Interview · moment 7 of 18
Francis James Arrives: Opera, Long Island Diners, and a Vibrato Demonstration
from The Great Francis James · #110
Audio-only archive episode — no video to seek.
3 minGuest
New guest Francis James, an opera composer/librettist, joins after a long trip from the Bronx; the group discusses growing up with Telly Savalas portraits in Long Island diners, his singing voice, and he performs an impromptu operatic vibrato.
- 16:07Francis commutes from the Bronx, taking the BX6 bus, then the 4 or D train at Yankee Stadium, then the L train to get to the studio.
- 16:54Tim learns Francis is writing operas.
- 17:23Francis had a German punk band back in the day.
- 17:46Francis and Ray grew up in Long Island Greek diners where there were always oil paintings of Telly Savalas on the walls.
- 17:58Francis is writing both the music and libretta for operas, treating it as a process of distillation where poetry is performed by the voice and counterpoints with the music.
- 18:21Contemporary opera has no market unless you're Philip Glass or John Adams.
- 18:32Tim suggests Francis could do musicals instead, potentially putting them on as community theater productions.
John AdamsPhilip GlassTelly SavalasJackie OhRay Kump