Video by Madeline Carlson, Reporter

When the Minnesota Opera’s new show “Cosi Fan Tutte” opened on Saturday, a new voice was in the chorus. That voice was St. Thomas junior Tommy Glass’s.

Glass said he decided to audition for the opera after encouragement from his voice teacher.

“My voice teacher Dr. Bryan suggested that I start looking for outside performance opportunities because we don’t have that many in the classical singing or opera sense here at St. Thomas,” he said. “Minnesota Opera is probably the most well-known opera company in the state.”

Even though Glass is the youngest member of the chorus and auditioned with no previous opera experience, he said he enjoys the experience so far.

“It’s been great. We have had two shows plus the entire rehearsal process, which was rather short because it’s a fairly simplistic piece for a chorus,” Glass said. “But it’s been awesome. The people have been really nice and outgoing.”

Music professor Chris Volpe has played trumpet in the Minnesota Opera’s orchestra for 13 seasons. He has played in over 60 productions and said he enjoys the music and cast of “Cosi Fan Tutte.”

“Mozart Opera is pretty laid back for the trumpet,” he said. “But it’s great music, it’s fun to listen to, and the cast is fantastic. The voices are unbelievable.”

“Cosi Fan Tutte,” written by Mozart, is a comedy and love story that follows the relationships of male teenagers who go to war, leaving their girlfriends behind and hoping they will remain faithful.

Glass said the show is “kind of frivolous.”

“I’ve heard it described as ‘Sex and the City,’ Mozart style,” Glass said.

Volpe said with Glass’ talent the Minnesota Opera is a great opportunity.

“I’m sure he’s got a really good future; obviously he’s 20 years old and singing with a fairly major opera company in the chorus,” he said. “I think that’s a fantastic start.”

Glass plans to continue his singing career and participate in several more operas.

“I think that I’m going to keep on doing competitions in the cities for the immediate future, obviously next season audition again for the Minnesota Opera, and I’m singing in the choir here so continuing that,” he said. “But I guess after graduation, I’m looking at grad schools for classical singing, for opera, for that entire performance based stuff, and then kind of giving that a shot.”

Glass also hopes to someday use his education degree to become a teacher, but for now, he plans to continue to focus on singing.

The opera ended its run Sunday, Oct. 2.

Madeline Carlson can be reached at carl8801@stthomas.edu.