20 (PLUS) QUESTIONS WITH: Baritone Paulo Szot
By Albert Imperato
25 Jan 2011
Paulo Szot
photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENNThe charismatic Polish Brazilian baritone Paulo Szot, who captured international media attention and unanimous critical acclaim with his Tony-winning portrayal of Emile De Becque in the revival of South Pacific, contributes to our informal Q & A series.
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In March 2010 he made his debut at New York’s Metropolitan Opera starring in Shostakovich’s The Nose, a performance praised by the New York Times for Szot’s “rich, virile sound and plaintive phrasing.”
Szot studied singing in Poland, and made his operatic debut was in São Paulo as Figaro in The Barber of Seville. His debut in New York was in 2003 with City Opera as Escamillo in Carmen. He began his current season at the Dallas Opera – also a debut – as Mozart’s Don Giovanni. 1. A few works of classical music that you adore:
It 's hard to mention a few, but: Mozart's Symphony N.25 in G minor, Chopin's Piano Sonata N. 3in B minor Op.58, Mahler's Symphony No. 5 2. Classical music recordings that you treasure:
Beethoven's Symphonies conducted by Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra; Mozart Operas conducted by James Levine 3. Favorite non-classical musicians and/or recordings:
Tom Jobim, Richard Rodgers, Marvin Hamlisch, Stanislaw Hadyna, Chico Buarque, Astor Piazzolla 4. Music that makes you cry – any genre:
Chopin's Nocturnes, especially Op. 48 No. 1 5. Definitely underrated work(s) or composer (s):
Maybe Stanislaw Moniuszko 6. Possibly overrated work(s) or composer (s):
I am not sure. I don't believe there's a rule to love a composer or a piece. One can adore Mozart, while others don't. 7. Live music performance (s) you attended – any genre – that you’ll never forget:
The first concert of the Polish Ensemble Slask and my first opera at the Metropolitan Opera House 8. A few relatively recent films you love: Talk to Her, Pride and Prejudice, Vicki Cristina Barcelona, Gran Torino, City of God, Invictus. 9. A few films you consider classics: Tartuffe (Murnau), Children of Paradise (CarnВложение 48586, E La Nave Va (Fellini), The Dresser (Yates), Gone with the Wind, Star Wars, The Sound of Music, A Chorus Line, The Color Purple. 10. A few books that are important to you (and why): Voltaire: Candide, or the Optimist; Poems by Fernando Pessoa; Chekhov: The Cherry Orchard; Machado de Assis: Memorias Postumas de Braz Cubas (a post-mortem and very interesting way of looking back at life); Oscar Wilde: The Picture of Dorian Gray, to mention a few. 11. Thing(s) about yourself that you’re most proud of:
I stand for what I believe without trying to make others having the same opinion. 12. Thing(s) about yourself that you’re embarrassed by:
My tendency to believe in people 13. Three things you can’t live without:
Sun, showers and the Internet 14. “When I want to get away from it all I…”
...stop answering the phone, checking e-mails and never tell anyone where I am going to be. 15. “People are surprised to find out that I…”
...am shy. 16. “My favorite cities are…”
...by the ocean 17. “I have a secret crush on…”
If I tell you I will ruin my secret 18. “My most obvious guilty pleasure is…”
...ice cream 19. “I’d really love to meet (or to have met)…”
MOZART 20. “I never understood why…”
...some people can just close their eyes and fall asleep whenever they want. BONUS QUESTION: 21. Question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer to that question): Q: What do YOU like to DO?
