At
age 80, Sherrill Milnes, an internationally known operatic baritone, is still
active in his career. He sang over
650 performances at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City from 1965 to 1997 with
such singers as Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Joan Sutherland. Winner of three Grammy Awards and the
most recorded American singer of his time, Milnes received the Opera News Award
for Distinguished Achievement in 2008.
In an appearance entitled “An Evening with Sherrill Milnes” on May 4 at Cincinnati Opera’s Opera Rap at Music Hall, Milnes talked about his career and current projects. Although there was not time for a master class, Milnes attended a dinner with opera patrons in his honor the previous night and took time to talk with this reporter in the Art Deco Palm Court bar at the Netherland Hilton Hotel.
Although retired from performing, Milnes gives master classes, judges competitions and mentors new generations of singers. With his wife singer Maria Zouves, he co-founded and runs the Sherrill Milnes VOICE Programs: VOICEExperience Foundation and the Savannah VOICE Festival. VOICEExperience is a nonprofit designed to train and mentor young singers. Milnes and Zouves established Savannah VOICE Festival in 2013 bringing concerts, operas, educational presentations and community outreach to the Georgia city. Today, his passion is to pass on his musical knowledge to the next generation of singers.
Milnes’ ancestral lineage goes back
to the American Revolution in the 18th century. He had humble beginnings: he grew up on a small dairy farm in
Downers Grove, Illinois. His
mother was the choir director at the local First Congregational Church. Brought up with hymns, Milnes learned
to play various instruments such as piano, violin, viola, double bass, clarinet
and tuba.
Initially interested in pre-med in
college, Milnes turned to vocal music at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where
he studied with Andrew White, later a professor at College-Conservatory of
Music, and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education. Working
his way through college, he played in jazz bands at small clubs in Iowa as well
as at local service organizations, such as the Elks and Rotarians.
Originally planning to teach music,
Milnes prepared for a career of performance, pursuing graduate studies under the
guidance of Hermanus Baer at Northwestern University. He auditioned and was accepted by the Boris Goldovsky Opera
Company, for which he sang over 300 performances of more than a dozen
roles.
With studying, he got better every year and performed leading roles around the United States. Maestro and impresario Julius Rudel of New York City Opera (1957 – 1979) made him an offer to join his opera, which Milnes accepted.
He tells young singers, particularly those who sing in Europe with short rehearsals, to come prepared “with a toolbox.” Milnes stresses the importance of being ready at any time. He also advises singers not to tell anyone about an audition, unless it’s your mother. “Keep your mouth shut,” he says.
Milnes particularly enjoyed Verdi, who wrote operas with lead baritone roles such as Otello, Don Carlo, Aida and La Traviata. He also performed for all the United States Presidents from Gerald Ford to George W. Bush. Not only did he sing, he conducted and recorded.
Retired from the stage in 2002, Milnes still maintains an active life. He met his third wife Maria Zouves, a singer, at a summer program and together they have one child, Theo, 15. From other marriages, Milnes has three additional children, Eric, Shawn and Erin. Tracing Milnes’ history and career, he published an autobiography “America Aria: Encore.”
He has held master classes at Julliard and Manhattan Schools in New York City, the Met Opera’s Lindemann Young Artists Development Program and the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center. Milnes has also served on the faculty of Yale School of Music and at Northwestern University, where he is the John Evans Distinguished Professor of Music Emeritus.
A voice that rang true; a voice that still resonates.
For more information, go to website: www.sherrillmilnes.com.