Grammy Award Nominee Will Liverman Discusses the New Era of American Opera, Taking Action, & Not Waiting for Permission!

It is my honor to introduce you to the amazing and award-winning Baritone Will Liverman! Will recently starred in the Metropolitan Opera’s reopening production of Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut up in My Bones in fall 2021 and will be returning to reprise his roles in Akhnaten (Horemhab) and The Magic Flute (Papageno) during the Met’s 2021-2022 season. Called “a voice for this historic moment” by the Washington Post, Mr. Liverman recently has been nominated for a Grammy Award for his album Dreams of a New Day - Songs by Black Composers which was released in February of 2021 by Cedille Records. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Traditional Classical chart and The New Yorker praised its “clarity, sensitivity, and barely contained heartbreak” while NPR claimed “velvet-voiced baritone Will Liverman is out to make the classical music canon more inclusive”. His album Whither Must I Wonder with pianist Jonathan King, out January 2020 on Odradek Records, was named one of the Chicago Tribune “best classical recordings of 2020” and BBC Music Magazine praised Will’s “firm, oaky baritone with a sharp interpretive attitude, admirable poise, and clarity of intention.”

Will has recently graced the stages of The Metropolitan Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Santa Fe Opera, Dallas Opera, Tulsa Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago just to name a few. Will truly is a generational talent that you run to go see. Whatever role he is tackling or song he is singing, just know that you are in for a real treat, and it will be something you remember for a lifetime. Will is truly that good and has honestly mastered his craft. I am very honored to have the chance to feature Will Liverman!

How old were you when you knew you wanted to become an Opera Singer?

I was about 17 or 18 years old when I decided that I wanted to sing opera. I was introduced to opera when I attended the Governor's School for the Arts in Norfolk, Virginia which is an all performing arts high school.

Where did you study? Are there any mentors or teachers who truly help you become the amazing performer you are today?
I did my Bachelors of Music at Wheaton College and got my Masters of Music at the Juilliard School. My late high school mentor and voice teacher, Robert Brown was a huge influence on my musical career in opera. Also, my teacher Dr. Carolyn Hart from my undergrad years is another person who was very imperative in my training.

Your performance in Terence Blanchard's Fire Shut Up in my Bones was truly a once in a lifetime performance, and watching you every night was truly an honor. What does it mean to you to know you were a part of history at The Metropolitan Opera?
It is still a surreal feeling to be a part of that historic run of Fire Shut Up In My Bones. It means a great deal to me to be one of the artists to help lead in a new era of American opera.

Fire Shut Up in My Bones Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMxSfPBaWXs Fire Shut Up in My Bones: TV Spot (30 sec)Terence Blanchard’s bold new opera opens the Met’s long-awaited 2021–22 season, starring baritone Will Liverman as Charles. James Robinson and Camille A. Brown’s powerful production runs September 27–October 23.www.youtube.com

Congratulations on the Grammy Nomination for Dreams of a New Day - Songs by black Composers. Where were you when you found out, and what was your initial reaction?

I watched the announcements of the nominations on my computer in my apartment. It seemed like it took FOREVER until they got to the classical music. I was quite shocked to say the least when I heard them call our project! I went for a celebratory run around Central Park.

Are there any other operas, performances, or moments in your career (other than Fire and The Grammy Nomination) that stick out and will always be near and dear to your heart?

When I was early on in my career, I had an opportunity to sing the role of Dizzy Gillespie in Charlie Parker's Yardbird by Daniel Schnyder. It was a new opera commissioned by Opera Philadelphia, and it toured to NYC at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. It was the first opera ever to be performed on that historic stage, and it was so cool to be a part of that experience!

What advice would you give any young artist who wants a career in the performing arts?

Get the creative ideas out of your head and write them down on paper! Take action and don't wait for permission.

For more information about Will make sure you visit his website at - http://www.willliverman.com