Jon-Michael Ball has busily been rehearsing the role of Ralph (pronounced Raif) Rackstraw in the Lyric Opera production of HMS Pinafore. Mr. Ball recently answered a few questions posed by our readers.
1. How did your initial interest in the art form of opera begin?
Jon-Michael: My high school choir teacher was an opera singer. She took me to see my first opera, and she was in it as well!! She sang Fresquita in Carmen. I have loved opera ever since.
2. Where did you grow up?
Jon-Michael: I grew up in a small town in north Mississippi, Olive Branch. It’s a suburb of Memphis, TN.
3. Do you have a significant other? Children? Pets?
Jon-Michael: It’s just me. I’m always open to suggestions!!! No kids yet and no pets, but I love dogs!!!
4. What is an average day like for you? Do you have a set routine?
Jon-Michael: No set routine really, I workout and try to practice at least 2 hours a day.
5. What is your favorite opera to watch/experience?
Jon-Michael: This one is tough. I loved watching Cinderella with Joyce DiDonato when I was an apprentice at Santa Fe Opera back in 2006. However, I wish I could have been in it!!!
6. Have you performed your role in H.M.S. Pinafore before?
Jon-Michael: This is my first time singing Ralph in H.M.S. Pinafore.
7. What language(s) do you speak fluently?
Jon-Michael: English. I did study in Austria, so I can fake my way through a German conversation. But, I’m really rusty!!
8. What facts about you would our audiences be surprised to learn?
Jon-Michael: Most people would never guess that I’m a southerner. My accent went out the window after studying so many languages.
9. The opera role you haven’t performed, but would like to perform the most in your career?
Jon-Michael: Wow, another tough one. I love singing Lensky in Eugene Onegin, but I also love singing Tamino in The Magic Flute, but I also love sing Rodolfo in La bohème, but I also love singing Ottavio in Don Giovanni…I like sitting at the buffet of repertoire, and constantly filling my plate!!! A dream role for me would be Chevalier des Grieux in Manon Lescaut.
10. If you bumped into me at a coffee shop and learned that I had never been to an opera before, what would you say to entice me to give it a try?
Jon-Michael: Well first of all, I would apologize. I hate bumping into people, and I hope you didn’t spill your coffee. If you did happen to spill, I’d offer you free tickets to the show that I was currently doing, H.M.S. Pinafore of course!! I’d tell you, if you have never seen an opera, that this would be the perfect one for you. First, you’d get used to people randomly bursting into song and second, you’d love the dancing and the costumes and the orchestra and the amazing sets and all that wonderfully witty British humor!!!! And of course….me as Ralph!
