HP&P
Hook,
Push, &
Pray
A PODCAST SHOP TALKIN' OPERA WITH NICHOLAS BROWNLEE

HP&P +

TDO NETWORK PRESENTS "HOOK, PUSH, & PRAY"
Announcing an exciting new collaboration: Hook, Push, & Pray teams up with The Dallas Opera Network to bring you exclusive interviews with today's top opera stars, streaming live via Instagram to the comfort of your own couch. Join us as we combat the self-isolation blues with lively chats with some of our favorite singers.
Tune in every Friday at 1 PM CST on The Dallas Opera's Instagram page!
EPISODE 26: JULIET PETRUS | SOPRANO

We are BACK BABY!
On today's episode, I sit down with Juliet Petrus who, in addition to her active singing career, has also recently co-authored (along with Katherine Chu) a Mandarin Diction Guide Book...Yep, you read that right! Join us as we talk all things Mandarin to Michigan in this wonderful interview. And go buy her book!!
Find out about everything she's up to here: www.julietpetrus.com

About HP&P
HOOK, PUSH, & PRAY + NICHOLAS BROWNLEE
PHOTO © FAY FOX
HOOK, PUSH, & PRAY
debuted in 2019, and has featured guests such as bass-baritone Samuel Ramey and Director of Artistic Administration at The Dallas Opera, David Lomeli. American opera singer Nicholas Brownlee began the interview podcast Hook, Push, & Pray to provide trenchant insight into the modern opera world, as only someone currently in the trenches could. He saw the need for a broader conversation about how exactly one becomes a working opera singer on the international opera scene today, and has covered topics as far ranging as “traditional” opera vs. modern conceptual productions, rehearsal room conduct, and dealing with mental health issues while on the road. His interview subjects have hailed from all around the world (Mexico, Ukraine, America, Germany, and Canada, to date). Hook, Push, & Pray has been in collaboration with the Richard Tucker Foundation as well as Modern Singer magazine.
NICHOLAS BROWNLEE
is an internationally acclaimed young American opera singer currently based in Germany in the Ensemble of the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe. Nicholas has made debuts at such opera houses as the Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Atlanta Opera, The Dallas Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Israeli Opera and Teatro de São Carlos in Lisbon. Nicholas is a 2015 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions grand prize winner, 2016 first prize winner of the Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition, 2016 winner of the Zarzuela prize at Operalia, and was awarded the 2016 Sara Tucker Study Grant and 2017 Richard Tucker Career Grant from the Richard Tucker Music Foundation.

Episodes
ACCESS ALL EPISODES
Episode Archive
Episode 25: Lee Anne Myslewski
Episode 24: Hailey Clark
Episode 23: Alex Fletcher
Episode 22: Steven LaBrie
Episode 21: Marina Costa-Jackson
Episode 20: HPP Goes LIVE!
Episode 19: Derek Taylor
Episode 18: Jack Swanson
Episode 17: James Darrah
Episode 16: Sydney Mancasola
Episode 15: Zachary Altman
Episode 14: Jennifer Feinstein & Uliana Alexyuk
Episode 13: Rodrigo Porras Garulo
Episode 12: Matthew Anchel
Episode 11: Eleazar Rodriguez
Episode 10: Samuel Ramey
Episode 9: David Lomeli Pt. 2
Episode 8: David Lomeli
Episode 7: Sara Gartland
Episode 6: James Darrah
Episode 5: Dorothea Herbert
Episode 4: Wallis Giunta
Episode 3: Cameron Becker
Episode 2: Jennifer Feinstein
Episode 1: Nicholas Brownlee
EPISODE 25
On today's episode, I sit down with Wolf Trap Opera's Vice President, Lee Anne Myslewski. We discuss all things YAPs and how to become a successful young singer in this business. On a personal note, I went to Wolf Trap in 2013 as a YA and it was one of the best experiences of my life, so it was so fun to reminisce with Lee Anne about a place I adore so much. Such a fun conversation!
EPISODE 24
On today's episode I sit down with one of my best buddies and an incredible artist, Hailey Clark. Like me and so many other crazy American singers, Hailey made the jump over to Europe and has found an immense amount of success here in Germany. We really get into the nuts and bolts of how to find your place in the German opera world. Also, it's just really nice to listen to someone as bright and hopeful as HC!
EPISODE 23
On today's episode I sit down with artist manager, Alex Fletcher. Alex has owned his own agency, Fletcher Artists, for over a decade and is one of the most respected managers in the opera world today. Incredibly insightful interview with great advice for singers at all stages of their career. Enjoy!!
EPISODE 22
In this episode, I sat down to talk with baritone Steven LaBrie— this is a great episode if you're feeling the quarantine blues (it comes in waves for me, personally). Steven is fun, dynamic, and full of life. Editing this episode instantly put me in a better mood, and I hope it will do the same for you.
EPISODE 21
On today's episode, I sit down with one of today's most in demand singers, soprano Marina Costa-Jackson. Part of a trio of singing sisters, we discuss what life's like when the family business is Opera.
EPISODE 20
. . . And we're live! Hook, Push, & Pray was featured in Wanted Dead of Alive: A Podcast!, a live podcast event in collaboration with the Opera League of Los Angeles. For this special taping, I was joined by a panel of guests including LA Opera's Christopher Koelsch and Josh Winograde.
EPISODE 19
On today's episode I sit down with extraordinary artist and incredible tenor, Derek Taylor. Derek shares his unorthodox path to opera and how he navigated his move to Europe. I had such a good time in this interview- thanks for stopping by, Derek!
EPISODE 18
We are back! On today’s episode, the first of the summer season, Nicholas sits down with world-class tenor and friend of the show, Jack Swanson. Tune-in for an in-depth interview discussing the mental, financial and technical challenges of being a modern, in-demand, opera singer.
EPISODE 16
On this week's episode I sit down with star soprano, Sydney Mancasola. We talk about the difference between introverted and extroverted performers, lots of nerdy technique talk and her decades of violin study before she began singing.
EPISODE 15
On this week's episode I sit down with bass-baritone Zachary Altman - internationally acclaimed singer and long time friend - for a seriously heated debate about the state of opera. Settle in for an hour of scalding hot takes and aggressive insight.
EPISODE 14
On this week's episode mezzo-soprano Jennifer Feinstein joins me to speak about her recent Österreichischen Musiktheaterpreises nomination and soprano Uliana Alexyuk and I sit down for a chat about how she went from Moscow to Karlsruhe via Houston.
EPISODE 13
On today's episode I sit down with Mexican tenor Rodrigo Porras Garulo!
EPISODE 12
Want to hear to two people be very excited about Opera?? On today's episode, I sit down with bass, Matthew Anchel for a wonderful conversation about the art form we love so much!
EPISODE 11
On today's episode, the first one of season two, I sit down with Mexican Tenor and colleague of mine at the Badisches Staatstheater Eleazar Rodriguez.
EPISODE 10
On today's episode, I had the incredible chance to sit down with the most recorded bass-baritone of the 20th century, Samuel Ramey.
EPISODE 9
Part two of my interview with David Lomeli. Apologies for poor audio quality- problem is now fixed for future episodes.
EPISODE 8
Buckle up folks... In this two part interview, I sit down with former world-class Tenor turned front office guru, David Lomeli. He shares his incredible story for this first time with the Hook, Push and Pray audience.
EPISODE 7
Soprano Sara Gartland joins me today for an incredibly honest and real interview about her life on and off stage.
EPISODE 6
On today's episode, Nicholas sits down with Director James Darrah to solve the world's problems and talk about opera a little.
EPISODE 5
On today's episode, Nicholas sits down with German Soprano, Dorothea Herbert, just before a performance of Der Freischütz.
EPISODE 4
On today's episode, Nicholas sits down with Mezzo-Soprano Wallis Giunta, to discuss working as an opera singer in Germany and beyond.
EPISODE 3
On today's episode, Nicholas sits down with American Tenor, Cameron Becker.
EPISODE 2
On todays episode, Nicholas sits down with his wife and colleague Jennifer Feinstein to discuss the opera singing lifestyle and singing in Germany.
EPISODE 1
A weekly show hosted by Opera Singer Nicholas Brownlee, covering topics across the wide-world of opera. This Episode covers working in Germany as a non-German.
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HOOK, PUSH, & PRAY + NICHOLAS BROWNLEE
PHOTO © FAY FOX