Soprano Latonia Moore and mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges were at different places in their careers when they shared the stage as Cio-Cio San and Suzuki in San Diego Opera’s 2016 production of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.”
The Texas-born Moore, who played the title role, was many years into her global career at that time, with more than 100 performances as Aida and 40 as Cio-Cio San under her belt. And in 2016, the Seattle-raised Bridges was just two years into her professional career after graduating from Lyric Opera of Chicago’s young artist program. But in the seven years since that stage pairing in San Diego, both of their careers have been on the fast track upward.
Opera soprano Latonia Moore.
(Courtesy of San Diego Opera)
Moore opened the Metropolitan Opera’s 2021-22 season in “Porgy and Bess” and Bridges was the subject of a PBS “American Masters” documentary. Both have also become Grammy Award winners, Moore for the recording of Terence Blanchard’s opera “Fire Shut Up In My Bones” and Bridges for recordings of Philip Glass’s “Akhnaten” and Richard Danielpour’s “The Passion of Yeshua.”
Latonia Moore as Billie, Walter Russell III as Char’es-Baby and Will Liverman as Charles rehearsing Terence Blanchard’s “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in 2021.
(Associated Press)
This past year, Moore has starred in three Met Opera productions: Blanchard’s “Champion,” Puccini’s “La Boheme” and Jake Heggie’s “Dead Man Walking.” Meanwhile, Bridges has performed in “Samson et Delilah” at Seattle Opera, Bizet’s “Carmen” at Lyric Opera of Chicago and Teatro Lirico di Cagliari in Italy, and Heggie’s “Intelligence” at Houston Grand Opera.
Although they’re now good friends and big fans of each others’ work, Moore and Bridges have not had an opportunity over the past seven years to perform together again. Until now.
J’Nai Bridges (S. Richards)
(S. Richards)
On Wednesday, San Diego Opera will open its 2023-24 season with the two singers in a joint recital. They’ll be accompanied by the San Diego Symphony led by conductor Bruce Stasyna in the performance at the Balboa Theatre.
The concert bill will feature opera arias and duets as well as songs from the American Songbook and a few surprises. We reached out to both singers to ask them about their musical reunion, the roles they love, the music they listen to in their spare time and much more. Here are their responses.
Opera mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges.
(Courtesy of San Diego Opera)
Q: The last time San Diego Opera audiences saw you two together was in “Madama Butterfly” in 2016. What do you remember about that experience and about the experience of working together?
Latonia Moore: One very funny thing I remember is an interview we did with the San Diego Union-Tribune when we first got to San Diego. Although we’d never met before we got there, the article was titled Friends team up for ‘Madama Butterfly’ It made me giggle then because it was a stretch to say that, but in the end, it most certainly became true. Aside from her immense talent and beauty, J’nai has this calming energy that makes her an absolute joy to perform with, and it’s that quality that makes her such a good friend and confidante. Glad San Diego Opera brought us together … then and now.
J’Nai Bridges: “Madama Butterfly” was one of the most exciting moments for me because it was my first professional job out of the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s young artist program. I admired and dreamed to sing with Latonia since I was a college student, so sharing the stage with her was a mix between my dreams coming true and being starstruck. The production, music making and the whole experience was something I will forever cherish.
Q: Is this the first time you’ve sung together since? And did you collaborate on what you plan to sing in the recital?
Bridges: Unfortunately we have not had the opportunity to work together, mostly because of schedules. But this year we are finally changing that and collaborating not once but twice! Though we haven’t performed together since 2016 we have developed a close friendship and I have been in the audience many times to witness her gorgeous artistry.
Moore: This is our first concert together, actually. We’ve put together a rockin’ program … even a little fach swap for y’all! We’ll obviously be performing some great duets, but there is one particular duet that I am thrilled to sing with J’Nai, as it’s from an opera I’ve done for many years, and an opera that it’s about time for J’Nai to sink her teeth into.
Q: Without giving too much away about the program, what arias, duets or songs are you most excited to share with the San Diego audience?
Bridges: I am honestly excited to debut the whole program, but what I am most excited about is singing for the first time a duet involving and African princess. Hint Hint.
Q: In recent years, you have both experienced tremendous career growth. Has this exposure brought a lot of new and unexpected opportunities your way?
Bridges: I certainly never expected to sing so many world premieres and new works. My success off of Grammy Award winning “Akhnaten” at the Metropolitan Opera opened many wonderful opportunities for me to be connected to many living composers, new stories and house debuts. I never imagined I would have such a well-rounded career in opera, concert and recital work, but I feel very fortunate for being able to make music in all of these spaces on an international level.
Q: The pandemic changed everything for opera singers. Are there any experiences you had during the pandemic, or practices you developed during the shutdown, that have changed the way you live, work, travel and spend your free time?
Moore: Oddly, my career got better during the pandemic. After the tragic death of George Floyd, Black American singers were thrust into the limelight. We were given many opportunities to speak out on the changes needed in our art form and have thus found ourselves front and center more than before. For me, it actually added a level of pressure in my career that I’m still getting used to, deep down, I’m loving it. I tell ya what, though: that pandemic definitely made me appreciate audiences more than ever. I didn’t realize it until I had to do a recital in July 2020 to an empty room. No one … just a camera. It reminded me of who I really do this for: People. That’s where the real fulfillment is.
Bridges: The pandemic afforded me the time and space to tend to and recognize what was necessary for my health and wellness. This career can be extremely difficult on many levels and especially wellness. I now have a routine and practices in place that help me with my mental, spiritual, physical and emotional wellness and in turn I am a more honest musician. One of my goals is to sing for many years, but pre-pandemic I would not have been able to sustain a long career. I now have more energy and excitement to do what I love because I have a better overall level of wellness and boundaries.
Q: When you’re not preparing for a new role or practicing an upcoming one, what music do you most enjoy listening to (and singing along to) in your spare time?
Moore: Björk, Doja Cat, Asteroids Galaxy Tour, Robert Palmer, Ella (Fitzgerald)! If it’s karaoke time, I go for ‘70s and ‘80s rock. Oh yes.
Bridges: When I am not studying or listening to classical music I most enjoy listening to Motown, Gospel and salsa music. It’s music I grew up on and I can completely let go. My classical music making is often inspired by different genres of music because it gives me a deep feeling and connection that I can then bring to the roles I sing.
Q: Which of your opera roles do you love to sing the most? And which new roles are you looking forward to?
Bridges: I truly love singing Carmen the most. I am now finding a deep love for Dalila from “Samson & Delila” and Didon from “Les Troyens,” as well. It’s safe to say French repertoire is where my voice and temperament fit most comfortably at this point in my life. I eventually want to delve into the Verdi women. Amneris (from “Aida”) is my absolute dream role!
Moore: My favorite role to sing is Madama Butterfly and has been since 2007. There are quite a few roles I’m excited to sing. I’m looking forward to my very next new role, Margherita in Boito’s “Mefistofele.” I’m actually doing one of the arias on our concert here, since I’ve never done it with orchestra before. It is one of my favorite arias of all time, and I’m grateful to debut it with orchestra here for y’all!
Q: All of the performing arts in the U.S. have been working hard to rebuild their audiences since the pandemic. As opera industry professionals, what are your thoughts on how the opera industry will change and adapt to attract new audiences in the future?
Moore: Getting the actual artists in at the artistic level would be a huge start. I think a lot of artists don’t realize that this thing can’t keep going if we don’t keep it going. Our efforts must go beyond our individual careers. If we all put energy toward the big picture, opera will continue to thrive.
Bridges: It has certainly been difficult to rebuild audiences post-pandemic for a myriad of reasons, but there are beautiful developments occurring in U.S. performing art institutions. New stories are being told, new faces are being seen and new opera lovers are being reached. Making the opera house an accessible place for all is important while maintaining the integrity of the art making. Art is of course subjective, but just as an athlete trains to be at their highest physical level, we must continue to create spaces where artists are discovered, developed, trained and maintained to a high level. The audience and art deserve this.
Q: Is there anything I didn’t ask that you’d like to share with our readers?
Bridges: I am looking forward to being back at S.D. Opera for this very special moment. I hope our concert inspires more companies to produce duet concert with orchestra. One of my fondest memories of being attracted to opera was watching videos of Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman, Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne, Shirley Verrett and Grace Bumbry along with many other incredible duos rousing the stage! I hope this concert attracts and inspires people of all ages and walks of life!
San Diego Opera presents Latonia Moore and J’Nai Bridges with the San Diego Symphony
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25
Where: Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Downtown
Tickets: $40 and up
Phone: (619) 533-7000
Online: sdopera.org