Meet Claire Choquette | Opera Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Claire Choquette and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Claire, why did you pursue a creative career?
My mom always joked that I came out of the womb singing; I have been on stage my whole life. When it came time to go to college, I couldn’t think of anything that made me happier. After years of studying classical singing, I’ve fallen in love with opera as an art form and I’ve grown more passionate about doing what it takes to bring a production to life behind the scenes rather than being on stage. It’s right where I’m meant to be.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I count myself lucky that I’ve always known what I wanted to do with my life. Sure, it’s shifted a bit over the years, but I was bitten by the classical music bug at a young age.

My journey into directing began when I worked with a team to produce Hansel and Gretel in Oklahoma City. I labored tirelessly to hire personnel, fundraise, and market the event. When it came time to get on stage and sing (I was Hansel), I felt I’d already done the part I was meant to do. From then on, I put all of my efforts into learning about stage direction and production.

Soon after, my director friend Daniel Ellis told me about the Robert L.B. Tobin Director-Designer prize, a production concept design competition through OPERA America. Before I had ever actually directed anything, I put together a team of fabulous designers (sets, lights, costumes, and choreography) and we gave it our best shot. To our surprise, we WON the contest and presented our idea for Strauss’ Salome at the OPERA America conference in 2022. It was just after our presentation I met my agent, and my career has really taken off since then.

As a director, I think my background in singing and my perspective as a young bisexual woman give me a specific and unique approach. I understand how difficult it is to pursue the craft of operatic singing and want to do everything in my power to support the artists who have chosen to do the work.

I know opera might be a dying art form, but I don’t feel crazy about investing my life’s work in it because I believe in its value. If you have ever sat in a room with an opera singer, closed your eyes, and just let the sound wash over you, you’d understand what I mean. It’s raw, passionate, beautiful, and amazingly loud without microphones. In a world buzzing with reels, technology, and doom scrolling, I think it’s important to tap into something humans have done for centuries. Something both basic and deeply complex—listening.

When people think of opera, they might think of Viking ladies in helmets and J.G. Wentworth commercials. We do have some of that, but most people don’t know new operas are made every day, and in ENGLISH. They’re getting shorter, too. We still tell traditional stories of love and loss, murder and vengeance, but more modern operatic works tell stories of transgender and black experiences, gay couples, and modern technology. Even though you might not think of yourself as someone who’d enjoy going to an opera, you might also be pleasantly surprised.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Though I love opera, my true first love was jazz. If you’re a jazz fan, you might enjoy Reveler’s Hall in Bishop Arts for a beer and an afternoon of New Orleans style jazz. The Balcony Club is another great spot for a killer cocktail and a stellar house band on Sunday nights.

I also love riding my bike or walking around White Rock Lake. Though Dallas isn’t known for nature, the lake is a lovely little retreat within the city.

Other than that, I’d encourage a visitor to go see live theatre or concerts. Dallas has a very lively arts and music scene, and there’s almost always something going on at At&T Performing Arts Center, The Meyerson Symphony Hall, Undermain Theatre, or Shakespeare in the Park.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t have had the guts to jump off the cliff and seriously pursue a career in opera without the support of my parents. Since I was a little girl, they have told me every day I was capable of doing whatever I dreamed. Now they even attend operas when I’m not around just to support the local community! Thanks, mom and dad. Love you to the moon and back.

Website: directorchoquette.com

Instagram: claire_choquette

Facebook: Claire Choquette

Image Credits
Headshot: Jack Dangers Dust Bowl: Richard Hill Photography Rodelinda: Karen Almond Alice Tierney: Jacob Chang-Rascle Lucia di Lammermoor: performingartsphotos.com