INTERVIEW: Alyson Cambridge set for intimate concert at The Green Room 42
Photo: Alyson Cambridge will play New York City’s The Green Room 42. Photo courtesy of the artist / Provided by Fortune Creative and artist website with permission.
New York City’s The Green Room 42 has become a go-to destination for Broadway singers, recording artists and opera stars to meet their fans on a more intimate level. The venue has a full calendar of diverse offerings, encompassing many genres and styles.
On Friday, March 29, Alyson Cambridge takes over The Green Room 42 with the Alex Minasian Trio. The opera singer will bring tunes from her new recording, Until Now. Songs on the effort include such standards as “Fever,” “Too Darn Hot,” “Save the Best for Last” and “Every Breath You Take.”
Cambridge is a successful singer who has graced the stage of the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and Washington National Opera, among many others. She also made her Broadway debut recently in Rocktopia, a mashup of classical music and rock ‘n’ roll.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Cambridge about the Midtown Manhattan concert. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What inspired you to record Until Now?
I grew up listening to and being influenced by all types of music, not just opera. I sang musical theater in school, and my father listened to a lot of jazz. So both idioms were ones I naturally gravitated to, in addition to pop, rock, etc.
When I had the opportunity to star as Julie La Verne in Show Boat at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2012, it sort opened the door for me to share my other vocal abilities that, frankly, no one in the opera world up until that time really knew that I had. I was then encouraged by conductors, musical directors and other colleagues to do an album that highlighted this other side of my voice.
Hence, Until Now was conceived — all the songs and styles of music and singing that I had never sung professionally and recorded until now! All songs have special significance to me as well. Every song was carefully chosen and has special meaning to me and [a] story behind why it is on the album.
Will most of the concert’s songs be pulled from the new album?
Yes, about 75 percent of the songs we will do are from the album, but we’ve added a few new ones, too, also that have relevance and significance to who I am and where I am in my life and career right now.
How do you put your unique take on a classic song that has been interpreted by many singers?
I believe that in the performance of any popular or iconic song, the only way to make an interpretation unique is for the singer to be authentically them. With these non-operatic genres of music and styles of singing, I find a lot more freedom in being able to take musical, vocal and interpretive risks, and I love that. I am able to access emotions and communicate through these songs in a way that is unique to me.
When did you start to dedicate your career to being a soprano in the opera world, rather than another form of singing? Does that decision have to come at a young age?
In some ways, the decision to train operatically was made for me. As I said, I grew up listening to all types of music, and my musical idols ranged from Whitney Houston to Madonna. But when I went to have my first voice lesson at the age of 12, the teacher was struck with my natural ability to sing operatically, which was something I used to do as a joke to make my friends laugh!
So from that young age, I was encouraged to hone that natural talent and began training classically. So, my path was sort of set for me, but I never lost my interest and enthusiasm for other types of music.
Do you like to mix it up and move away from the opera world from time to time?
I love mixing it up and keeping my musical life varied! It’s who I am as person and an artist, and I feel lucky that at this point in my career, I am able to perform in such a diverse range of genres.
How was your experience in Broadway’s Rocktopia?
I was so excited and thrilled to make my Broadway debut in Rocktopia. It was a performing experience unlike any other I’d had up to that point. Combining opera and classical music with classic and hard rock, doing eight to nine shows a week, being part of a true rock show crossed with a symphony concert was incredible.
I loved seeing and hearing how the audiences were wowed by all the unexpected musical mashups. Also, as the only opera singer in the show and sort of the representative for that genre, it made so happy greet people at the stage door each night who said they’d never heard or expected to like opera, and found themselves not only enjoying the operatic elements in the show, but wanting to see and hear more! I’m excited to be heading back on tour with Rocktopia in May!
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
On Friday, March 29 at 9:30 p.m., Alyson Cambridge will bring songs from her new album, Until Now, to New York City’s The Green Room 42. Click here for more information and tickets.
