December Interviewing Experts: Opera Singer Babatunde Akinboboye

Mary Robinette hosts an interview with an expert in their field once a month for her $25 Patreon supporters. The topic rotates depending on the guest’s area of expertise. Mary Robinette will interview the guest as if she were preparing to write something featuring their job – which means interesting jargon, behind-the-scenes challenges, and unexpected joys! At the end of the session, you get to ask them questions, too. These sessions will be recorded for those who need to watch asynchronously, and you can submit questions ahead of time.

On December 15 at 8 pm Eastern, Babatunde Akinboboye, Baritone, Influencer, and HipHopera Artist, will be joining us. American-born, Nigerian bred, Tùndè is unapologetically combining his operatic training, his love for hip hop, and his affinity for stylistic juxtaposition. Known as Babatunde Akinboboye in the opera world, Tùndè’s rich sound, extensive range, and regal stage presence have distinguished him in many opera houses around the United States. In 2018, Tùndè shared a video of himself in the car singing the lyrics and melody from Largo al Factotum from The Barber of Seville over the track from Kendrick Lamar’s Humble and it immediately went viral.
Tùndè is now an influential content creator with hundreds of thousands of followers across social media platforms and is known for his humorous takes, his impressive rap skills, and centering the stories and voices of Black contributors to opera and classical music.

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