INTERVIEW BY H. CANDEE

Yale University, Adriana Zabala conducts a voice lesson during the pandemic in the Yale Glee Club

very desirable unlike any other? AZ: Madeline is a rich character, a deeply flawed “whole person” with many layers, and it’s a joy to navigate her many facets. Her profession provides an opportunity to consider a “play within a play” idea- where does her artifice as an actor reveal personal truth, and where does truth in life calcify her artifice— to what detriment (profoundly alienating Charlie and Bea) or benefit (coping and trying to protect her children)? The beauty and care with which the vocal writing and the libretto are created make the whole piece, and Madeline in particular, deeply compelling.

Going back to your early days, what lead you to choosing music, and your voice to be your first love? AZ: I was raised in a family that always valued music, art, expression, creativity, and humor! My parents and sister all sang in choral societies when I was very young, and soon I was singing too. We loved and enjoyed all types of music- rock, folk, jazz, and classical (Bach, Simon and Garfunkel, Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Collins, etc.) My earliest study was piano and percussion, and I always sang in choir. Despite this all seeming very organic, I did, in fact have a cathartic experience when I was 12. One Wednesday afternoon during the school year my mother said, “I’m taking you to the movies tonight- something that won’t be playing long and I really think you will enjoy it.” Enjoy doesn’t begin to describe what I experienced seeing “Amadeus” in the theater that night- I was in another universe…my mom had to peel me out of the seat at the end of the creditsI to stay in that world forever, and in a way I have. I lived and breathed symphonic music for a while thereafter, but, found my way into serious vocal studies in my early teens. In these ensuing 35 years or so my experience and definition of art and the musical arts has evolved immeasurably, but my way in was through my family (especially my Mother’s amazing intuition and action-taking!) and the lightning bolt of the aesthetic world that film opened to me.

Can you share with us a personal experience that is related to learning to appreciate music? AZ: After that life-changing trip to the cinema I asked for season tickets to the Houston Symphony, just to experience more and more music live, and at the same time I was the lead singer for an 80s rock/pop cover band, while singing in choir and playing percussion in school band. I loved all of these things, they spoke to me and mattered to me, I couldn’t get enough. My first big deepening of knowledge and experience was at Tanglewood, as a singer in their high school program. I was inspired by other students my age who were serious, and of course by attending every possible concert of the BSO, and all of the chamber music happening throughout the summer. Throughout high school and college, my teachers and I often shared a passion, and they further drew this out in me and helped me build skills. Everything stemmed from passion and meaning, exposure and curiosity.

When you were not spending your best hours of the day practicing your music, what else was going on for you to enjoy and keep busy with? AZ: I am a committed reader, and find works of fiction, literature, and poetry some of the finest companions imaginable. As a kid and now, I love to travel- my family and lived in Venezuela when I was in elementary school, and I spent much time abroad as a student and pre-professional. My passion for language has also been something naturally suited to my profession! I also love films and history, in addition to visual art, so again, growing up, as now, you would often find me in a museum, cinema, or bookstore. I also love to move, and am a happy dancer, yoga adherent, and tennis fanand can’t forget podcasts, don’t know what I would do without them these days. I’m a big fan of history, language, and storytelling shows…(I never miss History of English Podcast, or The Moth, for example). Playing with our family puppy and watching the fruits of my very amateur gardening efforts is also a joy, as is exploring the fabulous towns and cities of Connecticut and all of New England.

Life is dreamy and oh, so colorful at times. What can you recollect that depicts a memory of such moments in your life? Was it influenced or inspired by a song? AZ: Harryet, we need ages to explore this idea— sometimes I feel my life has been nothing but dreamy, colorful moments inspired by songs! A kaleidoscope of images, places, colors, and sounds flood my memories…but speaking of, let’s talk about Pedro Almodovar, or better yet, a peak one shiny sliver of that kaleidoscope? 1990, college film club, Almodovar’s Tie me up, Tie me Down!, Spanish film, auteur, emotion, starkness, language, POV, aesthetic, new passion for Cuban and Spanish roots and connection to grandfather, studying in Spain, green, grey, orange, black, wheat, 20th c. film, surrealism in Continued on next page...