World
CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Dynamic Duo
Patricia Racette and Beth Clayton celebrate their wedding and sing out for pride at Lincoln Center
Patricia Racette and Beth Clayton celebrate their wedding and sing out for pride at Lincoln Center
When soprano opera star Patricia Racette and her
partner of eight years, mezzo-soprano Beth
Clayton, take Lincoln Center's Rose Hall stage on
June 23 to perform a duet for the Charles
Busch-hosted gay pride event True Colors,
they'll be singing the most lesbian-identified
piece of opera ever: the "Flower
Duet" from Delibes's Lakme. The piece,
written for two female voices, most famously
underscored the seduction scene between Catherine
Deneuve and Susan Sarandon in The Hunger. It also
popped up in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and
the lesbian-themed I've Heard the Mermaids
Singing. "We were going to sing [Mame's]
'Bosom Buddies' instead, but then we
thought it might be too trashy," jokes Racette.
But how does one convince two opera divas
from the same household to perform together in the
first place? "It wasn't a hard
decision," says Clayton. "This year
happens to be a very personal time for us because
we're having a commitment ceremony on June 18, so
when this came up it was serendipitous. Some jobs
had shifted and the time became free, so it was an
easy yes. It also happens to be Pat's 40th
birthday, which is fabulous. So we had all these
great reasons to celebrate and to make a
statement. And we love Charles Busch."
The opera world has always welcomed lesbians
and gay men (although it hasn't always made
it easy for stars to be publicly out). Racette and
Clayton have never been personally or professionally
closeted and still enjoy flourishing careers.
Clayton recently appeared in the Lyric Opera of
Chicago's production of William Bolcom's
A Wedding, directed by Robert Altman.
As for Racette, she just wrapped up a starring role in
the Houston Grand Opera's production of
Falstaff, "where about 50% of the
cast [was] gay. That was unusual, but fun," and
is currently booked for the next few years. The
pair's official coming-out in print, though,
happened when Racette was profiled in a cover story of a
2002 issue of Opera News, a story written
by Busch's partner, Eric Myers, and in
which Clayton participated as well. "Frankly, we
get spoiled by it," says Clayton.
"We're in an environment that's
very supportive of our sexual
orientation--celebratory even. It may shock some
patrons in regional houses, but even that's
changing. I can't feel any negativity.
We're both committed to being singing
actresses onstage, so you'd never hear someone
come to a performance and say, 'Oh, my gosh,
that's not believable to see, Patricia
Racette onstage with a man.' It's quite
the opposite. That's part of our craft."
"There's an implied tolerance
we've come to expect," adds Racette.
"As for fans, I can't count the
number of times that people have approached me
after a performance and said, 'Thank you for
coming out.' That is really so important to me."
That comfort level extends to the
couple's playful rapport together--their
conversation is peppered by jokes about their unfunky
opera-friendly long hair and how having similar
vocal repertoires would doom their relationship.
It also informs their connection to their families, who
will be in attendance at their commitment ceremony in
Santa Fe, N.M. "It's incredibly
special for us because our families, individually, have
never met over the eight years we've been
together. Not for any bad reason, but because
it's just been impossible to get them in the same
place at the same time," explains Racette.
"So we're overjoyed. We have really
supportive families. We're close to them."
The only problem? What to wear to the
wedding. "Because of what we do for a
living, we didn't want to wear dresses,"
says Clayton. Adds Racette, laughing:
"We're going in our finest flannel."
White writes about film for E! Online.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
30 Steamy Photos of Folsom Street Fair 2023 Debauchery
October 15 2023 11:06 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
60 Burly Pics from Bearrison Street Fair 2022
October 08 2023 8:30 PM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Plus
Yahoo FeedInjectable HIV treatment, prevention: Everything you need to know
March 26 2024 10:45 PM
Ronna McDaniel, tied up by her Trump lies, drowns in an aquarium of her own making
March 26 2024 9:00 PM
The ultimate guide to cannabis in Provincetown
March 26 2024 6:40 PM
New York Times fails to include trans voices in coverage, say GLAAD, Media Matters
March 26 2024 6:31 PM
Pete Buttigieg commits federal resources to Baltimore bridge collapse recovery
March 26 2024 5:47 PM
The horrific reality of transgender individuals in Texas prisons
March 26 2024 4:30 PM
Three more arrested in murder of queer Brazilian politician Marielle Franco
March 26 2024 3:41 PM
New Hampshire advances trans-exclusionary sports bill
March 26 2024 3:24 PM
Pride
Yahoo FeedFind your perfect fit with gender-inclusive fashion from The Pride Store
March 26 2024 2:16 PM