10 Questions with MN Opera Intern and Future Tempo Blogger Clark Rahman

Photo by Drew Krason

1. What’s your sign?
Libra

2. Favorite opera?
I will do top three.... That is just a toughie; it is like asking someone's favorite movie!
a. Bizet's Carmen (I am a proud francophile) http://youtu.be/jG-0_p_yefg
b. Stauss' Ariadne Auf Naxos (best memories of my life are in Germany and it is such a vocal delicacy) http://youtu.be/SzM9QOUPeI0
c. Lucia di Lammermoor by Donizetti for my Scottish roots http://youtu.be/JW5Ol3jNrJI

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?
I would be Jackie O.

4. What is your favorite dessert?
Pot de creme

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be?
Sassy, busy, fulfilled

6. What is your favorite holiday?
Depends on what country I am in.

7. What was your first opera?
It might not count as a full fledged opera, but The Mikado when I was four years old during the Tulip Festival in Iowa. My mom was sure my sister and I would hate every moment but it has always remained one of my favorite childhood memories.

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?
It would be sort of a cross between The Red Shoes (1939) and Breathless (1960). Don't care who plays me, as long they are smouldering.

9. Are you a morning or night person?
Night.

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter?
Going on vacation.

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10 Questions with Jamie Nieman

Meet Jamie Nieman, Marketing & Communications Chair

1. What’s your sign?

Taurus, and that's no joke.

2. Favorite opera?   

At Minnesota Opera—The Adventures of Pinocchio but the Met production of Le Comte Ory may have topped it for all time favorite. Yummy opera threesome.

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?

Archeologist—I blame a childhood obsession with Indiana Jones and Harrison Ford.

4. What is your favorite dessert?

Ice cream, it’s one of my few food weaknesses.

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be?  

Sassy, Resourceful, Fearless

6. What is your favorite holiday? 

Thanksgiving—food, football and booze—what’s not to love?

7. What was your first opera?

Operetta actually—The Pirates of Penzance

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you? 

Julia Roberts or Sandra Bullock would star as me—I’d like to think it would be a Romantic Comedy and one of the good ones like Love Actually or When Harry Met Sally.  The disaster area called my personal life can be quite amusing at times. Can I request Colin Firth play my love interest?

9. Are you a morning or night person? 

Night—at all costs avoid me in the morning.  If you do have to deal with me in the morning it's wise to come bearing large quantities of coffee.

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter? 

Sit in front of a roaring fire with a bottle of wine and a good book.

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10 Questions with J.R. Kamra

Meet J.R. Kamra, Tempo Board of Directors

1. What’s your sign? 

Aries

2. Favorite opera?

Barber of Seville

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?

Mayor of Memphis or Athletic Director of the University of Memphis

4. What is your favorite dessert?

Scotch

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be?

Perseverance, loyalty, driven

6. What is your favorite holiday?

Fourth of July

7. What was your first opera?

Roméo et Juliette

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?

The relationships that I have with my friends and family…Kal Penn.

9. Are you a morning or night person?

Morning during the week, night on the weekends

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter?

Stay warm

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10 Questions with Colton Michael Carothers

Meet Colton Michael Carothers, Tempo Board of Directors

Colton at La Scala in October 2010.

1. What’s your sign?

Virgo: “perfect is almost good enough.”

2. Favorite opera?
Very hard to pick. But these stand out as marvels: Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, Puccini’s La fanciulla del West, Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer and Die Walküre, and Weinberg’s The Portrait.

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?
I’m just starting out as a lawyer and am going to love it. Should I ever want to switch things up, I’ll try something simpler, like Ambassador to France, or General Director of the Metropolitan Opera or Opéra National de Paris. 

4. What is your favorite dessert? 

Coconut milk sticky rice with mango. Or macarons. Yumm… 

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be?

Never stop. Period.

6. What is your favorite holiday? 

7. What was your first opera?
Verdi’s Attila in Rome.

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?
Have you seen The Last Unicorn? 

9. Are you a morning or night person?
I’m early to bed and late to rise; I’m at my prime during happy hour over cocktails (The Lawyer from Philadelphia at La Belle Vie, please). 

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter?
Watching The Muppet Christmas Carol, over and over and over again…while opening presents.

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10 Questions with Carolina Lamas

Meet Carolina Lamas, Tempo Board of Directors 

1. What’s your sign?  

Sagittarius               

2. Favorite opera?  

Carmen

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?   

I would love to be a singer, cosmetologist or personal trainer instead of a lawyer.

4. What is your favorite dessert?   

Bread pudding

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be?  

Extroverted, Honest, Passionate

6. What is your favorite holiday?   

Christmas

7. What was your first opera?  

Either Carmen or Madame Butterfly

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?   

About self-discovery played by Mila Kunis

9. Are you a morning or night person? 

Either – just not an afternoon person

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter?  

Ski.  I love winter.

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10 Questions with Allan Naplan

Meet Allan Naplan, President and General Director

1. What's your sign?
Aries

2. Favorite opera?
Well now, if I told you my favorites, then there wouldn’t be any surprises left when our future season brochures came out! So, instead I’ll just play it safe and say that I'm a real sucker for the musical and dramatic emotion of Puccini's works, as well as a great fan of the beauty and musical elegance of Mozart's operas.

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?
I always wanted to play point guard for the Celtics, but I think it’s probably a little late for that. So, how about an Iron Chef on the Food Network.

4. What is your favorite dessert?
Pretty much anything that involves chocolate.

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be?
Creative, ambitious, and often amusing (or at least I like to think so)

6. What is your favorite holiday?
My sons' birthdays.

7. What was your first opera?
The Magic Flute at the Opera Company of Boston. I was about seven years old and I recall that I didn't much care for my first opera experience. Good thing that clearly had no influence on my eventual career choice.

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?
The plot continues to be a work in progress, but when I asked my wife who she thought should play me, she answered without hesitation, “George Clooney”. I’m not sure if I should take that as a compliment or if it simply indicates my wife’s burning desire to meet the man?

9. Are you a morning or night person?
I used to be a night person…until I had children.

10. What's your favorite thing to do in the winter?
While I’m not an especially aggressive person, I actually find something quite exhilarating about using my snow blower. Have I revealed too much?

Related Articles:

• Allan Naplan (www.mnopera.org)
• Madison Opera general director Allan Naplan is Minnesota-bound (www.thedailypage.com)
• Allan Naplan named President of Minnesota Opera (minnesota.publicradio.org)
• Allan Naplan Named President, General Director of Minnesota Opera (www.operanews.com)
• Allan Naplan appointed by Minnesota Opera (www.madisonopera.blogspot.com)

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10 Questions with Megan Pelka

Meet Megan Pelka, Programming Chair

1. What’s your sign?  I’m a Leo, which means I should like the spotlight but I’m more of a behind-the-scenes type of gal.

2. Favorite opera?
The only opera that has made me cry – Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman) by Wagner.

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?
Egyptologist

4. What is your favorite dessert?
Panna cotta – it’s one of the easiest desserts you can make and has the ability to take on a range of flavors.

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be?
Passionate, Dedicated, Joyful.

6. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween! I start planning my costumes at the beginning of each year. And have amassed quite the collection of decorations for my annual party.

7. What was your first opera?
I watched various Met productions on Channel 2 as a child. My parents took me to see Aida, a traveling production performed at the Orpheum Theater, when I was in elementary school. The spectacle of the production was amazing and emotional connection I felt to the music was intense. I’ve been a lover of opera ever since.

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?Winona Ryder – I think she could really channel my rage-filled moments.

9. Are you a morning or night person? Definitely a night person as my 10am – 6pm work schedule will prove.

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter?
Curl up by a fireplace and drink eggnog. But as I have no fireplace, the space heater works just as well.

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10 Questions with Clare Gardner

Meet Clare Gardner, Board Member and Photographer

1. Whatʼs your sign?

Taurus/Aries cusp

2. Favorite opera?

Turandot

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?

Travel Photographer

4. What is your favorite dessert?

Crème brûlée

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be?

Gregarious, intelligent, fun

6. What is your favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving

7. What was your first opera?

Der Rosenkavalier

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?

A jack-of-all-trades who has aspirations of becoming a top-secret ninja spy; played by Vivien Leigh

9. Are you a morning or night person?

neither - mid-day

10. Whatʼs your favorite thing to do in the winter?

hibernate... and go to Tempo parties!

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10 Questions with Angie Mortellaro

Meet Angie Mortellaro, Resident Artist (soprano)

1. What’s your sign?

Taurus

2. Favorite opera?

It is a tie between Hansel and Gretel and La Boheme. 

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?

If I could have any other job, I would like to own my own (successful!) small business. A book store/coffee shop, probably, or cafe with really yummy breakfast and good quality coffee.

4. What is your favorite dessert?

Warm chocolate chip cookies with really cold milk. 

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be?

Fun-loving, passionate, and... a bit bull-headed. Just ask my fiance.

6. What is your favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving! 

7. What was your first opera?

My mother is a musician, so I grew up listening to Classical Music.  My first Opera was La Traviata at the Florentine Opera in Milwaukee. I really liked it. However, I remember being much more moved and influenced musically by seeing Strauss' Four Last Songs with the Milwaukee Symphony when I was in high-school - it was AWESOME! 

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?

A movie about my life would be focused on the love story of Jeff and I, and our incredibly transient opera-singing lifestyle the year we started dating. A romantic comedy! Even though I am a brunette, and she is a blond, I would want Katherine Keigl to play my character. She is adorable. 

9. Are you a morning or night person?

Night person, definitely. Here I am at 1 am on a Tuesday answering these questions!

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter?

My favorite thing to do in the winter is drink hot apple cider, and read books. 

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10 Questions with Lauren Viner

Meet Lauren Viner, Tempo Board Member

1. What’s your sign? 

Aquarius

2. Favorite opera? 

La traviata

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?  

I would love to be the Travel Channel’s Samantha Brown

4. What is your favorite dessert? 

Chocolate dipped fruit, rice krispie treats

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be? 

Sincere, optimistic, funny

6. What is your favorite holiday? 

Christmas.  I love Christmas music.  And New Year’s is a close second.  I always claim not to have made any resolutions, but it’s a lie.

7. What was your first opera? 

Madame Butterfly

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you? 

Kristen Chenoweth, Broadway musical.    

9. Are you a morning or night person?  

I am a night person occasionally masquerading as a morning person.  I love the feeling you have after waking up early and getting things done.

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter? 

Going skiing or running and then diving under a bunch of blankets and drinking hot chocolate.

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10 Questions with Sarah Langford

Meet Sarah Langford, Tempo Board Member

1. What’s your sign?

Capricorn

2. Favorite opera?

Aida

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?

Marine biologist

4. What is your favorite dessert?

Tres leches

5. If you had to describe yourself using four words, what would they be?

Party-in-a-box

6. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas

7. What was your first opera?

Missing Barber of Seville with my family, I still regret it. Following that The Magic Flute.

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?

It would be about understanding the disparities of the world and still being hopeful. I would want to be played by Audrey Hepburn.

9. Are you a morning or night person?

Morning

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter?

Yield to the cold

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10 Questions with Bethany Kois

Meet Bethany Kois, Tempo Committee Member

1. What’s your sign? 

Aquarius. And, it’s pretty obvious.

2. Favorite opera?

Rusalka. Especially if performed in June.

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?

Travel guide and photographer.

4. What is your favorite dessert?

Crème brûlée.. because you must break the shell to get to the good stuff.

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be? 

Curious troublesome fish.

6. What is your favorite holiday?

Can I choose October through December?

7. What was your first opera?

Carmen at Lyric in Chicago. Changed me forever.

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?

They very-seriously-probably-shouldn’t. But, if they did, it would be set in a forest, with moonlight, a pesky insect or two, and a shimmery pond.

9. Are you a morning or night person?

Well, that really depends on what time of day I intend to have the most fun. 

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter?

 Hibernate. Perhaps a bear should be in my movie as well? 

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10 Questions with Thomas Bakken

Meet Thomas Bakken, Tempo Committee Member

1. What’s your sign? 
Cancer. Or “Jazz Hands.” Perhaps I don’t understand the question.

2. Favorite opera?
Le Nozze di Figaro

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?
I admire the honest work of a skilled haberdasher.

4. What is your favorite dessert?
You can’t go wrong with a good Bananas Foster.

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be? 
Tall, moustachioed, diabetic.

6. What is your favorite holiday? 
Fourth of July is always a good time. Ironic, as I’m not a US citizen.

7. What was your first opera?
That I purchased and heard a recording of – Le Nozze di Figaro. That I attended – Le Nozze di Figaro. I would gladly see this opera every night for the rest of my life (provided the cast/orchestra/conductor was good).

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?
“Waxing Philosophical,” about the endless search for the perfect moustache wax, a notion first hypothesized by Sartre in 1964.

9. Are you a morning or night person?
Nights are preferable.

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter? 
Trying to motivate myself to put my road bike on my stationary trainer and ride for as few as 6 hours a week. Results pending…

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10 Questions with Regine Edwards

Meet Regine Edwards, Tempo Member

1. What’s your sign? 

Leo J

2. Favorite opera?

Carmen or Mozart’s The Magic Flute

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?

Curator at a museum. 

4. What is your favorite dessert?

Café Latte’s Chips and Chunks Cheesecake

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be? 

Quiet, foodie, eclectic

6. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas  - I love the decorations, the holiday music and the spirit. 

7. What was your first opera?

I think it was an operetta in Germany. 

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?  It would probably be a romantic comedy about a girl’s mishaps in love and life, and in the end she finds her prince… hopefully.  I think I’d like Drew Barrymore to play me. 

9. Are you a morning or night person?

I think I’m more productive in the morning, but that doesn’t make me a morning person.  I definitely need my coffee first.

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter?

 Going dancing.  It’s also the season to just chill at home with a movie or a good book.

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10 Questions with S.B. Hadley Wilson

Meet S.B. Hadley Wilson, Tempo Board Member

© 2010 Ripplinger Imaging

1. What’s your sign?  

Virgo: “Perfect is almost good enough,” according to Tarot.com.  Well-known traits are analysis and perfectionism.

2. What is your favorite opera?  

I’ve only seen nine operas so far, but my favorite is La bohème, which I saw here at the Minnesota Opera.  It moved me so much that I cried.  Seriously.

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?

I would love to be a writer and split my time between San Francisco and France.  Or own a neckwear company.

4. What is your favorite dessert?

I don’t discriminate.

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be?

Work-in-progress.

6. What is your favorite holiday?

New Year’s Day, not New Year’s Eve.  I enjoy being fresh and focused on the first day of the new year.

7. What was your first opera? 

Madama Butterfly at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, another fine company.

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you? 

It would be about enormous emotions – anger, envy, greed, love, lust, and pride – something that resonates with each of us.  Oh wait, did I just describe an opera? :-) As far as which actor I would want to portray me, that would be Chow Yun-fat.

9. Are you a morning or night person? 

Oh, neither.  I’m an after-work person.

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter? 

Drink wine by the fireplace and gab with good friends.

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10 Questions with Eric McEnaney

Meet Eric McEnaney, Resident Artist (coach/accompanist)

1. What is your sign?
LEO, though very few people guess that about me!

2. What is your favorite opera?
It's a toss-up between Madama Butterfly and Don Giovanni.

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?
I would love to be a travel agent or chef.

4. What is your favorite dessert?
The tres leches cake at 112 Eatery--amazing!

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be?
Fun-loving, focused, spiritual

6. What is your favorite holiday?
Thanksgiving

7. What was your first opera?
Cosi fan tutte

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?
It would be about learning to trust my instincts as an artist and I would want Tobey Maguire or Michael Cera to play me!

9. Are you a morning or night person?
Definitely a night person.

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter?
Sit inside, under a blanket and read a good book.

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10 Questions with Clinton Smith

Meet Clinton Smith, Resident Artist (assistant conductor)

1. What is your sign?
Capricorn - a big one

2. What is your favorite opera?
Too early to tell - I've only worked on/conducted around thirty operas, so there are so many more to discover.

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?
Good question - I used to be a huge computer nerd, in fact, I applied to nine schools as a computer science major, but changed my major to Piano at orientation, much to my father's horror.

4. What is your favorite dessert?
Apple pie

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be?
Musical, Resourceful, and Dedicated

6. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas.

7. What was your first opera?
The first opera I bought on CD is kind of obscure - it's the Phillips recording of Mozart's Il Re Pastore - I was captivated, and this was years before I actually saw my first opera. That happened to be Aida at the Met when I was in NYC with my high school orchestra in April of 1998 playing at Carnegie Hall.

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?
The movie could be about pursuing a dream, making opportunities for oneself, never giving up, and finding your passion.

9. Are you a morning or night person?
Definitely a night person - my whole family is. When we get together it's not abnormal for us to all stay up, grandma included, until well after 2am drinking and talking.

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter?
Stay warm! I'm from the beach in Texas - it gets COLD here.

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10 Questions with Victoria Vargas

Meet Victoria Vargas, Resident Artist (mezzo-soprano)

1. What is your sign?
Pisces

2. What is your favorite opera?
A toss up between Carmen and La Traviata

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?
Social Worker

4. What is your favorite dessert?
Cake...anything cake related.

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be?
Witty, Fun, Accepting

6. What is your favorite holiday?
Thanksgiving

7. What was your first opera?
Cosi fan tutte

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?
The movie of my life would involve many well placed one liners and quirky encounters and I would love to played by Bette Midler.

9. Are you a morning or night person?
I'd like to think I am a morning person, but alas - a night person all the way.

10. What's your favorite thing to do in the winter?
I love walking around while it's snowing and the temperature is just the right amount of cold while drinking hot chocolate and/or making snow angels!

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10 Questions with Nadege Souvenir

Meet Nadege Souvenir, Tempo Board Member and Opera Tasting Chair

© 2011 Clare Pix Photography 

1. What is your sign?
Capricorn-Aquarius cusp. According to “The Secret Language of Birthdays,” I was born on the day of the heavyweight. Those born on my birthday "are some of the most powerfully direct individuals of the year." Cool, no?

2. What is your favorite opera?
I don’t have one - I change my mind too often to have too many favorite anythings. I tend to enjoy the comedies most, but, of course, that's not a hard and fast rule.

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?
An event planner OR the chief executive officer of my own company. The company would be one of the many brilliant business ideas I’ve had that I was too scared to pursue (all of these ideas are now someone else’s successful business).

4. What is your favorite dessert?
More appetizers! If I must eat dessert, then red velvet cake.

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be?
A multifaceted gem

6. What is your favorite holiday?
Thanksgiving – food, family, and friends – what’s not to like.

7. What was your first opera?
The Grapes of Wrath at the Minnesota Opera.

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?
Um, they’d probably do a reality show and follow me around during a high stress period (I’m kinda funny when I’m cranky). If it has to be a movie, then it would be a comedy about my pregnancy and delivery. I’d like to have Tina Fey play me, but the color-blind casting might throw people for a loop. Plus, if the actor playing the father was white, it’d kill one of the best laughs in the movie, so I’ll go with Gabrielle Union.

9. Are you a morning or night person?
Night – very late night.

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter?
Stay inside. Winter is not for me, a stylish sweater+skinny jeans+cute boots fall day is much more my style.

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10 Questions with Joshua Dorothy

Meet Joshua Dorothy, Tempo Board Chair

© 2010 Ripplinger Imaging

1. What’s your sign?
I was born in a timeless void.

2. Favorite opera?
Globally: Carmen. Seen at Minnesota: The Abduction from the Seraglio. Based on having seen one of Micòl’s arias in a very early workshop, I strongly anticipate The Garden of the Finzi-Continis will supplant Seraglio.

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?
Solicitor General of the United States, although arguably that’s just a greatly elevated and refined version of my current job (attorney). If I have to leave the law to be fully responsive to this question, then I would say: the host of Meet the Press.

4. What is your favorite dessert?
Some good dark chocolate and an espresso.

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be?
Reserved. Loyal. Proper.

6. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas. I highly recommend the all-French (including carols) Christmas Eve Vigil Mass at the Church of Saint Louis King of France in downtown Saint Paul, even if you’re neither Catholic nor French-speaking. It’s absolutely beautiful.

7. What was your first opera?
My first fully staged opera was The Marriage of Figaro.

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?
It would be more of a Ken Burns-style documentary: sepia-toned photographs and narration by David McCullough. That would blow the budget, so there wouldn’t be an actor playing me. But if George Clooney would donate his services, I wouldn’t say no.

9. Are you a morning or night person?
A little of both. I really hit my stride at about 10:00 – a.m. and p.m.

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter?
Go for a walk after a fresh blanket of snow has fallen, or while it’s still flurrying.

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