Tamara Wilson is one of the best singers in the world. Yes we import Europeans to sing opera but some Americans have no equal.

We’re lucky to have heard that voice in Toronto, usually the most impressive sound in that show, whether she was Turandot or Desdemona (Otello) or Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus).

Back in January when she told Facebook that she had tested positive for covid, she agreed to answer some questions while convalescing.

Barczablog: The first question to ask turns up in the headline. When you’re working do you prefer “Tamara” or “Tammy” or “Ms Wilson”?

Tammy Wilson: In the professional sphere when people don’t know me, Tamara. If we work together or know each other privately, Tammy. Ms. Wilson is only if I’m getting called at the doctor’s office. 😉
Plus in Europe, Tammy isn’t really a thing. With my family I’m Tammy.

BB: Do you believe the pandemic is over / do people foolishly believe it’s over?

Tammy Wilson: Covid will never be over, it will now mutate. Just like influenza. It’s arrogant to think that another pandemic won’t happen.

BB: Did you wear masks before, believe in vaccination. I think singers are especially at risk.

Tammy Wilson: I feel like no one learned from what happened. I feel like, if you are sick, you should wear a mask not just because of being a singer but because you don’t know everyone’s underlying health issues.

My experience in France (in public) is zero % of adults cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze. The children are much better at it.

BB: How does a singer protect their voice?

Tammy Wilson: First and foremost rest. Real rest. No talking, no singing. Letting your body heal. As far as practical things when I get a cold: Mucinex, DayQuil, Flonase, Gelo Revoice tablets, and a ton of throat coat tea.

BB: Is paid sick time a solution for singers and those in the gig economy?

Tammy Wilson: I think that would be good for singers on a weekly fee. Most principals are paid per performance or in one lump sum at the end of the performances. If you are sick for a performance, you forfeit that fee.

BB Do you describe yourself as a nerd, and if so, what’s your focus, between music, theatre, sciences and other disciplines. 

Tammy Wilson: Oh, there is a full spectrum of nerd and my focus knows no bounds. I love Dungeons and Dragons, Star Wars, vintage movie musicals, watching history videos, archeology, economics, woodworking, video games, gardening, musical theater, painting, physics, the list goes on.

As far as reading, I’m currently in the Court of Thorns and Roses series and the V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic series, and N. K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth Trilogy. 

BB: What are you working on right now

Tammy Wilson: Too many. Brünhilde, Abigaille, Lady Macbeth. There are many more but that’s through the end of the year.

BB: Tammy you have a big voice. I want to quote two recent interviews.

ADAM KLEIN said:  “broadcasting opera favors the smaller voices, and worse, it disfavors the larger ones, because the close body mikes they use simply can’t handle the decibel level, upwards of 110 in many cases; and it equalizes small and large voices, removing the amazement we feel, when in the physical space, that a human unamplified could be making that much sound, and it’s still pretty.
In fact, the mikes often make us sound ugly: Callas is the premiere example.”

ALEX HAJEK said: “the whole idea of overtones of the human voice can never be captured on a recording properly. IYKYK”

BB: Adam also spoke of the travesty of the Björling-Nilsson Turandot as an example.  Recalling your own recent Turandot here in Toronto, I wonder: can your voice be captured properly in recording or in a high definition broadcast? 

Tammy Wilson: I would say it’s doable but you need a sound engineer who understands it. If you can record heavy metal singers shouting directly into a mic, you can record a room with opera singers. I think it deals a lot with how sensitive mics are now. Head mics are not it though. The worst seat to hear an opera singer is right up close. It’s not pretty.

It also has a lot to do with time. Recording is expensive and the classical world is trying to find the cheapest way to get content out. I’m mostly speaking of live performances. We don’t have pick-ups or sound checks really. We never get feedback for how we can help recordings. Also, the performers are usually mic’ed up the show or two before for the engineers to get levels. We normally don’t get to hear those before we do a final recording. The singers have zero control over how we sound and any notes to make it better. Plus, any recording of an opera is owned by the orchestra and company, singers don’t get a say. Our job first and foremost is to the audience in the theater. Whatever gets put into the mic is out of our hands.

When I recorded a half album in the studio it was also all about time. Popular recording artists have time in the studio to talk to their engineer and tweak things. They can do multiple takes and curating the album. We don’t really have that luxury. I recorded in a day. Only got to record about two takes per song. I don’t know how it works with opera singers recording solo albums with classical labels so I can’t speak to that.

Also, this whole big voice little voice thing is a construct. Yes, some people are louder than others. It’s who has optimized their resonance to cut through the orchestra and fill a house. A voice doesn’t need to be large. A person doesn’t need to be physically large. Their resonance needs to cut.

We keep people in boxes too. I started singing Mozart. 15 years ago. I in no way thought I was going to sing what I sing now. I haven’t changed how I sing now from how I sang back then. It’s the same technique. What did change is people allowing me to try different repertoire and different styles so I could learn how to negotiate them with my voice.

BB: Is there any music you’d say that corresponds to your spirituality?

Tammy Wilson: There is one and only one piece that makes me contemplate the eternal. Duruflé Requiem.

BB: Do you believe in astrology and if so, what’s your birth sign?

Tammy Wilson: Kinda yea. Just for fun though. I’m a scorpio.

BB: What was your first musical experience?

Tammy Wilson:
Watching: probably Disney or Fairie Tale Theater.
Live: Sweeney Todd. Scared the crap out of me. 6th grade.
Being in: Bye Bye Birdie as Mrs. MacAfee. 8th grade.

BB: What was your first theatre experience?

Tammy Wilson: High School. Midsummer Night’s Dream.

BB: Do you bother with award shows such as the Academy Awards, and if you have seen any of the nominated films, what’s your favorite?

Tammy Wilson: I used to love watching award shows but now that everyone has an opinion about every second of every show and it’s all over social media the next day, it’s taken the joy out of it.

I saw Barbie and Oppenheimer. Loved both. Past Lives, Poor Things, and Killers of the Flower Moon are on my list.

BB: I was just watching Killers of the Flower Moon today.

Tammy Wilson: It was weird this year because I was either in Europe when things came out or just missed it in theaters. I can’t wait to watch Past Lives because members of my favorite band wrote the score, Daniel Rossen and Christopher Bear. They are from the band Grizzly Bear.

BB: What are you watching as you convalesce?

Tammy Wilson: Dimension 20’s new season of Fantasy High on DropoutTV. A lot of Smosh videos on YouTube. Horror films. Just watched Talk to Me and Rise of the Evil Dead. I also watch videos of farming and caring for livestock. They calm me.

BB: The beach or the forest? (vacation preferance) Beach or forest/cottage or
 something else? Mountains?

Tammy Wilson: Oh I’m a forest person. I love the beach but I’m the color of Casper the Ghost. I’m not made for it. If there is a place with mountains, trees, lakes, and a valley, I’m there.

BB: Dogs or cats?

Tammy Wilson: I love both. One day I would love a Corgi or a Swedish Vallhund. I love a short dog.

BB: Stephen Sondheim or Andrew Lloyd Webber? And did you know they have the same birthday? (Same birthday as me as it turns out which is why I noticed.) Do you have a favorite musical, by them OR anyone else?

Tammy Wilson: I did not know they had the same bday. That’s cool. You can’t make me choose. They are the best for their own reasons. If I had to pick purely by my favorites of each of theirs Sondheim’s Into the Woods would win. I do love Starlight Express though.

BB: Taylor Swift or Beyoncé?

Tammy Wilson: More power to Taylor. I like about 5 of her songs. Nothing against her, just not my vibe. I love Beyoncé.

BB: Taylor Swift or Travis Kelce? (in other words, Taylor’s music or NFL football?)

Tammy Wilson: Neither, I do not care. I’m just happy they found love. Good for them. Everyone needs to leave them alone.

BB: Agreed!

Barbie or Oppenheimer?

Tammy Wilson: Again, two different vibes that shouldn’t be pitted against each other. Both did great things for storytelling.

BB: YES! I find awards problematic, comparing apples to oranges.

Was Greta Gerwig snubbed?

Tammy Wilson: Yes. Unequivocally.

BB: Favourite character on Succession?

Tammy Wilson: I haven’t watched it but whatever Matthew Macfadyen is in, I will like his character.

BB: Yes, we were watching the 2005 Pride & Prejudice, gobsmacked to see him in that. He showed me subtleties as Mr Darcy that are missing in other versions.

Tammy Wilso Have you seen the British show Spooks (MI-5 in the States)? Such a good show.

BB: No, I’m way behind in my tv watching. Still need to see the last season of Ted Lasso.

Favorite old tv show?

Tammy Wilson: Things I binge all the time, Parks and Recreation, New Girl, Bones, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Turn.

BB: Who is your favorite SNL personality?

Tammy Wilson:  Kenan Thompson. Grew up with him on Nickelodeon and now SNL.

BB: Giving me a reason to post a video of Kenan Thompson? yay!

BB: Verdi or Wagner?

Tammy Wilson: I love singing both. I hate learning Wagner, too long and too many words. Once it’s learned though, love it

BB: Tebaldi or Callas?

Tammy Wilson: I don’t have a favorite. I listen to everyone. When I’m learning something, I gather as much as I can to listen to. I don’t listen to singers for pleasure like I used to. Now it’s all analytics. When I listen to my rep, I do deep dive listening on how singers’ phrase, breathe, approach certain phrases. I try not to listen to one recording too much though because I want to make my own choices.

If I do listen for fun they aren’t in my repertoire. I love listening to Cecilia Bartoli and Philippe Jaroussky.

BB: Favorite opera?

Tammy Wilson:
Favorite to see: Carmen.
Hear: The Rake’s Progress or Midsummer Night’s Dream.
To Sing: Always changing.

BB: Favorite music that’s not opera?

Tammy Wilson: Indie music by singer/songwriters. Heavy Metal. The bands played the most on my lists: Grizzly Bear, Punch Brothers, Alter Bridge, The Pretty Reckless, Peggy Lee, Huey Lewis and the News

BB: What is your favorite sport?

Tammy Wilson: Baseball. I love the game and the ambiance. My first game was when I was 6. It was an Oakland A’s game. Then when we moved to Illinois it was Cubs games at Wrigley.

Now it’s the Astros in Houston. Favorite team? Savannah Bananas. J (look them up)

BB: I did. Holy moley…!
https://thesavannahbananas.com/

Do you have any heroes in the opera world? 

Joyce DiDonato, Renée Fleming, James Conlon, Patrick Summers.

BB: And you Tammy. You’re amazing.

And thanks for answering all my wacko questions!