The Met Opera’s ‘Grounded’ Star Emily D’Angelo Talks Travel And Opera

Emily D’Angelo, a magnetic mezzo-soprano originally from Toronto, Canada, stars in the Metropolitan Opera’s contemporary work “Grounded,” streaming Live in HD to cinemas around the world this Saturday, October 19 at 1:00pm ET. She plays the lead roleof Jess and commands the stage with her signing. The production was the MET’s season premier and earned fantastic reviews from the toughest of critics.

A Deutsche Grammophon exclusive recording artist, D’Angelo’s debut album energeia was named one of the 50 best albums of 2021 by NPR. This August, she released freezing, which features 17 songs drawn from folk tradition, art song, and beyond.

I interviewed D’Angelo about her experience working with composer Jeanine Tesori, a memorable travel experience in remote Germany, and her favorite spots in her hometown of Toronto.

My favorite opera that’s not my own is…

This is such a tough question; the operatic repertoire is vast and varied, and there is so much of it that I adore: timeless masterpieces that are impossible to compare or choose between. Grounded by Jeanine Tesori is the opera I am performing in this month at The Met in NYC; the main role, Jess, has become one of my most beloved characters ever, and she was only created a couple of years ago. Maybe my next favorite opera is something that does not even yet exist. That is exciting to imagine.

My pre-performance ritual…

The day of a performance I always exercise to warm up my body. Usually Pilates. Eating is also pretty important. Then once I’m in my dressing room I warm up my voice. I sometimes will video-call my voice teacher for 15 minutes or so before the performance. She helps me to get my voice ready.

After a performance, I…

… am usually equal parts exhausted and exhilarated. Singing a show takes a lot of energy, which results in a fair bit of adrenaline; going straight to sleep after a performance would be virtually impossible. I almost always walk or bike home after a show to burn off some of that energy.

My favorite kind of operagoer…

Shows up with an open mind. Whether it’s their very first experience, or one of countless evenings spent at the theater, an open-minded audience member is the most enjoyable to perform for, and, more importantly, the audience member who will most enjoy their experience at the opera.

The best piece of career advice I’ve received is…

Celebrate the happy moments. It’s beautiful advice that’s not about success, or about ambition, or about industriousness. It’s about: life’s short. Don’t let the good stuff pass you by because you’re singularly focused on “what’s next.” Every important person in my life over the age of 70 has told me this, in so many words.

Get the most out of an opera by…

Realizing that sometimes the cheap seats are the best seats. Opera is an acoustic, aural experience. It can be very cool to sit near to the stage and see everything up close and personal, but a more distant vantage can be wonderful for listening to opera, as well as seeing it. The higher up seats provide a kind of birds eye view to experience the larger picture, as well as some of the best acoustics in the house, where the orchestra and voices blend in perfect harmony. And if you like seeing micro-expressions of the performers, you are always more than welcome to bring your binoculars (seriously).

My favorite restaurant in Toronto is…

Napoli Centrale. It’s a great pizza spot on Bathurst Street.

The morning after a big performance, I…

… hopefully am able to sleep in a bit. Performances usually mean late nights, so I try not to schedule anything too early the next morning. Rehearsals at most theaters take place 10am-6pm; opening night means suddenly your working hours are more like 5pm-12am. It’s almost like jet lag.

My preferred way to destress is to…

move. Getting outside for a walk is almost always a good idea. Especially when I am so fortunate to be working in some of the great cities of the world, I take in the culture whether it’s at an art gallery, a concert, or a simple stroll around the neighborhood.

The destination I love to travel to most for work is…

…another very difficult question. Travel is a constant, so I have become pretty good at making myself at home wherever I am. Once, when I was making a recording in very remote northern Germany, the one and only hotel in the area was closed for water damage and found myself sleeping in an outdoor barrel sauna at a campground. That was fine, but I can say I do prefer city life.

My favorite spot in Toronto is…

Lady York. The best grocery store in the city (if you like Italian food).