Q&A with Will Liverman
On February 27, you’re invited to gather at the Ellie for an evening of music, connection, and celebration as GRAMMY Award-winning baritone Will Liverman helps mark 20 years of this extraordinary space. Liverman last performed at The Ellie for our 2020 production of Pagliacci as Silvio. Since then, he’s gone on to be nominated for several GRAMMY Awards, winning in 2023 for performing the lead role in the Metropolitan Opera’s 2021 recording of Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones. Keep reading to hear about Liverman’s connection to Opera Colorado, and how he’s gearing up for this momentous concert.
Join the celebration! Get tickets to Will Liverman in Concert with pianist Elizabeth G. Hill now.
You’re joining us as we celebrate 20 years of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. What makes The Ellie special and what sets it apart from other opera houses?
Opera Colorado has been such a meaningful place for me. Pagliacci is one of my favorite operas, and getting to do it here with such a tremendous cast made the experience even more special. What stood out most, though, were the people. The entire team treats everyone with real care and respect, and you feel that from day one. Add to that how much I’ve grown to love the city of Denver, and it’s been a time I’ll always value.
What makes the Ellie so special are the people that work there. It’s a very special company and I love the deep care that they have for the arts. There’s so much wonderful and rich history and it was an honor to make my debut in Pagliacci.
You’ll be performing several of your own pieces and arrangements. Is there anything you’d like to share about any of them?
Composing and arranging has been a newer adventure for me in my musical journey. I arranged these songs because of the personal attachment that I have for each of them. Smile (originally composed by Charlie Chaplin) is about choosing light in the middle of uncertainty. It’s something that I try to hold on to when life brings its challenges. Whither Must I Wander (originally composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams) is an anthem for the traveling artist. We’re always living out of suitcases and going from one gig to the next. There’s a strange beauty in the constant motion of what we do.
How is a recital different from an opera, both as a performer and for the audience?
Recitals are super intimate and very exposed. No costumes or colleagues to share a story with. We can get more of a glimpse into an artist’s vulnerability and what they have to say. Opera can also feel intimate, but when you consider the sheer size of any given opera house, there is a sense of spectacle and scale that can’t be denied. You’re a part of a bigger picture.
What do you hope the audience will feel when they leave The Ellie that night?
I’m excited for every bit of this concert, and it will be an absolute joy to come back and perform with Opera Colorado. I hope that the audience will walk away feeling lighter than when they came in.
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Joined by pianist Elizabeth G. Hill, soprano Hallie Schmidt, and pianist John Morefield, Liverman will share an evening of music honoring the Ellie’s 20th anniversary. If you’d like to be part of the celebration—and even extend the evening at our Grand Gala after-party—you can find ticket information here.