After graduating from UF, Adelaide Boedecker (BM Vocal Performance ‘11) pursued a Master of Music in vocal performance and literature from Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Performing in various summer and yearlong programs helped Boedecker jump-start her career. Recently, she moved to Las Vegas to star the role of Clorinda in La Cenerentola. Here, Boedecker talks about her career inspirations, the art form of opera, and her love of pop culture.
Do you prefer doing theatrical performances or giving concerts?
I think there is merit to both theatrical performances and solo recitals. If I am being honest, I do prefer theatrical performances. My favorite aspect of this job is that we get to help audiences escape from reality for a little bit through our storytelling with music. So I love it when I can delve into a character totally unlike myself, put on a wig, wear stage make-up, and have costumes and sets which help transport audience members to a different world.
As a young opera singer, how do you view opera and where would you like to see the art form heading?
I view opera as the ultimate expression of true emotion. I think of it like a film, except we have the most epic soundtrack, which completely mirrors the thoughts and feelings of the characters. I feel that an opera truly succeeds when someone comments after a show that they loved the “plot of the play.” When that is said, I know that people got lost in the storyline, and they weren’t paying attention to the fact that the actors were singing their lines. In short, I view opera as a vehicle to tell a captivating story.
Where I would like to see opera heading is back to its roots. Opera, for most of its existence, has been made for the common man. It hasn’t been until fairly recently that we saw a departure from that. Today, opera makes statements on current events, have cleverly written lines, are written in the vernacular, and have gorgeous melodies. The “classical music” community has seen a shift away from melodic lines for some time, and we are just now returning to those. I think there are heart-warming, heart-wrenching and funny stories we can tell. I would love to see opera make an impact in the way it used to, to see opera produced for the general public and to hear people humming the tunes from the opera as they are leaving the theater. This is definitely starting to happen, and I know that we have an exciting future ahead of us!
What is something that people might not know about you?
I am a pop-culture and movie-watching addict. I love keeping up to date with everything pop-culture related and I am weirdly knowledgeable about all things film-related. It has come in very handy for trivia.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
When you do an audition remember this: All you can do is your best. The rest is out of your control. Know that auditioning is likened to people going to an ice cream shop. You (the singer) may be the best strawberry ice cream that has ever been created, but if someone (the people hiring you) loves mint, they will always choose that, no matter what. So, do not get down when someone doesn’t pick you. You may have been amazing in your audition, but they weren’t looking for your particular flavor that day. Someday soon, someone will be looking for exactly what you have to offer.
