_{Artist of the Week} 24 Qs for Joshua Hopkins

What is the best advice you have ever been given? Don’t sweat the small stuff.Favourite city that you’ve worked in? Santa Fe, New Mexico.Favourite place? What I like to call my “Fortress of Solitude”— a spit of land that juts out into the Ottawa River just down the street from the house in which I grew up. Spending time there recharges my batteries and reconnects me to my Ottawa Valley roots.Which opera role do you want to be singing right now? Billy Budd.Who is a singer you admired from the past? Luciano PavarottiWhat’s the strangest/funniest thing that has happened to you on stage? In 2009, I sang one of my favourite roles, Papageno, with Opera Lyra Ottawa at the National Arts Centre. I'll never forget the dramatic incident that took place in the audience during one of the performances, at the end of Papageno's third aria, in which he almost commits suicide. An audience member was so convinced I would take my life, in desperation they left their seat on the orchestra level and ran to the front row of the top balcony, several metres above the stage. They proceeded to climb over the front of the balcony in an attempt to rescue me, even though I was already in the midst of my love duet with Papagena by that time. From the stage, I heard a distracting commotion in the audience, but the show went on. After the show, I learned that thankfully someone in the lower balcony had grabbed hold of the dangling "rescuer's" legs and pulled them to safety. I was very grateful the individual wasn't hurt.Which role do you wish you could sing, but is not in your voice type? Madama Butterfly.What was the first opera you ever saw? The Magic FluteAre there more musicians in your family? If yes, who and what do they play/sing? Yes indeed! My Dad plays trombone and sings in a church choir; my Mom plays alto & tenor saxophone and percussion—she also sings jazz and musical theatre. And there are two classically trained mezzo-soprano cousins in my family as well!What’s your favourite movie? GhostbustersWhat’s a big investment for an opera artist, but totally worth it? Consistent voice lessons. I work with my teacher, Dr. Stephen King, as often as I am able. Working with him steadily since the beginning of my career has been absolutely vital to my development and understanding of how I produce a free and honest sound with my instrument.What’s the luckiest thing that has ever happened to you? Meeting my soulmate Zoe at McGill University 25 years ago.What’s the best meal you’ve ever had? My wife and I had an unforgettable dining experience in a small fishing village while on vacation along the southern coast of Sicily. At the beginning of our dinner, the only question we were asked is whether or not we eat raw fish. We enthusiastically said yes, and they proceeded to deliver plate after plate of the freshest fish we’ve ever had, prepared very simply and so freaking delicious!Which album did you listen to last? The Moody Blues, Days of Future Passed.What book are you reading at the moment? The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. I’m slowly making my way through her entire oeuvre (slowly because I’m a slow reader…)Which TV show did you binge-watch last? The BearDo you have a funny joke for us? Why is the price of balloons so high right now? Inflation.What is one thing that you cannot live without? Hugs.The music industry is tough, and filled with rejection. How do you cope? Does it get easier? Whenever I’m faced with rejection, my mantra is, “head down, focus on the work.” Rejection doesn’t necessarily get easier, but one does become more accustomed to it—it’s an inescapable and consistent part of this career. My wife is a formidable source of love & support and can talk me down from anything. If my ‘nightwatchman’ mind takes me down a dark passage, I try as much as I can to pay attention to the present moment — the only moment us humans should really live in — and calm myself by deep breathing and mantra. Dwelling on the past or being anxious about the future is pollution from our minds, which takes us away from the events that are unfolding in front of us during each and every precious moment of life.Are you a perfectionist? Yes I am! I’m obsessed with details. I get overwhelmed when I first crack open a new opera score, because there is so much sensory input that happens at once: notes, words, key signatures, tempi, dynamics, stage direction, notation! However, once my ‘perfectionist mode’ of preparation on a role is complete, during the rehearsal process I try to let go of that and find the beauty of imperfection and learning from mistakes.What’s your guilty pleasure? No pleasures are guilty as far as I’m concerned. I do have a major sweet-tooth, so when I’m in NYC I very much enjoy a slice of banana cake with cream cheese frosting from Billy’s Bakery.Drink of choice? Corn ’n OilWhat was your childhood dream job? I was obsessed with being a house-builder for about a year, until I realized my fear of heights would not be the best match for that job.What’s your favourite mind-calming practice? Guided meditation using Sam Harris’s app Waking Up and listening to Michael Singer podcasts.