Kelsey Grammer talks to KSN about upcoming performance with Wichita Grand Opera

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — He’s most known for his role on the set of “Frasier,” but Emmy Award-winning actor Kelsey Grammer will be working the vocals in “Candide” at the Wichita Opera House on April 27 and 28.

Grammer sat down for an interview with KSN on Tuesday to talk about his role in the project, which he is doing for the second time. He will be performing the role of Dr. Pangloss, which is the narrator of the piece.

“I had done this once before, about seven years ago, and it seemed like … I needed another crack at it,” Grammer said. “It’s a magnificent piece of music and I think under the capable hands of Whitney Reader … I think it’s really going to surprise people.”

Grammer is a well-known actor but also has a love of singing. He said he’s “opera-adjacent,” and his voice teacher when he was a child wanted him to get into the opera.

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“When I was 14, I started singing,” Grammer said. “And my voice teacher wanted me to go into opera, and I thought, ‘that’s a really tough one’ … it’s a rarified air up there. Anyone who’s a great opera singer has a very limited window for a great career.”

Grammer said he wanted to give another crack at Candide because he’s drawn to the opera.

“I love the opera. I love the spectacle of it,” Grammer said. “I love this particular piece of music, and I figure I want to keep my toe in the water.”

No stranger to working in television and movies, Grammer said preparing for the opera is tougher.

“This is harder on your voice; you got to be in shape,” Grammer said. “I’m in reasonably good shape, but the vocal gymnastics requirement there, it’s a little high in my range, so I’m up there floating at the top of my range a lot. That’s been knocking me out a little.”

Tickets for Candide at the Wichita Grand Opera are available now. You can find them by clicking here.

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