Our Artist of the Week is American bass-baritone Kyle Albertson who stars as Prometheus in Pacific Opera Victoria’s production of Braunfels‘s The Birds. His 2022 season was a busy one—he performed the title role in Der fliegende Holländer and Wotan in Opera Graz‘s Der Ring an einem Abend, and sang Angelotti in the Metropolitan Opera‘s production of Tosca. Coming up next Albertson heads to New York to cover the role of Leporello in The Met’s production of Don Giovanni from May 5 – June 2, and to Pittsburgh to sing the title role in Pittsburgh Opera’s production of Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer from November 11 to 19.
Pacific Opera Victoria’s The Birds closes tonight, tickets are available here. When was your first singing lesson and with whom?
I was 17 and in high school. My choir director, Steve Carstenson, was giving me lessons, but suggested I take privately with a college professor. The professor told me I didn’t have enough natural talent… BUT I found another one who did, and here I am, still singing, and I am pretty sure that first professor isn’t even teaching anymore.
Who inspired you to sing? My grandpa was a farmer, but he sang in church every Sunday. He was the only person in a very small church singing the bass line to the hymns. Many times, the bass line ended up being louder than the melody. I loved that.
Drink of choice? Whiskey
If you weren’t a singer you’d be a… Political advocate
What’s your favourite non-classical band? Dave Matthews Band
