The Well Canto Convo: Sarah Lawrence, Purveyor of Joy

The Well Canto Newsletter - Volume 23

Jul 29, 2024

Sarah Lawrence, Soprano, Artistic Director, Producer, Community Leader, Educator, Mom and Wife, and Purveyor of Joy.

Photo: @shuttersmack

When you want something done, ask a busy person, right? Today we get to hear from a consummate professional who lives the daily life of a fully committed artist. Sarah’s incredibly diverse experiences include over 30 opera roles, Musical Theatre (five years on a National Tour), developing and running an opera company, and parenthood with her husband and artistic partner, tenor Calland Metts. As you read Sarah’s words of wisdom, notice the unflagging undercurrent of gratitude and optimism and humility - with a healthy dose of fearlessness - which is also embodied in her exquisite singing.

Sarah’s Bio

What are the personal qualities, characteristics, and personality traits that helped you become so successful in your artistic life and career?

SL: I don't think of myself as a particularly successful singer, but I was a blue collar working singer for a long time, and I am growing into a pretty good arts administrator! The old cliche about stubbornness is no joke: I remember looking around at some point in my singing life and wondering where everybody went . . suddenly I was the old lady in the quartet or the oldest member of a cast. I think I took that old Churchill quote, "Never, never, never, never give up" a little too seriously. The irony of the singing career is that by the time some of us slower developers are at a place of peace about what we bring to the work and how we interact with others, we are being phased out of roles. I envy young singers who have a solid sense of themselves, who interact easily with conductors and directors and colleagues. By the time that felt easy for me I was decades into it.

Sarah as Christine Daae on the 3rd National Tour of The Phantom of the Opera

Looking back on your professional life, what brings you the most satisfaction?

SL: That's an easy one: I cherish the friendships I formed along the way so much! I can't even talk about this without tearing up. The situations I've been in and the continued conversations and shared lives with wildly talented, thoughtful, funny humans are food for my soul! Every kind of work pal is a treat, from the dearest friends I chat with even when they are working across the ocean, to respected colleagues I have lost touch with but can now hire because I know they are wonderful on stage and off. It's all about relationships, and I cherish so many!! I am grateful for countless things about the life I've led, but the people I've shared space with - told stories, rehearsed, performed with - have inspired me and challenged me and made me laugh wherever I've gone. It's them. They're the ones who make me feel like the luckiest soprano in the entire world.

“It's all about relationships, and I cherish so many!!”

Sarah as Adina in L’elisir d’Amore with Lyric Opera of the North
Photo: Michelle Skirda

In what capacity do you work with up-and-coming artists?

I get to work with young artists in productions here in Duluth, and with our touring company, Little Opera of the North. Usually I'm working with them as the producer of the thing they're hired to do. Sometimes I get to speak with music students in our region at one of the area colleges or high schools.

What qualities in a developing artist do you feel will most point them toward success?

SL: This is all of course about my preferences as a person who hires singers, but . . . I suspect that a person will have more success if they really, truly, enjoy the lonely parts of the work (the repetition, the study, the perfecting of technique, the solo travel, the long hours alone when the rest of your pack is somewhere else). Then, of course, the obvious stuff: you have to have your stuff worked out - your technique and languages, yes, but also the way you take a note, the energy you bring to a room. You have to have super-thick skin but since nobody has that, maybe a better way to say it is, you need to be addicted to the chase the way people pursue other questionable or addictive habits: like, every no MIGHT be a yes next time. If that's fun for you, you'll probably be OK. I would also say this from a producer standpoint: if you don't clearly LOVE the singing-storytelling, if you aren't bringing joy to the process, then what are we doing here? The world is so dense with nasty, serious stuff right now. Let's be purveyors of joy. Let us in on some joy, please.

Adele meets Orlovsky (Christina Baldwin) in Die Fledermaus with Minnesota Orchestra

In general, what is your best advice to a developing artist?

SL: Remember joy. And remember that most singing opportunities are NOT at the big houses or on Broadway. They are everywhere. And those little companies are working so hard to keep arts thriving in every imaginable place in our country. You've got so many options - say yes to your options!

Sarah as Eliza Doolittle with husband Calland Metts as Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady at The Duluth Playhouse

If you had the chance to start over, would you choose the same professional path? Why?

SL: I don't think so. The whole thing looks terrifying. I was never terrified. It all seemed sort of . . . possible. So, I guess I was oblivious, yes. But not terrified.

Artistic Directors (and a whole lot more) of LOON, Calland Metts and Sarah Lawrence

“We need more Artists meandering through all of civilian life - please do not limit your gifts to the narrow pursuit of one type of singing goal.”

Any final thoughts?

SL: The world needs you, young artists! It does not need you to have a "Tier One" career or any other benchmark of success that has been invented for you to worry about. The World -- I -- need to hear your beautiful voice. I need to hear stories that give me glimpses into different worlds, stories that remind me of all the ways that we are the same. I want to hear you in your church choir, or singing the seventh inning stretch at the baseball game, or leading the kids at the middle school musical. We need more Artists meandering through all of civilian life - please do not limit your gifts to the narrow pursuit of one type of singing goal. Sing out, and keep singing. Say yes to all the things! And if you decide that you want a desk job that has health insurance, you are not a failure. Your voice is even more important there. Tell those people you are a singer. Sing. Do Not Stop Singing! (and dancing, and laughing. . . they are crucial, too).

“Say yes to all the things!”