Oberlin Portrait: Hugh Russell by Michael Chipman
	Behind-the-scene looks into concerts and events Preview CD's released by faculty, staff & students Past articles from the Oberlin Portrait		Hugh Russell, First year Artist Diploma student PHOTOGRAPH BY Michael Chipman First year Artist Diploma student Hugh Russell, a baritone from Manitoba, Canada, a student of Richard Miller, is well on his way to launching a career in opera. Recent accomplishments: Received a master of music degree at the Eastman School of Music in May, 1998. Was a studio artist at Chautauqua Opera in the summer 1998 season. Won the Studio Artist Award from Chautauqua Opera in the form of an invitation to return as an apprentice in the summer of 1999. Won second place at the Great Lakes Region Metropolitan Opera Guild Auditions. Performed the role of Mercutio in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette with Oberlin Opera Theatre's fall, 1998, production. Performed the role of Guglielmo in Mozart's Così fan tutte with Oberlin Opera Theatre, spring, 1999, production. Sang in the semi-finals for Houston Opera Studio. Accepted an offer of apprenticeship from Pittsburgh Opera Center at Duquesne for the coming 1999-2000 season. Received an offer of apprenticeship from the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio. What is your first memory of music? When I was little, I sang and recorded songs with a little tape recorder and microphone set. My mum still has the tape and it's fun to listen to - it includes little bits of my sister, brother and myself singing various songs. My earliest was "Twinkle, Twinkle, little star...," performed when I was probably around three or four. At one point on the tape, I finished singing and whispered "Good!" obviously pleased with a "good take." Other than that, I just remember my family singing together. How old were you when you started singing? I don't know when I started - I was very young - but I did take a break from singing from about age 10 to age 14 when I really didn't enjoy it. This happily coincided with my voice change, so it was probably for the best. I began piano lessons in the first grade and studied until my second year of university. I began to study singing when I arrived at the university. What inspired you to be a musician? What keeps you inspired on discouraging days? I heard classical music around the house a bit when I was little, but through piano lessons, I really became interested and started to explore all of the records we had at home, without any idea that I would ever do it for a living. During my last three years of high school, I started to sing in school musicals, and then sang in a regional youth choir which proved to be a life-changing positive experience. One of the conductors in particular was a great inspiration to me, and at the end of Grade 11, I started to think about becoming a conductor. This was still my plan a year later, when I auditioned for nearby Brandon University, intending to be a piano major with an organ, or maybe voice, minor. My interest in singing was increasing, and it gradually took over, especially with encouragement from the woman who would become my first teacher later that year. So, I decided to reverse things and be a voice major/ piano minor. I also started delving into opera. More exposure to opera increased my interest in and love of it. On bad days, listening to great singers helps a lot, and just approaching this journey with patience and being open to changes is necessary. Keeping focused on the music is the most important thing, of course. Mozart, in particular, makes the world go round for me. What is the most memorable performance you have ever seen and why? Seeing Bryn Terfel in recital in Salzburg. I had never heard of him, as he was not widely known in North America, and someone urged me to buy a ticket. A friend and I got two of the last three tickets for the Liederabend. He had such intensity and sensitivity, such commitment to the repertoire. He came on stage and in his singing touched everything between a roar and a whisper. We went backstage after the performance for the usual autograph stuff, and he was very friendly and down to earth, as was his accompanist, the fabulous Malcolm Martineau. It was a great evening. If you could perform with one musician living or dead, who would it be and what would you perform? A mere meeting with Mozart would be fantastic, and singing "Abendempfindung an Laura" would really hit the spot. One of my favorite living artists is Barbara Bonney. I'd love to sing the beautiful Count/Susanna duet from Le nozze di Figaro or maybe "Bei Mannern" from Die Zauberflöte. If you could master another instrument, what would it be? The cello. If you couldn't be a musician what profession would you choose? Which profession would you definitely not choose? Would choose: Academia - Literature or History. Never choose: Anything in the world of finance. What do you listen to after a long day? Anything. But my favorites are Mozart, Bach, Strauss, Sarah Vaughan, Oscar Peterson. Most often it will be instrumental music, especially if singing has filled up the rest of the day. What do you like to read? Anything. Right now it's Anna Karenina. There's such a huge pile from which to choose, I just try to vary the period or style. The three best words that best describe you: Friendly. Ambitious. Curious.