OPERA

The life of an opera singer is a nomadic one.

“I have a manager in New York and he arranges my year according to availability and interest in companies,” said Jeff Gwaltney, 33, an opera singer who lives in Rock Hill. “I have to take trips often to make auditions … most of the time in New York because that’s the center of influence.”

The number of jobs an opera singer needs is based on the size of the companies and what their budget is, he said.

Last year, he performed the role of Pinkerton in “Madama Butterfly” at the Royal Albert Hall in London, another gig with Opera Holland Park in London, traveled to Ireland to perform in the Wexford Festival, and performed in some concerts as well.

“The mentor and the vocal teacher is really important to opera singers because it’s something you can’t learn from a book,” said Gwaltney who just performed with Opera Carolina as Canio in “I Pagliacci” in April. “…It’s like a jedi — you seek out people who have the knowledge.”

(via)