Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

Arts and Entertainment

This Mezzo Soprano Makes Watching An Opera All In Sanskrit Completely Worth It

J'Nai Bridges performs in the L.A. Opera production of Philip Glass's Satyagraha.
()

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

By Jonathan Shifflett & Steven Cuevas with Marialexa Kavanaugh

J'Nai Bridges was a star athlete with multiple basketball scholarship offers -- but she was feeling a pull toward music.

Bridges is gifted with a rich, powerful singing voice -- a mezzo soprano, ideal for opera. Now 31, she's already appeared in opera houses across the U.S. and Europe.

"[Her voice is] incredibly colorful and she's got an enormous range," L.A. Opera resident conductor Grant Gershon said. "It's the reason why every opera company and every orchestra around wants to have her."

Support for LAist comes from

The L.A. Opera has her in a production of Satyagraha, the 1979 Philip Glass opera, sung entirely in Sanskrit. Gershon directs the show.

"Once you kind of let go of the idea that this is not a traditional opera, that you're not going to have subtitles, that you're not going to understand Sanskrit -- maybe someone will, but most people won't -- and you kind of just let the music take over you, it's really just a big meditation" Bridges said before an afternoon Satyagraha rehearsal.

The similarities between her musical career and her athletic background are shocking, according to Bridges.

"I always say that I still am an athlete, because sometimes after having sung a big role on stage, I feel like 'Wow, I just ran a 5K,'" Bridges said. "I mean the discipline is exactly the same. I used to get up before school at 5 a.m., practice, go to school, then practice afterwards."

The opera tells the story of Mahatma Gandhi's early years as he developed his philosophy of nonviolent civil disobedience, which he dubbed "Satyagraha," or "truth force." Bridges portrays Kasturba, Gandhi's wife and political partner.

The marriage was arranged during their early adolescence, and though it took a backseat to Gandhi's spiritual practice, they remained together for more than 60 years. This unfaltering loyalty at times made the role challenging for Bridges.

Support for LAist comes from

"My character, I'm supposed to be in the background. I wouldn't say that I typically embody that in real life," Bridges said. "But while she is submissive, she has this great strength to her, which influences I think everybody on stage -- especially Gandhi. He feels, and I think in real life, that he felt he always had this rock."

Critics of Philip Glass's compositions often comment on their repetitiveness. For Bridges, this was a strength.

"You have to be so aware of where you are at all times -- otherwise, you really can get lost," she said. "It might not seem difficult to the listener's ears because the repetition kind of puts you in this meditative state and it seems like it's just flowing and easy. That's a great thing, if we can make that come across -- but it's demanding."

That same discipline that made her a success as an athlete has brought her where she is as a singer, according to Bridges.

"You have to be able to work with people, and you know it's easy to get into your own world and become a little bit selfish," Bridges said. "In fact, I think you do have to be a bit selfish in this career. But at the same time, you have to be able to work with people and be empathetic and open, and you have to really take care of yourself."

The L.A. Opera's production of Satyagraha is now playing at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.


Support for LAist comes from

You made it! Congrats, you read the entire story, you gorgeous human. This story was made possible by generous people like you. Independent, local journalism costs $$$$$. And now that LAist is part of KPCC, we rely on that support. So if you aren't already, be one of us! Help us help you live your best life in Southern California. Donate now.

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist