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Adrian Angelico is one of few trans male opera singers in the world. Now an incredibly successful mezzo-soprano, the gender fluidity within opera has assisted Adrian to live authentically as himself, yet highlighted complexities around his vocal identity and brought awareness to the topic in general. We take a look at Adrian’s career and story, celebrating Pride Month and the LGBT+ community working across the Arts and Entertainment.
A Norwegian national, Angelico attended music school for many years studying opera in Norway and Denmark, the International Opera Studio in Zurich, before attending the UK Royal College of Music and the Benjamin Britten International Opera School.
Angelico won awards and held many prestigious roles after finishing his studies, carving out initial success in the industry, demonstrating his dedication and vocal talent.
Adrian came out in 2016 following a show rehearsal in London’s Covent Garden, where the realisation hit him that he could continue performing female roles on stage, but could no longer do the same off stage in his life.
Initially, Adrian had contacted a support group and had been told that “if you do not want to take hormones, then they will not allow you to go through with anything and you will not get any support.”
Talking to the BBC, Adrian explained:
“I decided not to go that way because my voice is part of my identity, and it’s also my instrument and it sounds like me, and that’s why I like it. I of course wish I could talk lower in general, but I don’t know how to speak, you know, naturally lower without straining my voice, I don’t know how to do that yet.”
While Adrian says he would like to experience the other effects of testosterone therapy such as growing facial hair and having a deeper speaking voice, preserving his singing voice that had taken years of training and was proving successful in the operatic world would have been impossible.
The effects of testosterone hormone therapy on the voice can be wildly unpredictable, and outcomes are neither straightforward and can also differ greatly between people, as the Transgender Care website explains:
“Testosterone will cause a thickening of the vocal chords, which will result in a more male-sounding voice. Not all trans men will experience a full deepening of the pitch of their voice with testosterone, however. Some may find that practicing various vocal techniques or working with a speech therapist may help them develop a voice that feels more comfortable and fitting. Voice changes may begin within just a few weeks of beginning testosterone, first with a scratchy sensation in the throat or feeling like you are hoarse. Next your voice may break a bit as it finds its new tone and quality.”
While HRT has been commonly used with women since the 1940s, there is not a huge range of scientific research on transgender men taking testosterone.
Student Graham Grail found there were absolutely no studies researching the voice changes of testosterone when he began searching in the area. So he undertook his own undergraduate study in 2015 to change this. Grail noted the unpredictability of the effects of testosterone on the voice, explaining:
“When you go to your doctor, all they can really tell you is that your voice will change—most likely—and it will probably get lower, but besides that, that’s all we know, and I like to know everything.”
Knowing that taking an unpredictable gamble on his instrument wasn’t a viable option for him, Adrian Angelico faced the complexities and the consequences of refusing hormone treatment that made transitioning harder in a number of ways – he had to pay for top surgery by himself and was fearful how the opera world would react, however thankfully there were some pleasant surprises to come.
In July 2016 Norwegian law permitted those 16 or over to change legal gender without diagnosis or medical treatment, meaning Adrian could commence a new chapter in his life. And in Adrian’s career, there was a place for him to live and work as his authentic self in the form of ‘trouser roles’.
A ‘trouser role’ is a theatrical term used to denote a role which is portrayed by a performer of the opposite sex. Although in the 21st century female roles played by men have become less common than they were, women in male roles (sometimes referred to as ‘travesti’ roles) are still commonplace across the art form.” Eno.org
The opera world welcomed Angelico, and he hasn’t looked back. In March 2017 Adrian made his first transition performance in Ariadne auf Naxos with the Nordnorsk opera and symphony orchestra and has gone from strength to strength in this new operatic specialism.
“HE SANG WITH AN INTENSE IDEALISM. HIS VOICE IS IDEALLY SUITED FOR STRAUSS’ TROUSER ROLES, WITH A BURNISHED CHEST REGISTER AND A GLEAMING TOP.”
Bachtrack (Ariadne auf Naxos)
“ANGELICO POSSESSES A FEROCIOUS LOWER REGISTER BUT CAN STILL HIT PENETRATING HIGH NOTES, WHILE HIS VOICE HAS A BRASSY BURNISH.”
WDA Radio, USA (Spoleto festival)
“ANGELICO POSSESES A STUNNING MEZZO-SOPRANO VOICE, CLEAR, LYRICAL, BOLD, FLEXIBLE. IT WAS A THRILL TO HEAR IT SOAR TO THE TOP OF ITS RANGE AND DIVE DEEP INTO A CHESTY LOWER REGISTER”
The post and Courier (Spoleto Festival USA)
Links:
Accessibility At The Smith Center Series: Part One
James “Fitz” FitzSimmons Interview: The Boys In The Band On Netflix
Michelle is a musician and composer from the UK. She has performed across the UK and Europe and is passionate about arts education and opportunities for women and girls.
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