Performing outdoors during the summer season can be a wonderful, fulfilling experience. It can also be hot, humid, rainy, buggy, noisy, or distracting. Or all of the above.
Harrowing anecdotes abound. Courtney Carey, a baritone, conductor, and producer of outdoor concerts, remembers a chorister overheating and fainting during a performance of “Casta Diva” from Bellini’s Norma. Bass Michael Chadwick recalls the time when his costume for an outdoor performance of Jesus Christ Superstar was stored in a cabin, which led to a tick embedding itself on his head. And soprano Michelle Trovato, who also produces outdoor concerts, will never forget the time when a big bug flew into a colleague’s dress, got stuck between two layers, and buzzed furiously throughout the colleague’s aria. Trovato reports that the colleague maintained her sang froid and performed beautifully, but once the aria concluded she and Trovato maneuvered themselves behind the music stands and extricated the noisy intruder as unobtrusively as possible, keeping their expressions calm.
Despite the threats of such scenarios, many singers welcome the opportunity to perform outdoors. “I love the spirit that people bring to outdoor performances,” says Trovato. “I love that audiences are typically more diverse and that they represent a wide range of ages, from babies to the very elderly.” Carey, who produces opera-oriented concerts in parks in Manhattan, appreciates the combination of treelined surroundings and a beautiful sound. He adds, “It’s really cool when people hear the music from their apartments and come down to get a closer look … You can connect with people outside of your usual network.”
And with a little preparation, singers can manage many of the risks and deliver a strong performance. Weather is one of the most important variables to consider. “You’re either freezing or you’re roasting or it’s raining,” Trovato notes. “Rarely do you get that perfect day.” But there are ways to cope. For example, for hot weather, she chooses fabrics that don’t show sweat stains and offer some degree of breathability. Good options might include silk, cotton, or mesh. One of her best choices was a long gold sequined gown that had full mesh sleeves. Although the temperature reached 95 the day she performed in it, she felt more comfortable because breezes penetrated the fabric.
Carey recounts the case of a tenor who wanted to dress beautifully for a performance that took place on the hottest day on record in New York City for the year. The tenor had a blazer, shirt, tie, and pants, and Carey feared that the tenor was going to pass out from heat stroke. But the tenor soldiered on, although at some point he removed the tie. Other singers should probably eschew this model and try to balance looking nice with maintaining comfort. Given that outdoor concerts tend to foster a more relaxed atmosphere, it’s perfectly reasonable for singers to dress in a more relaxed manner.
Trovato warns that outdoor stages can be metallic and slippery. It’s best to avoid stilettos in favor of block heels, wedges, or flats.
Singers should also think carefully about hair and makeup. “Use a setting spray and good products that won’t run into your eyes if you sweat,” Trovato advises. Hair styles, meanwhile, should accommodate the possibility of forehead perspiration.
One of the hardest things for opera singers to get used to are microphones. In many indoor venues, singers can feel their sounds vibrating out to the public. This is not the case outdoors, when sounds dissipate quickly. For this reason, mics are a must. Carey encourages singers to step close to the microphone so that the sounds not only reach the audience, but so that the singers can get a better sense of their sympathetic vibrations.
Mic, check. Weather-friendly outfit, check. Hair and makeup set, check. What else? For starters, don’t forget the bug spray, especially if a performance takes place when the mosquitos are out and about. Worried about gnats, flies, or other bugs? Breathe through your nose. But the most important factor for successful outdoor performances is a singer’s ability to ignore distractions of any kind, from sirens to beeping horns to hyperactive audience members. “Stay engaged in the music,” Carey urges. “Stay in character.”
Trovato advocates the same. She emphasizes that singers must approach outdoor performances with a mindset that anything could happen. “The sound could cut out; the lights could cut out,” she warns. “Somebody could run on stage and moon everybody. The show must go on. You just keep doing what you’re doing.”
Producers can help minimize distractions by planning well in advance and hiring a solid audio engineer. The same performance that landed Chadwick with a tick was memorable in other ways. He recalls: “The floor mics picked up all the buzzing insects and frogs and noisemakers in the trees.” Carey avoids these sorts of situations by hiring audio engineers who are highly skilled.
To avoid further distractions, Carey suggests announcements before the performance begins that no recording or filming is allowed. He finds that singers get nervous when they see someone with a camera in hand because they worry that the person might post the clip online. However, some outdoor performances may even encourage filming and sharing to promote the producers and/or the artists.
In conclusion, singers and organizers should address any aspects of outdoor performances that can be controlled, but keep an open mind for the unexpected, which may lead to surprisingly positive experiences. Take the case of tenor Robert White. During an outdoor performance at Wave Hill in the Bronx, he swallowed a bug just as he was going for a big high note. But, as he recounted to the New York Times, it was the best high note of his career.
