My Dinner with Diego

Diego Matamoros, baritone and chef, prepares dinner
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Today I talked with baritone Diego Matamoros about how he plans to prepare for our performance of MOSKVA, CHEREMUSHKI tomorrow night. Unlike many singers who focus on conserving energy on show day, Diego finds that he needs to blow off steam in order to be loose enough to perform - and a good workout has the added benefit of clearing his sinus passages. Instead of hitting the gym as he would in New Haven, Diego plans to soak in the sun and swim some laps in the Milan public pool. He will slow down closer to the downbeat and relax with his colleagues - generally the Yale men keep any performance jitters at bay with a friendly video game competition in their dressing room.

Diego sits down to dinner with Olivia Vote and Grant Meachum
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Diego has just completed his Artist Diploma at Yale. One of the most valuable lessons he has learned is to be self aware for excess movements while he sings. Or, as one coach has instructed, “no shaking the butt!” Directly after our Milan performances, Diego will leave for a 6 day bike tour in Switzerland -- getting a folding bike through TSA may actually be more difficult than singing in Russian. After that he should be very loose for an appearance at the Music Festival di Alba (July 18-28). Next season, among other engagements, Diego will make his Metropolitan Opera debut in Prokofiev’s War and Peace.

Today I talked with baritone Diego Matamoros about how he plans to prepare for our performance of MOSKVA, CHEREMUSHKI tomorrow night