Stanford Live Five is a blog series that shares the many voices of those who contribute to the performing arts at Stanford. We're inviting artists, staff, crew, and other Stanford Live "family" members from behind the scenes to answer five questions in our much abbreviated version of a Proust questionnaire.


  

Soprano Angela Brown brings her creative and ambitious recital program “Opera… from a Sistah’s Point of View” to Bing Concert Hall on Sunday, February 23, and uncovers for the audience the myths of opera through her lively commentary on the art and spirit of various operatic works. Angela joins the Stanford Live Five Series to share with us her unique understanding of opera. Here are her responses to our five questions:

                                                                                                                                                    

If you could trade lives with any performer or artist (living or dead), who would it be and why?

I would trade lives with Queen Latifa because she is a super mogul. She has makeup lines, clothing lines. She is a producer of music, hosts her own television show, is a performing artist for movies, music theatre and a rap artist. She began as a rap artist and turned that opportunity into other opportunities for performance and entrepreneurship. And, she's a plus size diva.

What are your favorite "guilty pleasure" artists to watch or listen to?

I don't consider any artist out here entertaining and doing what they do to make a living a "guilty pleasure."  They deserve to be enjoyed.  I enjoy good music, period.  Some of my favorites are:  Chaka kahn; Anita Baker; Queen Latifa; Gladys Knight; Earth, Wind and Fire; Luther Vandross; Stevie Wonder, to name a few.  Now, my "guilty pleasure" to watch? Real Housewives of Atlanta.

What are you reading or listening to right now?

The latest album from Earth, Wind and Fire:  Now, Then and Forever.

What was your favorite class in college?

Opera Workshop and Choir.

What's your hidden talent?

Needle art!  Crocheting, especially.

 

 

Angela Brown is an African-American dramatic soprano known for her unparalleled vocal power and her mission to bring operatic and classical vocal performance to a diverse audience. Her recital program “Opera… from a Sistah’s Point of View” at Bing Concert Hall features selections from Tannhäuser, Tosca, Aida, and more.