Music Monday: A Passion For The Opera

Since 2002, Maria Billingsley has been the executive director of the Martinez Opera, a group of professional opera singers who periodically perform productions in Martinez. She single-handedly revived the group from its origins in 1889. The next event, Belle Voci, will be Saturday, Oct. 15 at Telfer Hall, 604 Ferry St. The show, a benefit for Martinez Opera, will feature cocktails at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., and a show at 7 p.m. Tickets are $45 per person and available at the Martinez Opera Website.

Martinez Patch had a conversation with Billingsley to find out more about her and her passion for opera.

Q: How long have you been involved with opera? 

I started singing in 1990. MY first teacher, Marian Anderson, took me under her wing, I was 30 years old. After a few lessons she discovered my classical voice, a mezzo, and started teaching me "bell canto", the Italian way of training a classical voice. In one month she had me on stage and within three years I was singing in small opera companies in the Bay Area and landed some pretty good roles such as Carmen, Santuzza and Orlofsky.Then in 2002 I decided to bring the beauty of opera to Martinez. Much to my surprise, I learned that Martinez was the first opera company in California in 1889. 

More on history: http://www.mtzo.com/opera/daysgoneby.php

More of Maria-scroll down to the article JEWEL BOX 925: http://www.mtzo.com/opera/inthenews.php

Q: What inspired you to form the Martinez Opera? 

When I hear the operatic voice I get very moved. I grew up in house with lots of operatic and classical music. My mother was a singer  and my father played the guitar.  Then when I was older, I realized that my exposure to this beautiful art form grew in me. My motivation for bringing opera to Martinez has much to do with exposing others to the beauty of this music. There are people who live here who have never attended nor have even considered opera. My job is to introduce and nurture opera in our community, you never know when the next Mozart will appear, it may be in Martinez. And its never too late to learn to appreciate opera.

Q: From where do you get your singers? 

All of our singers are professionally trained and come to us from the U.S. We have two auditions a year and have hired singers as far as  New York. We prefer to hire West Coast singers if we are able to.

Q: What are your three favorite operas, and why?

Carmen because of the passion. La Traviata because of the music. Madame Butterfly because of both.

Q: What obstacles have you encountered putting on productions in Martinez? 

We have had many. Our motto is "Don't panic, roll up your sleeves'! 

Q: What are the future plans for Martinez Opera? 

To continue what we have been providing for the past nine years and hope to be able to raise enough money to produce a fully-staged opera with an orchestra.