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A few moments with Andrew 'Pirelli' Drost
By: BWW Mar. 02, 2004
In the upcoming and much anticipated "Sweeney Todd" at NYCO,
Andrew Drost tackles the role of Pirelli. BWW's Marie Forbes
sat down with Andrew to talk about his NYCO Debut...
MARIE: Andrew, before I talk to you about Sweeney Todd, tell me how you decided to pursue a career in opera?
ANDREW: Before I even entertained the idea to try and become an opera singer I was a professional ballet dancer for ten years. During my last year with the Miami City Ballet I had become good friends with a young dancer who was an opera fanatic. We would listen to opera recordings together and I really felt a connection with the music… it was so beautiful and passionate. So one day while listening to the great Franco Corelli I said to my friend, "I wonder if I can sing like that? I bet I can." So I let out this high B natural (not really knowing what was going to happen), and I guess it was pretty good because he went crazy. Next thing you know Miami City Ballet is on tour in the New York area and I decided to take a voice lesson with a coach that was a cousin of a friend of a friend… literally! I chose two arias; "La Donna e Mobile" and "Lamento di Federico" (both great arias) and I "taught" them to myself by listening to recordings. So, I Sing the "Lamento" followed by "La Donna e mobile" and the guy says: "Well, there definitely is a voice there!" He made a phone call to Josh Hecht, who would later be my first voice teacher, and said, "I have a kid here that wants to be a Tenor. I think you should hear him." The next day I sang for Hecht. Same arias, same order. He looked at me very seriously and said, "Kid, that is the worst Italian I have ever heard in my life! But there IS a voice there. Come back and see me when you are done with this whole dance thing." Ten months later.... that is exactly what I did.ANDREW: My voice teacher, Virginia Grasso, decided to have me sing for the Head of Music Preparation at NYCO. I was starting to make some progress with Virginia and she wanted another opinion. He thought we were on the right track and made a few suggestions and we left. Shortly there after, Virginia called and told me that there was an audition for the role of Pirelli in Sweeney Todd and that NYCO would like me to sing for it! I quickly learned the music and prepared for the audition. I sang Pirelli's aria and the aria from "La fille du Regiment", and literally four days later they offered me the job!
MARIE: Tell us a bit about Sweeney Todd, the production, the rehearsal process, the cast… ANDREW: First of all, in my humble opinion, Sweeney Todd is Sondheim's masterpiece. Not to mention that it is one of the greatest musicals ever written. I love to hear different bits of information from the director about Sondheim's intentions with certain musical selections. I think I love the show even more now, if it's possible! I notice something different everytime I am in rehearsal. It is brilliant!The director is Arthur Masella who worked on Sweeney with Hal Prince the first time he directed the show. Working with Artie has been amazing. I have learned so much about "theater" and stage direction from watching him work with the other cast members as well as the work he did with me personally. We have been rehearsing for three weeks now and the show opens in one more week. We are just now starting to work on the actual set! Artie said on the first day of rehearsals: "We do not have nearly enough time to do this production but we have to do it. I need everyone to really pay attention so we don't have to go back and re-stage scenes. We don't have time for that." He said that, but I feel that Artie is such an efficient director and knows the show so well that time has not been a big issue. The show was on its feet after two weeks and now we are polishing and refining in preparation for the opening preview on March 5th.
The cast is unbelievable! I cannot imagine a better Sweeney Todd cast. The two Sweeneys are Mark Delevan and Timothy Nolen. It is interesting, this is Mark's first Sweeney and Tim's 10th. They both bring so much to the role. Mark is one of the best "Verdi" baritones in the world today and he really makes for a powerful Sweeney. Tim's Sweeney is his own and it is something to behold! Then you have the legendary Elaine Paige and Myrna Paris as Mrs. Lovett. They are both so wonderful and each has their own idea about who Mrs. Lovett is and Artie lets them explore the character and find what works for them. Elaine is such a professional. I love watching her work - her timing is impeccable. You can see why she is one of the most popular female performers on the London stage. Myrna is a powerhouse as Mrs. Lovett. She plays a Mrs. Lovett with many layers, one of which is a delicious "nastiness." The two Johannas, Sarah Coburn and Tonna Miller couldn't be more perfect for the part. They are two very beautiful young ladies with gorgeous voices. In fact they are both so pretty that one might think they were type cast for their looks. You quickly lose that thought when you hear them sing! The Anthonys, Keith Phares and Scott Hogsed are...you guessed it, tall and handsome with beautiful voices – must be tough! Then you have Judge Turpin played by the brilliant Walter Charles. Walter is a powerful actor and singer, amazing is all I have to say. The "Beggar Woman" is played by Broadway veteran Judith Blazer. She gives this role everything she has. All of the little nuances that she has developed over the past weeks of rehearsal are phenomenal. The "Beadle" is played by Roland Rusinek. Roland is a fine actor and singer. Not to sound redundant but he is perfect for the Beadle. Of course I can't forget my sidekick Tobias played by the amazing Keith Jameson. You couldn't cast this part any better. Keith is an incredible singer and has really "dug deep" inside to find out who Tobias Ragg really is, he sings the best "Nothin's gonna harm you" that I have ever heard.
MARIE: As I understand, Sweeney Todd is your debut with New York City Opera. How does it feel being a relative newcomer working with a cast of such seasoned professionals?ANDREW: You're right, Sweeney Todd is my NYCO debut and I feel incredibly lucky to be working with such an amazing cast! As a "newcomer" to the world of opera I feel that I am learning a lot from watching people who have been in the business a while and really know their craft better than most. I also have to point out that I never felt like a "newcomer." Everyone in the cast treated me as an equal right from the beginning. I also take advantage of talking to my colleagues and hearing what they have to say about the business and learn from their experiences. MARIE: With a successful career in ballet and now tackling Opera, what advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career in the performing arts? ANDREW: The first thing I tell any young singer, dancer or actor is PERSEVERE. If you really want it bad enough you have to give it time and don't let rejection discourage you. I have to admit, when I was starting out as a dancer, I wasn't technically very good but I KNEW that I was going to make it. I worked hard and started getting work and noticed dancers that were much more talented than I were quitting the business left and right! It was so strange to me. I kept on going and improving and worked my way to the 4th largest ballet company in the country as a soloist! I think that you must have talent, of course, but talent isn't everything. There are thousands of very talented people out there that quit everyday because they didn't land their first audition. Starting out is the hardest and you may not get your first 50 auditions but be patient and hang in there! MARIE: Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me. After the curtain comes down on Sweeney Todd, what's next for you?ANDREW: After Sweeney Todd I am covering the role of Oreste in Rossini's "Ermione" then I am singing in the "Winners Concert" for the Liederkranz foundation (I was one of the top prize winners this year!) on May 1st. I am taking most of the summer to prepare for my Fall 2004 contract with NYCO where I will be singing Momus II in Rameau's "Platee" -Gastone in Verdi's "La Traviata" - Bagha in a new opera called "Haroun and the Sea of Stories" and finally covering the role of Leukippos in Richard Strauss' "Daphne." I'll be singing in French, Italian, English and German in the Fall. Boy, do I have a lot of work to do!For more information about Andrew's upcoming performances, you can check out his website at: www.andrewdrost.com
For more information about NYCO's Sweeney Todd, click here.Videos