The Scribe - Page 4

Jason Budd Brings Comedy and Voice to Toledo Opera A Mother’s Intuition Jason Budd’s mother used to introduce him as her opera-loving son, even though he protested repeatedly that he hated it. Mothers know best. At 53, Budd has performed for decades as a buffo, a bass baritone whose comic chops match his singing ones. He’ll take the stage at Toledo’s Valentine Theatre on Feb. 13 and 15 when the Toledo Opera Association presents Gaetano Donizetti’s L’Elisir D’Amore. Budd plays Dr. Dulcamara, a charlatan who peddles cure-all tonics to villagers, including a lovesick man who buys what the good doctor is selling: a love potion. The role is meatier than Zuniga in Georges Bizet’s Carmen, which he performed in Toledo in October, or the Sacristan in Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca last season. He’s sung in Toledo for at least five consecutive seasons now, and his career spans Ohio, the broader United States, Europe, and South America. From the Lanes to the Stage Budd grew up in Hubbard, Ohio, where he sang in the church choir but also spent considerable time at the bowling alley where his mother worked. “At age 15, I bowled a perfect 300 game at the same center where my mom worked,” he said. He initially studied bowling alley management at Vincennes University in Indiana, but his wrist gave out. He returned to Youngstown State University and turned to music instead. One day, a classmate told Budd about a fantastic opera called Tosca. He checked out the CD from the library, and after listening to it multiple times, he was hooked. Budd still has that disc. He damaged it from overuse, bought a replacement for the library, and kept the worn The Scribe - Page 4 ARTIST FEATURE By Heather Denniss