, an article came out in the science section of the NY Times all about a research project that had been done about something the researchers called the “Macbeth effect”. In the study, it was found that people who washed their hands after contemplating an unethical act were less troubled by their thoughts than those who didn’t. Can you imagine? I mean, how topical is Shakespeare? Wow! Hundreds of years later, we find that that Will guy really knew what he was talking about! I just LOVED that and I keep the article with me in my score now to show my cast mates. I adore Shakespeare and have since my first college course and I think the archetypal yarns he spins are just as relevant today as they were the day they were written.

10. What is your favorite part from the opera Macbeth?
The mad scene. Definitely, the mad scene. And that’s not just because it’s all about me…OK, maybe it is..a little…

Editor’s note: See Brenda Harris live in Verdi’s Macbeth as Lady Macbeth October 17 – 25 at Capitol Theatre. Click here for more info!

Want to learn more? Macbeth is part of our Shakespeare in Music Festival. Click here for more info.