Past success and popular demand have led Victory Hall Opera to bring back its outdoor acoustic series for a third year. Soundflight 3, hosted in the natural amphitheater of the Quarry Gardens at Schuyler, returns with four performances in early June. The series also brings virtuoso VHO tenor Victor Ryan Robertson back to the commonwealth. The accomplished performer is fresh off of a stint with The Metropolitan Opera, where he brought to life the complex characters of Street and Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad in X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X.
Name: Victor Ryan Robertson
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Job: Opera singer
What’s something about your job that people would be surprised to learn: My job is so globally small. We all kinda know each other no matter if you live in Atlanta or Capetown.
How did you get started performing: I started performing in a rock band right out of high school. We toured the Southeast doing Zeppelin, Living Colour, and Journey covers to name a few.
First opera you performed in/role you performed: My very first opera that I performed was Nemorino in L’elisir D’amore.
Favorite role/piece you’ve performed: My favorite role ever performed was either Rodolfo in La Bohème or Street/Elijah Mohammed in X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X.
What’s your comfort food/meal: My true comfort food is yellow rice, black beans, and slow-roasted pork Cuban style.
How do you take your coffee: I’m a very meat and potatoes kinda coffee drinker—double espresso with honey.
Best advice you ever got: Best advice I ever got was “Nobody owes you a thing.”
Proudest accomplishment: My proudest accomplishment was knowing I can make my living strictly from singing alone.
Favorite movie and/or show: Favorite movie is The Shawshank Redemption and show right now is Hates Town on Broadway.
Favorite book: My favorite book will always be Fountainhead.
What are you listening to right now: Right now I’m listening to Hiatus Kaiyote.
Go-to karaoke song: “Lights” by Journey.
Who’d play you in a movie: Terrence Howard.
Describe a perfect day: My perfect day would be to wake up at 9:30am, study for a couple of hours on the beach, get a massage, play tennis in the evening, and go to a concert.
If you had three wishes, what would you wish for: If I had three wishes they would be to sing a duet with Chaka Khan, find the perfect mountain/beach house, and to be enveloped in rapture for hours with the lady of my choice.
Most embarrassing moment: My most embarrassing moment was realizing I need glasses whilst reading out loud a script in rehearsal. I simply couldn’t see the words and some people thought I might have been illiterate.
Most used app on your phone: Voice recorder.
Most used emoji: The eggplant emoji.
Subject that causes you to rant: Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Best journey you ever went on: Best journey I ever went on was a job in Capetown.
Favorite curse word: What in all fucks?!
What have you forgotten today: Today I have forgotten to write down what I’m grateful for.