Making a short name for himself

THE handsome Prince Paul in Los Angeles Opera’s new “Grand Duchess” is a familiar face. But there’s something new about his name: When did Rodney Gilfry become Rod Gilfry?

“I changed it about six months ago,” Gilfry says. “Obviously I did it for the publicity, and it paid off because you’re asking about it.”

No, seriously, folks. “I’ve always felt ‘Rodney’ was a little pretentious. I don’t feel like ‘Rodney.’ ‘Rodney’ sounds sophisticated, and I don’t feel so sophisticated. Also, my last name gets misspelled all the time. They see ‘Rodney’ and feel Gilfry should follow suit. Even L.A. Opera has misspelled it, although I’ve done 29 roles for them.”

Gilfry, 46, has also premiered the roles of Stanley Kowalski in Andre Previn’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” and Nathan in Nicholas Maw’s “Sophie’s Choice” and made a name in the nonclassical world as well.

Even so, he says, “There were also old stigmas I was trying to get rid of. My mother had a friend named Rodney in high school, whom she characterized as having ‘wet lips.’ Also, when I was a freshman in high school, a senior who didn’t know me once said, ‘You’re such a Rodney,’ which was synonymous with being a nerd. Now I keep my lips dry and I’ve changed my name to Rod. I feel much better.”