5 questions with Morris Robinson

Aida is just a few short weeks away — do you have your tickets yet??

Our one-night-only performance of Aida on November 10 will be presented as a staged concert, allowing us to focus on the intimacy that lies at the core of this wonderful opera, and — of course — its breathtaking music. Conducted by BLO Music Director David Angus, this cast of accomplished Verdians will thrill and move you.?

We are thrilled to welcome Morris Robinson back to the BLO stage, where he sang his first operatic role — in Aida! — in 1999. Robinson returns as Ramfis, lending his powerful bass to the character of the merciless Egyptian priest. A GRAMMY? Award-winning artist, Robinson is featured on the 2022 recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by conductor Gustavo Dudamel. His impressive career regularly brings him to the world’s premier stages, and he has appeared at the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Teatro alla Scala and Opera Australia, among others.

This season, Robinson begins with the National Symphony Orchestra and The Washington Chorus, reprising Carlos Simon’s Here I Stand, a piece for which he performed the world premiere earlier this year. He will then open the season at Houston Grand Opera, singing Ferrando in Verdi’s Il Trovatore. After our performance of Aida, Robinson will return to the Metropolitan Opera for the world premiere of its new production of Aida, directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer. Following this, he will debut the role of Banquo in Verdi’s Macbeth with the Atlanta Opera, perform the Mozart Requiem with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and make his role debut as Walter in Luisa Miller with the Washington Concert Opera.

This week, Robinson sat down with us to talk about his favorite roles, his vision for opera’s future, and why he loves Aida.

What was your first opera?

The first opera I ever attended was also the first opera I ever performed! That was Boston Lyric Opera's production of Verdi's Aida in 1999. I was performing the role of the King!

What is your favorite opera to sing?

Believe it or not, Aida is still my favorite. I guess there is some validity to the adage that your first love will always have a special place in your heart. I've done this opera so many times, and I love every aspect of it. It's almost as if I started at the top of the genre. My expectations and palate were introduced to an incredible masterpiece.?

When my son was 8 years old and in a show with me in San Francisco, I started taking him to my favorite prime rib restaurant. Well, he became a huge fan of that particular cut of meat, and to this day, prime rib — or ribeye in a pinch — are his cuts of choice. Aida is the prime rib of opera — once you’ve had the best, it’s hard for anything else to compare.

What is your vision for the future of opera?

My vision is that opera will still remain relevant and a wonderful alternative to the instantaneous world of social media, YouTube, and on-demand media. I have witnessed newcomers become enthralled with the drama and atmosphere of live music being performed by an orchestra, with live voices telling a thrilling story. There is something magical about that experience. In today's world, where we are overstimulated perpetually, I believe that there's still a need — and, perhaps, a longing — to unplug from the fast-paced cultural norm and allow oneself to be engaged and entertained by the high art of very sophisticated storytelling.?

What do you love most about being an opera singer?

I love being able to project the beautiful gift of music into the world. Art absolutely has a place in society. Those of us who are blessed with the ability to place it into the world are not only privileged, but blessed with a higher calling. I feel like I found what God placed me on this Earth to do, and I cherish every moment and opportunity I have to utilize this gift to bring joy into the world!

Why should audiences come to Aida?

Aida is everything one could imagine opera to be. There is war, triumph, and a love triangle all being played out simultaneously, alongside one of the most majestic and enthralling soundtracks ever composed. The music conveys the emotions of each dramatic moment in this beautiful masterpiece. Anyone who comes to this show will not only be entertained, they will be transported into the drama of this incredible journey of love! Come check it out. It's everything you want!

Don’t miss your opportunity to experience this magnificent musical event! Tickets and more information are available here!?

Thank you for reading CODA! Coda comes from the Latin word for “tail,” and in music, it indicates an additional passage at the end of a piece, a final flourish that complements what’s come before. CODA goes beyond the curtain call to explore this unique and astonishing art form. Whether you’re a first-time opera-goer or a seasoned audience member, CODA is for you. Biweekly, we’ll enhance your experience of opera with behind-the-scenes highlights, educational articles, listening lists, and much, much more!?

Tickets are on sale now for our star-studded 2024/25 season! Featuring Lawrence Brownlee and John Holiday in Mozart’s Mitridate, re di Ponto; Michelle Johnson and Morris Robinson in Verdi’s masterpiece Aida; Anthony Roth Costanzo in Vivaldi’s The Seasons; and Brandie Sutton and Jamie Barton in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s American classic, Carousel.

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