Around Town: Tenor Richard Novak returns to Sidney

Richard Novak last visited Sidney in the middle of blizzard, one of those blinding, howling Western Nebraska winter days.

"I couldn't even see the parking lot," he recalled.

Few could-only a handful of people showed up for his recital and disappointed organizers from the High Plains Arts Council suggested they call the whole thing off. But the robust tenor from Texas just shook his head, knowing the show must always go on.

"Let's do it," Novak told the group.

Someone brought up on the legendary high school football fields of the Lone Star state would hardly be daunted by a half dozen inches of pelting snow. Neither would a singer schooled in opera houses from Dallas to Washington to Wichita and Des Moines, with recital performances everywhere in between, refuse a few hardy music lovers.

"They were an energetic bunch," he said of the 20 or so who braved the storm that day last concert season.

Novak returns to Sidney on Nov. 22 as part of the HPAC's 2013-14 schedule. He plans a program that mixes opera favorites with popular standards, a few Irish tunes and some fun diversions-something for just about every taste.

Though clearly versatile, Novak is a veteran of some 40 operas. He played Rudolfo in La Boheme, Don Jose in Carmen, Alfredo in La Traviata and Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly. He has also taken the stage as lead tenor for masses by Mendelssohn, Liszt, Mozart and Handel's Messiah.

Yet the powerful tenor came to music later than most-and for the most mundane of reasons: he needed a fine arts credit to complete his high school requirements.

"I was a football player," Novak explained. "I couldn't be part of the band and I couldn't draw."

Fortunately, a cute female classmate convinced him to join the choir, dangling a very powerful lure. There were, she said, nine girls for every boy in the group.

"I thought that would improve my odds," he admitted.

Singing, however, was a problem.

"I knew nothing, and I was so far behind everyone else," Novak said.

So he engaged a private tutor and committed himself to singing lessons. Within a short time, he discovered a resonant voice, hidden deep within his diaphragm. Soon he was a standout on the high school choir and teachers were encouraging the promising young performer to audition for a college scholarship.

Novak eventually completed a doctorate in music. But he was uncertain where all of this work would take him until he saw a performance of Puccini's opera Turandot.

"I heard that and said 'that's what I want to do,'" Novak said.

Brought up in a military family and honed in small Texas towns, the cultured opera performer has never lost the common touch. He enjoys diving into piece by Sinatra, for example. And he's ready with a laugh recalling Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd's cartoon version of Wagner in "What's Opera, Doc?"

"You have to be able to do different things with your voice," he pointed out. "You're not just going to have opera fans in the audience."

When taking the stage for a recital, Novak prefers brief introductions so novices gain some familiarity with songs and composers.

"It breaks the overwhelming feeling you get when going to a classical event," he explained. "I like to have a fun atmosphere."

Novak performs at Sidney High School on Nov. 22 at 7 p.m.-no matter what the panhandle skies bring forth.

"Doesn't matter the weather," Novak assured. "We'll do the concert."