May Festival soloist credits school choir for his success

By Janelle Gelfand

Lawrence Brownlee is hailed as a bright star in the world of bel
canto opera – the kind of singer who can navigate the florid,
high-flying arias that often stop the show.

He’s been seen on TV with the New York Philharmonic in “Live
from Lincoln Center.” His opera performances, such as Rossini’s
“Armida” opposite Renée Fleming recently, have been seen by
millions in movie theaters around the world on “Live in HD” from
the Metropolitan Opera.

Brownlee, who has performed with Cincinnati Opera and the
Cincinnati Symphony, will make his May Festival debut in
Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” on Saturday in Music Hall.

None of this could have happened, said the 38-year-old Ohio
native, without his high school show choir at Youngstown East High
School.

“I’m a very proud Buckeye,” said the tenor by phone from
Toronto, where he was singing the role of the Prince in Rossini’s
bubbly opera, “La Cenerentola” (Cinderella). “We had a very good
high school music program. Because of my exposure to classical
music, it opened up so many experiences to me.”

The high school show choir made him realize there was a world
outside of Youngstown.