About Me.
A New Voice, An Old Soul: The Story Behind the Pen

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After 35 years living and breathing opera from the world’s most glorious stages, from the velvet-lined boxes of Milan and Vienna to the dust and diamonds of emerging houses in South America and Asia, I retired my backstage pass. I had seen it all: curtain calls that brought tears, debuts that set fire to the stage, and farewells whispered in pianissimo. I shook hands with legends, hugged divas in dressing rooms, and watched careers begin and end like arias, full of passion, sometimes tragic, always unforgettable.

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But the music never left me.

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Now, free from the pressures of programming, casting, diplomacy, or deadlines, I’ve returned to what first drew me to opera: truth. Not the glossy brochures or the PR spin, but the raw, human essence of performance, that fragile contract between artist and audience.

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So, under a pen name known only to my closest friends (yes, those friends who smile knowingly when they read), I now write. Not for fame, and certainly not for favor, but for honesty. And joy.

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This space is for real, heartfelt reviews. Reviews written by someone who has heard enough to recognize both greatness and growth. I believe in giving room to emerging artists as well as celebrating the seasoned ones, but always with sincerity. Opera deserves nothing less.

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And I won’t do it alone. If you’re a fellow listener with something honest to say, and no agenda but love for the art, there’s a space here for you, too. Whether you’re 22 or 82, from Manhattan or Manila, if you listen with your whole soul, I’ll welcome your voice.

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This is my second act. Or maybe, my encore.
And I intend to sing it con passione, as always.

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Mary Jane Cryons
(But you already know who I am... 😉)