UGA Opera Theatre Student Spotlight
Marisan Corsino
Hometown: Dallas, TX
UGA program/major: DMA Vocal Performance
Year in school: 1st year
What is your earliest musical memory? My first musical memories are of my mother singing songs to me and my brother.
Does anybody else in your family work in music related business? No
Do you play any other musical instrument? Some piano.
Do you have any experience, as an audience member, that influenced you as a musician? Well, I have had many experiences as an audience member that have influenced me as a musician, but singing the 9th symphony of Beethoven as part of the choir at the age of 16 made me decide to dedicate my life to music. The junction between the orchestra and the voices fascinated me; there is nothing else quite like it.
When did you start considering vocal performance? My last year of high school.
What do you consider as a milestone in your performance career? There have been many mile stones in my journey as a singer but one that comes to mind is when I performed my first Cherubino in Naples, Italy. It was my first experience singing a role abroad and it was amazing.
What was your favorite scene in past UGA Opera Theatre productions? This is my first year at UGA and I have not had the opportunity of seeing past productions.
What is your favorite scene in the next UGA Opera Theatre production? My favorite scene in Carmen is the last scene of the 4th act but I also love the Gypsy trio at the beginning of the second act and Don Jose’s Flower aria.
Do you have any hobby? I enjoy learning new languages, dancing and writing poetry.
If you could be or do anything else – what would it be? I do not see myself doing anything else, but if I had to, I would find an area within the music world that would allow me to continue to share music with others.
If you could go back in time, when and where would you like to live? If I could go back in time I would travel to Egypt during the time the pyramids were built and live there for a while so that I can figure out how they were constructed. After I figure that out I would come right back to the present. J
If you could have dinner with five famous people from history, who would they be? Einstein, Toscanini, Beethoven, Monet, and Maria Callas.
What is your dream opera role? There are so many but Carmen is definitely one of them.
Your career goals: Making a living out of performing alone and having an international operatic career.
Is there any interesting opera backstage story you would like to share? There are so many from my past performances but I still don’t have a backstage experience with my fellow UGA colleges. I am looking forward to what happens in Carmen. I would like to share though an anecdote that was very important to me that happen during a performance. Several years ago while performing, at the still under construction, Dallas Winspear Opera house I had the privilege to sing for the philanthropist, Bill Winspear. During the intermission I was able to meet and speak with him, he was very sick but he still had a smile on his face, grateful for the experience. This was a very special moment because even though the Opera house was not yet completed he had the opportunity, before his death, to hear music in the space that thanks to him was being built and where later many great operas have been performed. It was an honor for me to be able to give back in a small way to someone who contributed so much to the arts.
What one word would you use to describe yourself? Persistent
www.marisan-corsino.com