Lincoln, Neb.--Nathaniel Sullivan (B.M. 2014) is performing the principal role of John the Baptist (Jokanaan) in a brand new adaption of Richard Strauss’s opera, “Salome” at the Heartbeat Opera Company in Brooklyn, New York.
This week, the New York Times praised the daring production and commended Sullivan’s “somber and appropriately a bit deranged” performance of John the Baptist (https://go.unl.edu/vfye).
William Shomos, the Richard H. Larson Distinguished Professor of Music (Voice) and Director of Opera in the Glenn Korff School of Music, had the opportunity to attend a preview performance of the production.
“Nathan was stunning in his performance,” Shomos said. “Most striking for me was hearing how his beautiful voice has blossomed in size and color, with every word impeccably clear and truthfully sung.”
The production runs through Feb. 16.
“Doing this role in ‘Salome’ has been an incredible growth opportunity for me,” Sullivan said. “They say to always have one project going that really challenges you and might even be somewhat beyond your current capabilities. This opera has been that project for me.”
Sullivan said he had imposter syndrome going into the rehearsal process.
“I never really saw myself as the type of baritone that would sing Jokanaan (and to be fair, if this production were with the full 100-piece orchestra rather than a significantly reduced chamber ensemble, I would almost certainly not be singing it),” he said. “But the mission of Heartbeat Opera is to reimagine and recontextualize these stories that have been around for over a hundred years, and ultimately, I think I’ve been able to bring a unique perspective to this character. Jokanaan is often portrayed as a moral rock, completely unshakable in his convictions and wholly un-seduceable by Salome. This reimagined production gave me the freedom to bring a lot more flawed humanity to the role, giving him his own complex character arc and, I hope, making him much more relatable to the audience.”
Sullivan performed in several UNL Opera productions while at Nebraska and returned in 2020 as a guest artist to sing the role of Vincent Van Gogh in “The Highest Yellow.”
“I developed my initial love of opera at UNL,” Sullivan said. “I understudied the role of the Count in UNL’s production of ‘Le nozze di Figaro’ back in 2011, when I was a sophomore. I remember one day, Bill, who was directing the production, came up to me in the hallway and said something to the effect of ‘You could really do this, you know. You have what it takes to make a career out of this.’ I clearly never forgot that.”
He studied voice with Senior Lecturer Emeritus Alisa Belflower.
“I also received a ton of guidance and mentorship from my voice teacher at UNL, Alisa Belflower, who took me under her wing and, over the five years I lived in Lincoln, really laid the concrete foundation of my vocal technique and facility with stagecraft,” he said. “I can say with 100% certainty that I would not be where I am today, performing as a full-time, freelance artist in New York City, without the mountain of work she and I did together at UNL.”
This past fall, Lincoln audiences had the opportunity to hear Sullivan perform as the featured soloist with Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra in works by Ravel and David von Kampen.
Learn more about Sullivan at https://nathanielsullivan.com.
