Stephanie Blythe is a romantic

Stephanie Blythe is in San Diego to sing. It’s what she does, and she does it as well — if not better — than anyone you’ll ever hear.

I was able to sit down and listen to Stephanie share her story, from being a bullied as a child and adolescent, to rising to fame at the Metropolitan Opera and beyond.

Her honesty, openness, and humility lived in every story and opinion she shared. I went away feeling as though Stephanie Blythe is one of those rare individuals who creates romance wherever she goes.

When I say romance I mean, “a quality or feeling of mystery, excitement, and remoteness from everyday life." To hear Stephanie Blythe sing, to see her act, to merely hear her speak is to be removed from everyday life and into a world of mystery, excitement, and powerful emotions.

At the same time, we will never meet a more down-to-earth, easy-going gal.

I tend to get carried away when I encounter what I consider to be greatness, and at the moment I’m possessed by the overwhelming greatness of Stephanie Blythe.

Before we jump into the Reader interview with Stephanie Blythe, let’s survey some of Stephanie Blythe’s recent activities.

First off there is the PBS special Celebration! Stephanie Blythe Meets Kate Smith. Stephanie wrote and co-arranged this one-woman show. Opera singers will, from time to time, try to “cross over” into popular music with the results being fairly grotesque, but I must say that Stephanie Blythe sounds amazing in these old standards.

Let’s stick with the popular stuff and check out Stephanie’s performance of You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel.

Ms. Blythe is in San Diego to sing the role of Ulrica in San Diego Opera’s produciton of Un Ballo in Maschera. Here she is at the Metropolitan Opera singing Ulrica’s aria.

She is also here to sing the mezzo-soprano solo in San Diego Opera’s presentation of Verdi’s Requiem.

The Reader interview will be available soon.