The Artist of the Week is Filipino-Canadian tenor Mishael Eusebio, who is returning to Toronto to perform with Tapestry Opera‘s Box Concerts, which brings music and performances to neighbourhoods across the GTA, running until September 14 (info and locations found here).
Recognized for his performances in both contemporary and canonic operas, Mishael’s repertoire includes Alexandre Rosenberg in Bilodeau‘s La beauté du monde, Bardolfo in Falstaff, Brighella in Ariadne auf Naxos, Rose’s Fiancé in Picker‘s Awakenings, Young Harvey in the world premiere of Wallace‘s Harvey Milk Reimagined, Liverto, Tribuno and Soldato in L’incoronazione di Poppea, the Navigator and Manoj in A Space of Sky, a Passenger in Le Flambeau de la nuit by Tanguay-Labrosse, the King in Dragon’s Tale by Chan Ka Nin, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, and most recently was seen as Miles in Ammolite Opera‘s Proving Up. Mishael is also an accomplished competitor as a winner of the 2023 Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques, semi-finalist at the 2021 Concours Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, and finalist at the 2020 American National Opera Association Auditions.
This week, we sat down with Mishael to talk about what he loves to sing, his latest television and recording binges, and the best advice he has ever been given: “You never stop learning” (something we could all learn from).
When was your first singing lesson (and with whom)?
My first singing lesson was with Carol Hasek at the age of 15! I was attending a performing arts high school in Toronto and my theatre mom and acting teacher Ann Merriam introduced me to her as I had no musical training whatsoever, but Ann heard a lot of promise. They have since both become dear, dear mentors and it’s thanks to their initial guidance that I have been able to pursue a career in opera.
Drink of choice?
Coffee! I don’t care if it’s single origin nitro cold brew or generic instant coffee, as long as it’s coffee I will drink it.
Favourite city that you’ve worked in?
I’d say Montreal! The amount of culture and joie de vivre concentrated in the city has convinced me to stay.
Favourite place?
If I had to pick it would be either the Montreal Botanical Gardens or at Omescape Markham doing an escape room with my family.
Top 3 favourite composers?
This question is so hard, but off the top of my head it would be Ravel, Sato Matsui, Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Which opera role do you want to be singing right now?
Any that are still being written! I’m trying to specialize more in contemporary opera and often workshop and perform new works. It can be so much harder than singing the standard roles in traditional repertoire, but it’s all the more satisfying.
What was the first opera you ever saw?
I believe it was the COC’s production of Madama Butterfly with Patricia Racette.
What’s your ancestry?
I was born in the Philippines but grew up mostly in Toronto. According to 23andme, I am an eighth Spanish and would love to get to know more about that part of me in the future.
Are there more musicians in your family?
Singing and performing is a big part of Filipino culture, so I’d say all of us grew up singing and playing piano or guitar. My middle brother is an audio engineer and we have collaborated on recordings in the past (shoutout to David).
What’s your favourite mind-calming practice?
Don’t quote me (but quote me): I watch a lot of Food Travel videos on YouTube: Mark Wiens, and Best Ever Food Review Show. Nothing too extravagant – very demure, very mindful.
What’s your favourite non-classical band?
Sufjan Stevens. Whenever I feel too trapped in the opera/work rut, I often go back to him for outsider inspiration.
Where did you go to school?
I studied at Juilliard and CCM (Cincinnati Conservatory) before getting into l’Atelier lyrique at l’Opéra de Montréal. I have also done summer apprenticeships at Songfest, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Banff Opera Centre.
What’s the downside of being an opera artist?
You have unpredictable downtimes and times where you’re working nonstop! You never know what’s going to happen for the season and while some people love the thrill of it, it’s hard to plan a hang with friends or family if you’re replacing someone last minute.
Which album did you listen to last?
jazz is for ordinary people by berlioz
Which TV show did you binge-watch last?
Umbrella Academy
Do you believe in ghosts?
No, but I am an absolute horror movie fanatic. It makes me so happy that we get to do the Canadian Premiere of Proving Up with Ammolite Opera, no less!
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
From my theatre mom Ann Merriam: “You never stop learning.” I try applying it in my life and I always dabble in studying new things, even if it’s not opera related. It often ends up improving my performances!
Were there any directors in the past that have really inspired you?
I did my first Tamino with the late Michael Cavanagh, and for me he still remains a huge inspiration on what it means to be a class act in the opera world. He led by example with his optimism and grace.
What is the ultimate goal of opera?
I feel like opera doesn’t have a goal as much as it is the logical conclusion to expressing certain things. Sometimes, there are stories that are so powerful that there is no other way for it to be conveyed perfectly except through something as grand as opera.
Do you approach singing and/or upcoming projects differently today than you did at the beginning of your career?
Absolutely. I’ve been getting a lot of work more in the contemporary world of opera and when I first started out I only cared about correct pitches and absolute rhythmic precision, as it can be often quite complex in new works. Nowadays, I’m more of a big picture thinker and I think of context and the composer’s vibe for the piece first before I get into the nitty gritty of the music. I’m fortunate that I get to work with the composers themselves or that I can at least shoot them an email to ask them a question, and oftentimes getting to know them is the first step in learning the music.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MISHAEL EUSEBIO
VISIT HIS WEBSITE
© Eric Woolsey
Opera America Cover
© Chad Mitchell
© Brent Calis
Box Concerts
Tapestry Opera
August 14 – Sept 14
CAST:
Natalya Gennadi
Alex Hetherington
Misheal Eusebio
BOX DESIGN: Rachel Forbes
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: Benton Roark
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: Tristan Zaba
Box Concerts features professional singers performing 30-minute sets of classical, musical theatre, and popular songs, including original Canadian works. Box Concerts was conceived to reach people, especially seniors, who felt isolated by the pandemic. After seeing great successes with families and kids, it has evolved into a stage that travels Toronto, bringing thrilling music to those who may never have been to a concert. For the past four summers, Box Concerts has delivered over 300 performances to the delight of over 5,000 Torontonians in long-term care homes, parks, and local neighbourhoods.
Box Concerts is a curbside performance from a travelling box that unfolds to reveal a one-person concert stage on a trailer! Each 30-minute performance features a different singer. Box Concerts are suitable for the whole family and are available for private residences, community hubs, and senior homes in the City of Toronto.
Following four years of box concerts, we’ve discovered music’s powerful role in uniting neighbours and strangers. We’ve often found our neighbourhood audience to be almost 80-90% of ‘never-been-to-a-live-concert’ people discovering opera for the first time.
“I’ve had the box concerts on my street for four years. Not only has the attendance grown each time, but the attendance of kids has grown each time and it’s been pretty heartwarming… they even reference it in conversations with each other. This last summer kids and little ones were spontaneously dancing and at the end of the concert rushed the ‘stage’ to ask Alicia the singer questions like she was a popstar!”
Neighbourhood Box Concerts host
Tapestry wants to empower more neighbourhood heroes to introduce live classical music and opera to Torontonians. To this end, it is launching a pilot program that allows you to book Box Concerts for free if you can bring people together.
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