Speaking Opera - Spotlight on Zachary Wilder

I am pleased to announce a new podcast on Speaking Opera entitled A Spotlight on Zachary Wilder. I first heard Zachary in the Boston Early Music Festival performance of Steffani's Orlando generoso, in which he sang the role of Brunello, in June 2019. I was amazed at the beauty of his voice and the skilled musicality, along with his ability to make the character come alive. In our lively conversation Zachary discusses his musical background, his various teachers, coaches, and the musical conservatories that he has attended. He does a wonderful job of storytelling! I am adding a link to a YouTube clip of the Sailor's song from Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. Zachary describes with great humor the story of how he performed this as an audition piece. He relates his journey from the beginning of his musical career as a tenor specializing in the Baroque period with the Boston Early Music Festival and how working with Paul O'Dette was instrumental in helping him to develop his mastery in the 17th and 18th century repertoire.



He shares some of his musical interests outside of the music he performs when he is in Paris, one of which is the pastime of exploring singers of the past and present. This has become a hobby that he has cultivated while developing his own career. I hope you get as much enjoyment listening to the podcast of our conversation as had in participating in its creation and the time spent with this very delightful man.



As an addendum, Zachary mentions his grandmother who studied to become an opera singer but omitted her name. She was Renee Weiner and her stage name was Renee Warner. She participated in the Metropolitan Opera Regional Auditions and gave a few local performances but did not pursue a career and became a full-time mom.

#podcast, #tenor, #bostonearlymusicfstival, #BEMF, #baroque_music, #paul_o'dette,
#monteverdi