Thank you Opera Lively for taking the time to interview me!

http://operalively.com/forums/content.php/356-Exclusive-Interview-with-Operalia-winner-Ren%E9-Barbera

I had a truly spectacular time in San Antonio this past weekend performing Beethoven 9 with the San Antonio Symphony. My fellow soloists were all incredible, the San Antonio Mastersingers were just phenomenal and the symphony… perfection! I am so very proud of my hometown for the incredible turn out this weekend and the terrific response to the concert. Thank you San Antonio Symphony for the opportunity to go home and sing for my family, friends, and city! Hope to do it again soon!

I am very excited to announce that I will be singing the tenor solo in Beethoven’s 9th symphony in my home town next weekend February 10, 11, & 12th!  I have been dying to sing, professionally, in San Antonio for a very long time and am grateful for the opportunity to sing with the San Antonio Symphony.  I will even get to reunite with Dr. Silantien, director of the San Antonio Symphony Mastersingers, who conducted the University of Texas at San Antonio’s chorus while I was there.

San Antonio HERE I COME!  :-D

Last night I had the pleasure of singing Edgardo in Lucia at the Lyric Opera of Chicago!  Giuseppe Filianoti fell ill and I was called upon to step in and sing.  I received the phone call 2 hours before the show started.  Thankfully I had just gotten ready to leave for the opera house to sing Arturo so I hopped in a cab and got to the opera as quickly as possible!  The night was a complete success despite being incredibly nervous at the onset!

It was an extra special night as the entire cast of this Lucia (as a result of my going on as Edgardo) consisted entirely of current and former Ryan Opera Center Members!  I’m so grateful for such supportive friends and colleagues without whom I would have been MUCH less comfortable on that stage last night!

Cheers!