Elliot Madore

In this episode, Grammy-nominated baritone Elliot Madore recounts a journey shaped as much by passion as by serendipity - from childhood days walking around Toronto with a Walkman full of Brahms, to a life-changing encounter with a vocal coach who opened the door to opera. In conversation with host Ernesto Cervini, Madore reflects on formative experiences in Toronto’s youth choirs, the disciplined joy of summer bootcamps with the Toronto All-Star Big Band, and the moment onstage at the Met when he first felt at ease, truly at home in his voice. With humility and humour, he explores how family, identity, and mentorship shaped his artistry, and how opera came to feel deeply personal. It’s a  portrait of musical belonging, and the quiet persistence required to become oneself on the world’s grandest stages.