In Part 1 of this interview held with Thomas Hampson, international opera singer, January 11, 2012 in Los Angeles, Hampson spoke about how he can switch from singing Verdi opera roles with Mahler's music, by maintaining a philosophy and practice of balanced living.
Continuing here, Hampson speaks about sharing his passion for song literature with new audiences, through the tools of technology. Hampson also gives insight into how he runs his non-profit foundation, Hampsong.org, and his Song of America programs, coming soon to our classical music radio station, KUSC 91.5 FM.
Excerpts of the hour long and comprehensive conversation continues.
The last time we met was years ago, when we sang together at the Zurich Opera, Switzerland. You seem to have found the fountain of youth. You’ve hardly aged at all. Do you follow any special disciplines that sustain you?
Well, I don’t know about that! Hampson laughs and with a twinkle in the eye continues: maybe when we’re sitting in a dark lit corner – so that the grey hair doesn’t show so much! But, I’ve earned it and am proud of my greying temples.
(We both laugh)
First of all, I am very fortunate that I have a fairly sound constitution. My wife and I are very religious about living properly. I've never had tremendous problems or vices. I don’t have a problem with alcohol. I don’t smoke. I do enjoy a smoke once and awhile, and enjoy a good red wine once and a while with dinner.
But I think more importantly than specifics which are completely irrelevant, my life has always been, and I’ve always believed very strongly in, BALANCE.
Hampson leans forward and speaks very intently: So, when you say “switch” - I never use that word.
To me, when I know that I’m going to sing Mahler or Verdi or a set of recitals, I try to make sure that whatever the physical demands of that tour’s going to be, or that time will be, that I’m planning that correctly.
Exercise, sleep and a proper diet – you’re going to be fine. So, if that’s the fountain of youth, then we’ve found it! There is no Pill that is going to get you through it.
Thank goodness for that. However, I was looking at your schedule this year, and you have an amazingly heavy performance schedule this year, not mention last year’s.
Last year was pretty crazy!
Last year, I noticed you did over 50 orchestral concerts of Mahler’s music in Europe and America, performed your first Iago in a new production of Verdi’s opera, Otello at the Zurich Oper, Switzerland --
And the world premiere in San Francisco this past fall! (Singing the lead role in “Heart of a Soldier” a new opera by Christopher Theofanidis and Donna Di Novelli).
This past fall, the months of Sept, Oct, 2011 -, that almost did me in! Back to back premiers, what was I thinking? Then, I lost my father in November.
The fall was just rock and roll – a lot of highs and lot lows.
Hampson pauses to remember, and quietly adds: It just felt like real thick life.
Along with all this intensity that you’ve been talking about in your career and personal life, you also have your syndicated radio program, Song of America. Can you tell me more about that?
Good. The Song of America has been a project over the last several years. Every culture has it’s song tradition. The inevitable question is well, gee Shubert is great, Schumann and Brahms, and all these guys and Mahler are great. But why don’t we have that over here? Who are our guys, and women?
So, I have been working in tours, with the Hampson Foundation, the Song of America website, and lately with the WMFT Radio of Chicago – with this idea of the history of American culture seen thru the eyes of our poets, and heard through the ears of our composers. It's a nice bump line, and it kind of grabs you.
You can look through various prisms as how we become America. Hampson speaks with quiet intensity,and continues: And each generation tried to identify what it means to be American. Whether you were born here, or you came here, or thrown here, or exiled here - everybody who had these experiences wrote something.
And this was, and remains my raison d’etre, for this Song of America project.
THE INTERVIEW CONTINUES IN PART 3 - see link in grey box below
for more information: www.SongofAmerica.net, www.Hampsong.org
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