A perfect tenor

Tenor Liam McLachlan studied opera singing in college in the mid-1990s in Australia, but his career has taken a few turns in other music genres, including a stint with pop touring group The Ten Tenors.

Now living in Glendale, he’s decided to return to opera and make it a full-time career.

McLachlan is hoping to get a jump start on that dream as one of six singers performing in the 2008 Fall Performers Showcase presented by the Opera Buffs Inc. on Nov. 8 at the Zipper Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

Since it began in 1983, the Opera Buffs has given more than $600,000 in support of more than 600 singers starting operatic careers. The nonprofit uses profits from its fundraisers to help singers afford travel and formal attire for auditions.

“Its purpose is to help young singers further their careers,” McLachlan said.

Twice a year, the organization showcases young singers who are preparing for an opera career, said Mona Lands, music director for the Opera Buffs.

“You need to be presented in front of the public as often as possible so you get used to singing in front of a lot of people,” Lands said. “It proves to you whether you are really comfortable on stage.”

It takes 10 years to make an opera career, Lands said.

“Liam is just in square one — he’s just beginning,” she said.

Coming out of college, McLachlan said his voice wasn’t at the maturity level needed for an operatic career.

He has performed in television and films since high school, including a part in the 2001 Disney film “South Pacific” with Glenn Close, made in Australia.

He began singing with The Ten Tenors in 2004. They toured Australia, then started touring internationally, performing in 27 countries. Its largest fan base is in Germany. They came to the United States in 2006, appearing at the Pantages theater in Hollywood.

The group is opera-based but also sings musical theater, jazz and original songs by the guys in the group, McLachlan said.

“It was a great education in the wider world of music but gave my joy of opera singing back,” he said. “And my voice began to mature bigger and more robust and gave me more stamina.”

He heard about the showcase from his voice coach, William Vendice, who was associate conductor of the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York from the mid- 1970s to the late ’80s and was chorus master with Los Angeles Opera from 1995 to 1997.

“I think he has an incredible tenor voice,” Vendice said. “He is not quite ready for the Metropolitan Opera yet but I’m hoping very soon.”

McLachlan auditioned for Lands, and she offered him a place in the concert, he said.

“I was extremely grateful,” McLachlan said. “It’s difficult to restart someone’s career again. Any opportunity to get on stage is wonderful. I’m greatly excited.”

He will be singing an aria from Verdi’s Rigoletto opera and performing a long scene from La Boheme.

“It’s a very famous scene that was most famously sung by Pavarotti,” he said. “I’m singing it with Xiaobo Su from China. It’s a beautiful and extremely famous scene.”

Now that his voice has matured, he believes it’s time to concentrate on a career in opera.

“You can’t be really a part-time professional opera singer,” he said. “It is a commitment. With opera, it’s a profession, and if you haven’t studied and worked hard to become as good as you possibly can, there is no use trying. You wouldn’t dream of trying it without it.”