San Francisco Classical Voice
Photo by Scott Suchman
The Wake-Up Call: Performing Arts Face the Post-Pandemic World
One singing artist who has been involved in diversifying the repertoire is tenor Russell Thomas. As part of his artist-in-residence deal with LA Opera, he has been invited to weigh in on casting and repertory planning. And he’s performing the title role in Verdi’s Otello with the company, in a production running May 13 – June 4.
At the top of his career, Thomas is in demand around the world, and when we spoke, he was in London performing the role of Calaf in Turandot at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Thomas is also an openly gay Black man who does not shy away from candidly discussing the racially driven issues of the day. I asked him how issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion have changed over the course of his career.