{"id":13714,"date":"2011-01-23T18:35:26","date_gmt":"2011-01-23T16:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gbopera.it\/?p=13714"},"modified":"2015-08-22T20:19:32","modified_gmt":"2015-08-22T18:19:32","slug":"no-make-up-brandon-jovanovich","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.studioroldo.it\/gbopera\/no-make-up-brandon-jovanovich\/","title":{"rendered":"“No make-up!”… Brandon Jovanovich"},"content":{"rendered":"

Winner of the 2007 Richard Tucker Award, Brandon Jovanovich<\/strong> is recognized by the world\u2019s leading opera companies for his passionate stage portrayals of leading roles in French, Italian, German, and Slavic opera.
\nAn accomplished musician and actor, Mr. Jovanovich has had successes in repertoire both standard and contemporary, including, among the others, Pollione in Norma, Boconnion in Richard Rodney Bennett\u2019s The Mines of Sulphur, Macduff in Macbeth, Alfredo in La Traviata,\u00a0\u00a0 Baron Lummar in Strauss\u2019s Intermezzo, Luigi in Il Tabarro,\u00a0\u00a0 the American premiere of Lowell Lieberman\u2019s The Picture of Dorian Gray as Lord Geoffrey, the title role in the world premiere of Craig Bohmler\u2019s The Tale of the Nutcracker and Phillippe l\u2019Entendu in Romberg\u2019s The New Moon. Recently, he starred opposite to Elina Garanca in Bizet\u2019s Carmen at the Met in New York and now he is about to debut in the world premi\u00e8re of Marco Tutino\u2019s Senso in Palermo with Nicola Beller Carbone<\/strong>. For further information, his website <\/a>
\nWhich is the main feature of your personality?<\/strong>
\nI\u2019d say there are two aspects to my personality: On a professional level, or people with whom I am acquainted, I am very genial, laid-back, easy-going and nice.\u00a0 Once you get to know me, or around my family and friends, I am more of a goofball on one hand and driven on the other.
\nYour worst flaw? <\/strong>
\nI am very critical of myself.\u00a0 I think it has served to propel me and hinder me in all aspects of life.
\nWhich is your star sign? <\/strong>
\nI am a Libra.
\nAre you superstitious? <\/strong>
\nNot in the slightest.
\nAre you a spiritual person? <\/strong>
\nSpiritual? Yes.\u00a0 I was raised Catholic, went to a Catholic high school, and one year at a Catholic college.\u00a0 I don\u2019t go to church regularly, mainly because I am on the road a lot.
\nHave you ever envied someone? <\/strong>
\nI think it is impossible not to envy people.\u00a0 I envy certain people for different reasons both professionally and personally.\u00a0 I am pretty good at tempering that envy with acceptance, understanding and gratitude for what I have.
\nWhat did you dream to become as an adult when you were a child? <\/strong>
\nI thought I would be a professional football player, or a lawyer.
\nDid your family influence your choices?<\/strong>
\nNot really.\u00a0 My family has always been pretty hands off when it came to choices that I have made, but very supportive after the fact.\u00a0 A great combination.
\nWhich is your most cherished memory? <\/strong>
\nI can\u2019t pinpoint one certain memory.\u00a0 I have a collage that floats through my mind when I think of this question.\u00a0 My mom smiling, my childhood home, graduating from college (first and only one in my family to do so), marrying my wife, my kids faces and laughter\u2026a myriad of images and feeling really.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The moment you felt the proudest? <\/strong>
\nMore than any definitive moment, I would say that it is a collective group of accomplishments.\u00a0 My family is very important to me.\u00a0 The birth of my three children & their accomplishments; getting praise from colleagues; providing for my family.\u00a0 My answers are more obtuse than I would have thought.\u00a0 There are too many influences and changing variables that keep redefining what, where, why and when things are important.
\nThe greatest disappointment? <\/strong>
\nThe greatest disappointment that I have is the amount of time I spend away from my home.
\nWhat\u2019s missing in your life today? <\/strong>
\nMy wife and kids.\u00a0 (Realize that all of these answers are being tempered by my being away from home for the past three months with one more to go.)
\nWhat are you afraid of the most? <\/strong>
\nI am afraid of failure on all levels.\u00a0 Whether it be singing a high Bb, providing for my family, giving an opera company the best performance that I can give, to forgetting words.\u00a0 I am afraid to look back on my life and not be able to see a positive, lasting impact that I have made on those around me.
\nDo you have a recurrent dream?<\/strong>
\nI have two stress dreams.\u00a0 One is being pushed onstage to sing Rodolfo in La Boheme (a role I have never sung) and trying in vain to tell those pushing me that I don\u2019t know the role!\u00a0 The other is a having a restaurant filled with tables waiting for me to serve them, and me failing miserably!
\nHow important is money to you? <\/strong>
\nThe short answer: a lot.\u00a0 The long answer: I didn\u2019t have a lot growing up.\u00a0 My mom struggled to raise three kids on her own.\u00a0 I used student loans for college and have always held a number of jobs from the time I was 15.\u00a0 Living in NYC, paying off student loans, paying for coachings, scores, voice lessons and food while trying to audition and hold down three catering jobs was tough.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t jump right into a brilliant, fast-track career.\u00a0 I had to cultivate it slowly over a number of years, which takes time, money and patience.\u00a0 Now that I am the sole bread winner in the family (so my wife and kids are able to visit me more often while on the road), money and the security that it affords means a lot to me.
\nWhich is the item you like spending money on the most? <\/strong>
\nWe recently bought a farm.\u00a0 So, that is what I am enjoying spending money on at the moment.\u00a0 Before that I would have said \u201cgadgets.\u201d\u00a0 Cameras, computers, i-pods, recording devices, etc.
\nDo you collect anything? <\/strong>
\nCameras, computers, i-pods\u2026well, I\u2019m sort of joking.\u00a0 If I think about it, I would say that I collect tools.\u00a0 I really like tools.\u00a0 I am going through them at home and have a nice assortment for all sorts of things.\u00a0 (I\u2019m pretty handy around the house!)
\nWhich are your favorite readings? <\/strong>
\nI enjoy historical biographies: His Excellency (George Washington); American Lion (Andrew Jackson); Washington: A Life (George Washington), etc.\u00a0 I also enjoy fantasy adventure novels: The Wheel of Time series, Lord of the Rings, I\u2019ve read everything by an author named Brandon Sanderson.\u00a0 I find these two genres provide me ample mental exercise while on the road.
\nWhich is your favorite perfume? <\/strong>
\nI don\u2019t use perfume much.\u00a0 So I\u2019m going to stick with \u201cEau de Brandon.\u201d
\nFavorite city?<\/strong>
\nI never thought I would say this, but I am partial to New York City. Seattle is up there too.
\nFavorite color?\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nRed.\u00a0 Other than that, I like earth tones in general.
\nFavorite flower? <\/strong>
\nOrchid.
\nYour favourite singer(s)? <\/strong>
\nI love Franco Corelli\u2019s virile sound.\u00a0 Carlo Bergonzi is another favorite.\u00a0 Frank Sinatra too.
\nWhich is the first record you ever bought? <\/strong>
\nWOW!\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t tell you.\u00a0 I have bad associations with music from the 70\u2019s and 80\u2019s.\u00a0 The first song that I have a vivid memory of is \u201cJack and Diane\u201d by John Cougar Mellencamp.\u00a0 I think one of the first CD\u2019s that I bought was a Jefferson Starship album, but I don\u2019t recall which one.\u00a0 I do know it was tossed out of the window of a moving car.
\nThe film you love the most? <\/strong>
\nThat is tough.\u00a0 I don\u2019t have a favorite.\u00a0 I like Westerns in general; the Lord of the Rings series; Planes, Trains and Automobiles; Midnight Run; The Big Lebowski.
\nYour favorite season and why?\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nI\u2019ve always liked the autumn.\u00a0 The changing colors,\u00a0 the cooler days, the crisp air.\u00a0 When I think of the fall I feel content.
\nHow is your relationship with technology and which is the electronic gadget you can\u2019t do without? <\/strong>
\nI am a big gadget guy as I mentioned earlier.\u00a0 I think it has changed the way this business works for good and bad.\u00a0 I remember having to carry around headshots and a resume not that long ago.\u00a0 Now it is all done online with\u00a0 High Resolution photos that can be downloaded, and resumes that can be taken from your web-page.\u00a0 I pay bills online, conduct almost all of my business via email, receive cuts in the music, schedules, buy tickets, Skype my family, so much via the web.\u00a0 So, I would have to go with my MacBook Pro.\u00a0 It is invaluable to me.
\nHow\u2019s your attitude towards TV ? <\/strong>
\nI like to watch TV.\u00a0 I am not a fanatic about it one way or the other.\u00a0 I enjoy \u201cDo-it-yourself\u201d shows.\u00a0 I would rather spend my time working with my hands either cooking, building or cleaning.\u00a0 Memorizing music would be a better use of my time, or if I were home, I\u2019d be playing with kids.
\nHow is your relationship with politics? <\/strong>
\nI am an avid political junkie.\u00a0 I have thought about jumping into politics on more than one occasion.\u00a0 Fortunately I am too sane to do so, and to religious to want to sell my soul!
\nDo you have causes that are very important for you? <\/strong>
\nJust thinking of child trafficking gets my heart pounding.\u00a0 I hate it and think it is something that every person should abhor.\u00a0 Alzheimer\u2019s is a disease that I find frightening and wouldn\u2019t wish it on my worst enemy. The lack of a good educational system in the US is something that needs to change.\u00a0 These are three things that I care a lot about.
\nDay or night? <\/strong>
\nBoth. Depends whether I am on the road, or at home.
\nWhich is the situation you consider the most relaxing?\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nA good dinner party with friends sounds very relaxing.\u00a0 As does tossing a ball around with my kids.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tell us your ideal day. <\/strong>
\nWaking up in my own bed, having a nice breakfast with bacon worked into it somehow, and some coffee.\u00a0 Talking with my wife about anything.\u00a0 Playing with the kids, making them laugh.\u00a0 Doing some physical labor of some sort.\u00a0 Having a nice dinner.\u00a0 Walking across the street (this is an IDEAL day don\u2019t forget) and singing Lohengrin, Otello, Andrea Chenier or perhaps Peter Grimes.\u00a0 After a resounding success, return home, have a nice glass of wine, talk with my wife and sleep in my own bed.
\nWhich is your hideaway?\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nI don\u2019t know if you are getting the sense of a certain theme running throughout the course of this interview, but my ultimate hideaway is my home.
\nWhat\u2019s the soundtrack to your everyday life? <\/strong>
\nI don\u2019t think I have one.\u00a0 Talk radio keeps me entertained, as does whatever opera I am currently learning.
\nWhat do you miss the most when you\u2019re away from home?\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nMy kids, wife, and the routine of it all.
\nThe holiday or the trip you\u2019d like to take? <\/strong>
\nI\u2019ve never been to Hawaii or a Caribbean Island.\u00a0 I think that would be a wonderful way to unwind.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What or who makes you feel embarrassed? <\/strong>
\nNot much embarrasses me.
\nHow would you define your relation with food ?\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nI love food!\u00a0 I love to cook it, eat it, smell it, taste it and see it!
\nMediterranean diet, mocrobiotics or fast food?\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nWithout a doubt, a Mediterranean diet!\u00a0 Some of the most wonderful dinners that I have come from my time in southern France and western Italy.\u00a0 I love the food from this region.
\nYour favourite dish?\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nFunny that you should ask this question next because the answer is distinctly American.\u00a0 The thought of a nice cut of sirloin, asparagus, mashed potatoes with a mushroom gravy and a nice glass of Bordeaux or a Medoc makes my mouth water.\u00a0 (An alternative meal would be a burger, with fries and a Guiness beer.)
\nRed or white wine<\/strong>?\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nRed.
\nWhich is the place where cooking is the worst ever?\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nI hate to say it, but I wasn\u2019t too impressed with England.\u00a0 There are some places in the US that are lacking too.\u00a0 Especially in smaller towns and cities off of any major highway system throughout the United States.
\nWas music a vocation?\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nI guess that it was. \u00a0Not opera, but music in general.\u00a0 I have always enjoyed singing and acting.\u00a0 In college I thought that acting was something that I would do with an occasional musical thrown in. I didn\u2019t even know about opera at the time, so it wasn\u2019t on my radar.\u00a0 It became apparent that my voice was more suited to opera than to musical theater, so I started to pursue it full time, and I am so thankful that I did.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think that I could handle singing the same role 8 times a week month after month.
\nWhat would you want someone who doesn\u2019t know your voice to listen to?<\/strong>
\nMore than listen to me, I would want them to see me onstage.\u00a0 I think that is where I have the biggest impact.\u00a0 The whole package if you will.
\nIf you were granted the chance to chose a role, which one would it be? <\/strong>
\nThat is a tough one.\u00a0 I think I\u2019ll go with Otello.
\nHave you met Marco Tutino, the composer of<\/strong> Senso<\/em><\/strong>, in which you star, and how is your relationship with him?\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nI have met Marco Tutino. \u00a0He is around the theater a lot at the moment. \u00a0He seems to have a hands off sort of approach, but he isn’t afraid to ask questions as to why something is being interpreted in a particular way. \u00a0He seems to be very nice, the few times we have actually had time to talk.
\nWas your role tailored on your voice?\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nThe role was not tailored for my voice. \u00a0It does seem to fit it though! \u00a0So, I guess we were both lucky.\u00a0 Has the original movie version by Luchino Visconti influenced the creation of the characters and how? In case not, in which way are they different, taking into consideration the difference between movies and theatre?\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nThe Visconti movie has certainly flavored this production. \u00a0There is homage paid to the opening scene, and minute details throughout, help to keep the feel of the movie alive. \u00a0That being said, it is definitely different. \u00a0The opera is structured around the Boito novella, and the director (Hugo de Ana) seems to be melding the two rather ingeniously. \u00a0Tutino has left relevant scenes from the movie intact, while adapting the overall structure to the cadence of the novella. \u00a0The one idea that has been repeated to me on numerous occasions was the original intent of Visconti to use Marlon Brando in the title role. \u00a0That obviously didn’t pan out, but the character that we are developing in Hans Buchner is more in the Brando vein.
\nWhat do you do an hour prior to go on stage? <\/strong>
\nMy routine is to not have a \u201croutine.\u201d\u00a0 Depending on the role, I may be warming up, having some coffee, or just trying to stay relaxed and focused in my dressing room.
\nWhat\u2019s never missing in your dressing room? <\/strong>
\nI am not one who demands or needs anything.\u00a0 Wait, I say that and one thing that I always have on me both onstage and off are Ricola.\u00a0 I always sing with one in my cheek, and I guarantee you there are many in my dressing room. That and a piano of some sort.\u00a0 Either my little electric piano, or preferably an upright.
\nWhat do you think of when looking at yourself in the mirror?\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nWhere are those grays coming from?
\nYour mood at the moment? <\/strong>
\nAt the moment I am pretty content.\u00a0 I\u2019m feeling a little anxious to have this next opera totally at home in my voice and head.\u00a0 I am yearning to be with my family again, and a little nervous when I think about the amount of new music that I have to learn over the next 12 months.\u00a0 I am trying to not think about aspect of it all and take it one day at a time!
\nWhat\u2019s your motto<\/strong>? <\/strong>
\nI have a few. \u201cTreat others as you would like to be treated.\u201d\u201cIf you start a project, finish it.\u201d \u201cNever forget what is important in life.\u201d
\nPhoto Kristen Hoebermann<\/em><\/p>\n

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