The Collegiate Choral celebration of champagne was indeed a memorable event, during which I had the pleasure of acquainting myself with a number of prestigious individuals in the opera industry. My first interview was with Mr. Robert Bass, the music director for the event. My first question to him was how he acquired his skills as a conductor, to which he indicated that he learned conducting at a prestigious conservatory, but already decided to pursue conducting while in High School. Mr. Bass has conducted orchestras for over twenty five years. When I asked him about the night’s event, he told me that it is a celebration, incorporating music from Johannes Strauss about champagne, and the different ways champagne has been used to celebrate events—there will be champagne related opera songs sung by their two opera singers, Elizabeth Futral and Richard Troxell. Mr. Bass has toured internationally, performing in Vienna, Prague (Czech Republic), and a host of other countries. He was scheduled to perform in China, but, sadly, because of the outbreak of SARS, his trip had to be cancelled.

Although Mr. Bass’s organization does not have a school of its own, it does collaborate, along with composers from all around the world, with numerous schools within the NYC Public School system. His role models include such famous people in music as Leonard Bernstein (composer & conductor) and Robert Shaw (conductor). Mr. Bass pointed out that the majority of training involved in opera involves vocal technique and breathing. His advice to any aspiring folks in the area of music is “If you have the tenacity and the passion, and if you can overcome the rejection, then go for it! Mr. Bass holds fundraisers every January and June at Carnegie Hall. Mr. Bass’s final comment is that music, since September 11, has been a place where numerous people have turned, due to its healing effect on people.

The next interviewee was Mr. Richard Troxell, who has been performing for 10 years. He formerly trained at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, which has many of its arts in opera, and has performed in France, Italy, Tunisia, His role models include people like Luciano Pavarotti, as well as most of the older opera performers. Mr Troxell is a member of the New York City Opera. I take my hat off to Mr. Richard Troxell, opera extraordinaire!

I also had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Elizabeth Futral, from the Metropolitan Opera Association. Ms. Futral has been a singing freelance for the past eleven years. She has toured the world, singing throughout Europe and the United Kingdom. In addition to the U.S., she has, had past performances in Canada, England, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, France and Japan. Her current repertoire is almost entirely oper. Her role models are Joan Sutherland, Mirella Freni, and Beverly Sills. Mis Futral


will soon be releasing a cd, which will be titled “Elizabeth Futral, Sings Great Operatic Arias”

Lastly, I had the pleasure of meeting one of the most classic and refined actors of the twentieth century, Mr. Tony Randall. This distinguished gentleman has been an actor for over 65 years. He has starred in over 40 movies (far too many to name). Some of his more prominent movies include “Let’s Make Love”, “Pillow Talk” and “Work for Peace.”. Mr. Randall has been a star of stage, screen and commercials for years. He is now also the proprietor/owner of his own theatre in Manhattan, the National Actor’s Theatre where he holds a variety of performances, some of which he himself also stars in. Mr. Randall, it was a pleasure to have made your acquaintance!

I wish to thank each of Mr. Robert Bass, the director of music for this wonderful celebratory event, Mr. Richard Troxell, a most magnificent tenor operatic performer, Ms. Elizabeth Futral, a most superbly refined soprano and Mr.Tony Randall, truly a classic, well refined actor for allowing the Liberty News Online Magazine to interview them, without which this article would not have been made possible.

Ladies and gentleman, be sure to mark your calendars for upcoming events held by the Collegiate Chorale: “Magnificat: Glory of the Season” (December 9), “Verdi, Un Ballo in Maschera—OPERA GALA, featuring SalvadorLicitra, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Heidi Grand Murphy (March 31, 2004) and Prokofiev, Alexander Nevsky with original 1938 film (May 25, 2004).