Meet the Student: Q&A with Baritone Emilio Vásquez
Baritone Emilio Vásquez, from Manvel, Texas, stars as Count Almaviva, in Curtis Opera Theatre’s production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, February 27–28, and March 1–2, 2025 at the Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center. Mr. Vásquez entered Curtis in 2024 and is a student of Mark Schnaible. All students at Curtis receive merit-based, full-tuition scholarships, and he is the William J. Fenza Fellow.
What was one of your earliest musical memories, and what inspired you to become an opera singer?
I have a distinct memory of going to see the opera Tosca as a little kid and being immediately drawn in and immersed in the story. I had no idea how to describe the inner workings of the music to myself internally, but I knew intrinsically that this art form was an amazing way to tell a meaningful story. From then on, I was hooked.
Tell us about the characters you play in Le nozze di Figaro and Candide. What have been the most rewarding and/or challenging aspects of learning these two roles?
It takes an immense amount of time and effort to get these roles into one’s head, but by far, the most rewarding aspect of preparing a role like the Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro is sharing the stage with such talented and gracious colleagues. I really can’t think of a place other than Curtis that might combine the level of professionalism and creative liberty in artists so young. It has made and continues to make the rehearsal process seamless and so, so much fun. I look forward to a similar experience in Candide.
What excites you the most about continuing your vocal studies here at Curtis?
I am most excited to continue to hone my skills and gain as much performance and stage experience as possible. Being able to do this with such an amazing cohort has been a dream.
Audiences can also catch Emilio Vásquez later this spring as Pangloss in Leonard Bernstein’s outrageous philosophical operetta, Candide, on April 11 and 13 at the Forrest Theatre.
Portraits of Mr. Vásquez by Nichole MCH Photography.
