Alumni Interview Series - Dorothy Gal

To kick off our alumni interview series, Daniela Magura spoke with CLA alumna Dorothy Gal.  Today, Dorothy can be heard on the stage of the Houston Grand Opera as a member of the HGO Studio, a renowned young artist program. 

Dorothy met Glenn Morton, artistic director of Classic Lyric Arts, during her first year of undergraduate studies at Mannes college.  She shared with us that shortly after meeting Glenn, she thought to herself “I have to follow you around the world now”.  In particular, she was drawn to his “insistence on purifying vowels and treating every note like it has its own world of colors”.  

Dorothy followed her instincts and attended CLA Italy in the summer of 2013.  For Dorothy, CLA Italy was a revelation in vocal technique.  She fondly recalls her transformative work with faculty member and soprano Donata D’Annunzio Lombardi.

“Donata came at the perfect point in my development.  She reevaluated her own technique midway through her career.  Then, she had to take time to figure out the mechanics of singing and the relationship she had with her body.  Singing is such a balance of freedom and physical strength. I’m always thinking about the things she said. It was about finding the deepest, innermost connection that you could make.  It was eye-opening.”

Dorothy was bit by the CLA bug and decided to attend CLA France the following year.  While Italy offered a foundation of vocal technique, Dorothy’s experiences in France expanded her expressive potential.  She felt especially grateful to have worked with the late Michel Sénéchal, a renowned French tenor and co-director of CLA France.

Glenn and Dorothy in France

“It gives me goosebumps to think that I had the chance to learn from Michel Sénéchal.  The way he viewed delivering text was the springboard for my love and passion of French song.”

She shared with us that, while preparing for an upcoming recital with Opera America, she has been recalling important lessons from her time in France.

“Sometimes you get so caught up in the primary colors that you forget you can start mixing things.  The palette can be expanded in such a way when the space is intimate.  You can do other vocalisms besides the most optimal production of sound.  That’s what Michel was getting at.  ‘I want you to explore more, I want you to go further, I want you to take your pianissimi to the brink of extinction’.”

Reflecting on her operatic trajectory, Dorothy expressed that CLA had a substantial impact on her early vocal experiences.

“Italy was profoundly important to my development of technique. It was really important for later on when I had more teachers to show me the way.  In Italy, I heard for the first time, really, that you need to use your body to sing.”  

“I was definitely a very changed singer leaving France.  CLA France pushed me to think more deeply about what it is I’m saying and how I’m going to deliver that.  Sometimes the way to have the most profound impact isn’t the way you would imagine.  It’s like going through a second language, to figure out how you really want people to feel.” 

Dorothy concluded the conversation by offering some heartfelt advice to young singers and future CLA participants.

“One of the most important things that has impacted my own life is to stay in your lane.  Don’t view other people’s successes as your failures.  Instead, spend your time practicing and learning: it is a better use of your time.” 

“Listen to your instincts.  I have had a long journey of knowing my voice. Every time I make a discovery in a voice lesson or coaching, I feel like I’m leveling up.  Back away from labelling yourself, and just sing.  Sing what you love, and your voice will reveal itself to you.”

CLA Italy 2019: Observations

CLA Italy 2019: Observations

I like the purple flowers that bloom right outside our apartment. There weren’t so many when we first came here. The fact that one white flower bush exists in that row of purple intrigues me.

I like saying “Ciao” every time I see someone. It’s a habit I never thought I’d pick up so unconsciously.

I like seeing Ambra every morning as I leave for classes, coachings, or staging rehearsals. She sits outside our neighbor’s house and watches us calmly. A beautiful, big dog with an amber speckled coat to match her name. She never responds when we call out to her…

I love the sound of the river at night. Going to the bridge and listening, watching as time passes slowly.

I love the stars. I’ve seen at least 4 shooting stars.

I like watching the garden by our apartment grow each day. The tomatoes going from green to red. Eggplants getting bigger. Grapes browning and shriveling as no one comes to harvest them.

The little, white wild flowers on the side of the road give me joy.

The cobbled streets make me trip more than usual. I’ve began wearing more sensible shoes.

The market on Mondays is incredibly lively (and cheap).

We have long, fulfilling days.

I love when things suddenly click in lessons/coachings; when things align perfectly. I adore learning new concepts, hearing metaphors, and learning to appreciate the art form which we study.

I love hearing about other people’s backgrounds and opinions. Getting to know people. Humans are social creatures, but often are too lazy to really take the time to get to know someone. I like that there are people here who take that time.

I love learning. I love that everyone at CLA loves learning.

I adore our instructors. They put up with us every day with only our best interests at heart. They strive to help us and for that, thank you.

I like that people share their ideas. I like sitting listening to the opinions of Maestro Paolo after a concert about his opinions and ideas on the actor-singer.

I like staring out the window at the mountains on long bus rides as we travel from venue to venue.

The drawl of Illaria’s “Allora” in Italian class early in the morning gives me happiness.

I love the Teatro. It has incredibly acoustics and now, so many precious memories.

I hate that my time at CLA Italy is coming to a close.

Written by Arthi Nandakumar