College of Music alumnus Wei Wu (MM '13) is having a big year, preparing for starring turns in Santa Fe and at the Met.
In the ultra-competitive world of professional opera, getting your name in the program of even one large production every couple of years could be considered a coup.
The next year for Wei Wu is shaping up to be a major victory.
From Washington to Pittsburgh to the Met to Santa Fe, the 2013 graduate of the College of Music is starring in several big-name operas at some of the grandest companies in the country.
But he鈥檚 not stopping there.
鈥淚 feel extremely grateful that this is happening at the beginning of my career,鈥� Wu says. 鈥淭hese amazing and prestigious opera houses offer me a great opportunity to move forward.
鈥淚 often tell myself that hard work is the key, and from now on mistakes are not allowed on stage.鈥�
Wu, who hails from Beijing, has been making a name for himself as a bass since leaving Boulder with a professional certificate and master鈥檚 degree. Right after graduation, he was accepted into the at Washington National Opera.
Geared toward helping young artists get experience before entering the professional world, the program is considered one of the best of its kind. Wu got his chance to audition thanks to serendipity.
鈥淒uring the last year of my master鈥檚, I was invited to perform in The Tales of Hoffmann at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing. The production was directed by Francesca Zambello, who is also artistic director at Washington National Opera.
鈥淎fter the opera was over, she invited me back to audition.鈥�
The two-year intensive workshop includes coaching, concerts and collaboration with other artists, opera companies and associations. It鈥檚 also highly selective鈥攐f about 1,000 applicants every year, only five or six are chosen.
Wu earned a third year with the program after its director, Michael Heaston, invited him to stay on for continued development. As the veteran, he says he鈥檚 continued to improve, and he鈥檚 even had a chance to perform more important roles in Washington National Opera productions.
鈥淚鈥檓 very lucky to be a part of this program, which is one of the best in the opera field,鈥� Wu explains. 鈥淚鈥檝e had to work hard every day to be prepared for unpredictable opportunities. It鈥檚 opened a lot of doors for me.鈥�
Also opening doors, he says, has been his decision to sign with a talent agency, in New York. Since getting an agent, Wu has landed parts at the in England (Die Entf眉hrung aus dem Serail) and (The Rake鈥檚 Progress), with another gig in Pittsburgh and roles at the Met and forthcoming.
鈥淭his is a very competitive career. There are tons of talented young opera singers out there. When you鈥檙e just starting out like I am, any offers from regional companies would have been wonderful. I definitely wasn鈥檛 expecting to hear from Santa Fe and Pittsburgh and the Met. I feel very lucky,鈥� Wu says.
Next summer, Wu makes his debut in Santa Fe as K么bun Chino Otogawa, spiritual advisor to Steve Jobs, in a new opera about the Apple founder written by CU Boulder alumnus Mark Campbell.
As he prepares for this and other big roles, Wu says the biggest determining factor in whether you have success in opera isn鈥檛 what you鈥檙e born with鈥攊t鈥檚 the work you put in.
鈥淚 think about 20 percent of it is the talent you鈥檙e given. The rest is working hard and being a good person.鈥�
