La Opinión A Coruña
(Machine translated to English)
American opera singer Christian Pursell makes his debut this Friday and Sunday, September 26 and 28, at the Teatro Colón with W. A. Mozart's "La Finita Semplice." The bass-baritome confesses the difficulty of his role as Cassandro and his "excitement" for the premiere, hoping the audience "laughs and leaves the theater happy."
How are you experiencing these days in A Coruña leading up to the premiere?
I'm absolutely in love with the city. We have two weeks of rehearsals and then the two performances. It's a very short time to stage a complete Mozart opera, but I'm very happy.
What does opera mean to you?
For me, opera is about using the voice to share human joy and tragedy, so that the audience can feel them and leave the theater transformed.
You come from singing in American theaters. What are the differences with the Teatro Colón?
In Europe, the stages are usually smaller. In the United States, I trained so my voice could be heard in huge spaces, so here I'm learning to sing with more nuance and less volume. The team works just as professionally.
Why did you accept the offer to sing La Finta Semplice?
Because it was work. Also because I wanted to sing in Spain and Europe, so when the opportunity arose, I accepted it immediately.
Mozart composed this opera when he was just twelve years old.
It's impressive. I think many of us, when we showed up on the first day, expected something different. The recitatives are very different from others like Don Giovanni or Le nozze di Figaro. They're difficult and surprising for someone so young.
Has your character, Cassandro, been one of your most challenging roles?
Cassandro is an insecure man, and that's why he behaves badly toward his brother. I'm not like that, so I look within myself for my own insecurities to give truth to the role. At the end of the opera, he improves and reconciles. And yes, I thought it would be easier, but we've worked hard to reach the level Maestro Giuseppe Sabbatini demands of us. He also taught us how to play these roles.
What is it like working with the team at the Galicia Symphony Orchestra?
Fantastic. Jaime, our stage manager, is so kind and pleasant... It's great to work with him, as well as with Aquiles, the artistic director. He guides us like a true father; he motivates us all. He always tells us: 'We can do it! You've got it! We're going to make a very good opera!' The people are lovely.
What can the Coruña audience expect from this work?
A very fun night. You'll see a very silly story. We've turned this story into something almost like Barbie: I'm Ken, Diana is Barbie... all with a touch of humor and color. We want people to laugh and leave happy. And, especially, to hear Mozart very loudly in A Coruña.
What do you like offstage?
My main hobby is the furry fandom. I dress up as an animal and sing opera in that context to bring music to children. It's a creative and different way of teaching opera, and I really like it; it fulfills me.
Where do you see yourself in the opera world in a few years?
I want to sing Don Giovanni at the Teatro Real and perform in theaters like La Scala in Milan, the Paris Opera, or the Vienna State Opera. I would love to work a lot in Europe, although for now I live in the United States, where I have a son, but it would be a dream to come here many more times.
Article by Inés Vicente Garrido, Updated September 23, 2025 7:35 PM