Meet Spinto Tenor, Peter Scott Drackley, making his OGR debut in Scalia/Ginsburg this March.
Where are you originally from?
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Who has inspired you/been your greatest influence professionally? Why?
My voice teacher, Alexandra Lobianco, because she taught me how to sing in the most efficient way, and how to tell the amazing stories of opera and be in the moment of the character
Who/what brought you into the world of Opera?
My parents brought me into the world of opera. My father is a conductor/pianist, and he taught me about his favorite singers like Leontyne Price, Beverly Sills, and Jussi Björling. My mother is a lyric soprano and voice teacher. Her favorite roles were the title role in Suor Angelica, Countessa in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Alice Ford in Falstaff. She was my first voice teacher, and I still check in with her. They are my biggest advocates and some of my most trusted ears.
Where do you live now?
I live in Queens in New York CIty
What are your hobbies when not performing?
I love to read, especially Fantasy/Science Fiction. I am currently about to start a new journey with “The Name of the Wind” by Patrick Rothfuss. I also love to make homemade candy and infuse liquor with flavors and creating cocktails. My favorite involves an earl grey tea infused vodka.
What is your favorite Role/Opera/Piece?
My favorite role to sing is Cavaradossi in Puccini’s Tosca. You get some amazing and exciting music, but you also get a lot of fun time backstage to play cards with your chorister friends! My favorite character to perform would be Rodolfo in Puccini’s la Bohème. I relate to the character so much, because I see Rodolfo as funny and goofy with his friends, but he is genuine and kind with Mimi. Even when he is jealous and angry, its because he is scared and hurting.
What is your favorite things about being a professional musician?
I love to travel! I have visited almost every state in the US, and I have been to 5 countries in Europe. I also have a wonderful network of friends and colleagues for whom I am so grateful! We all keep each other positive.
Least favorite?
My least favorite part of this career is the competitive nature. We as singers are always auditioning, and I have worked hard to allow auditions to be one moment in my life, and if a contract comes, wonderful! But my main mantra in this career is “Another person’s success does not mean my failure.”
Where is your favorite place to travel/perform? Why?
This is a hard question! I always find the place I am currently performing to be my favorite. I loved working with Sarasota Opera in Florida, because I would find some time almost every day to walk to the beach. It was such a recharging ritual. I love working with Anchorage Opera in Alaska as everyone there is so positive, and the food is to die for! And I loved my summers with Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico because of how interesting and artistic the city is. Plus, with the dry heat, my skin never looked so good!
What performances/plans do you have in the next year?
2020 has been an exciting year! It started with an amazing vacation to Disney and Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida with my partner. Then I traveled to Boise, Idaho to perform Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème, followed by Scalia in Scalia/Ginsburg both in Grand Rapids and Charlotte, North Carolina. I then return to Anchorage for the third time to sing Cavaradossi in Puccini’s Tosca, and then head to New Hampshire to sing my first Radamès in Verdi’s Aïda. I am so thrilled to return to Des Moines Metro Opera this coming summer to sing Pirelli in Sweeney Todd, sing Tchekalinsky and cover Gherman in Tchaikovsky’s Pique Dame, and then return to Opera Omaha to sing their Opera Outdoors concert. I like to stay busy!