Indra Thomas' career got an early start when, as a teenager, she appeared in the 1989 film "Driving Miss Daisy," singing the gospel song "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."
"That was my first professional gig," Thomas said by phone from her Atlanta home, "and also the only film that I've done."
The film was also memorable for her since her scene was shot in her father's church, The Little Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. "My father was the minister there and that's where I was baptized."
The church is in Decatur, Ga., but Thomas said she is an Atlanta native. "People think I am from Decatur, because my church is there, but I am originally from Atlanta." She still lives in her hometown when she isn't in New York City.
Thomas didn't grow up singing in her father's church choir, however. "My mother didn't want me to sing in the church choir because they mostly sang gospel and gospel is hard on the voice. I sang a few solos with the choir but it wasn't until years later that I was a part of the choir."
Today, Thomas is one of the rising stars among the younger generation of singers. And although her schedule is taken up mainly with opera performances, she does manage to find the time to do recitals and concerts.
The young soprano, who was last seen in Utah three years ago, returns to Salt Lake City next weekend to sing Richard Strauss' "Four Last Songs" with the Utah Symphony under the baton of music director Keith Lockhart. "I can't wait to come and sing these songs. They are so wonderful."
The songs have a number of things that appeal to Thomas. "I like the arrangements — they are so fluid and mysterious. And the poems are very beautiful as well."
Paired with the Strauss at this weekend's concerts is Mahler's Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor.
Over the past couple of years, Thomas has had several opportunities to sing the Strauss songs, most recently with the Jacksonville Symphony and at the Colmar Festival in France under conductor Vladimir Spivakov.
Thomas is a versatile singer. That becomes obvious when one looks at her schedule for the coming months. Between now and April, she'll be singing the music of three totally different composers.
After her appearance in Abravanel Hall, Thomas will be doing a Gershwin concert with the Columbus Symphony under Spivakov in March. And in April, she'll be in Detroit singing the title role in Verdi's "Aida" for Michigan Opera Theater. "You have to stretch and use your whole range to get through those gigs," Thomas said.
Her favorite composer by far is Verdi. "His music is very intense and exciting and fun, with a lot of variety in emotions. They aren't easy roles. They keep me on my toes. But I'm very passionate about doing them."
Besides "Aida," Thomas has Elisabeth in "Don Carlos" and Leonora in "Il Throatier" in her repertoire. She is also slated to sing Leonora in "La Forza del Destino," and she's planning on soon adding Amelia in "Un Ballo in Maschera" to her growing list of Verdi heroines. Later, in perhaps 10 or 15 years, she's interested in tackling the large Puccini roles. "I would love to do 'Turandot' and 'Tosca' at some point in my career. You need to know when you are mentally ready to take on large roles like those. Sometimes you can get through them vocally, but if you don't have the maturity, then you won't overcome your insecurities with a particular role."
Even though Thomas has been singing from an early age, it wasn't until she entered college that she developed a passion for music. "To get a degree in college, you have to be passionate. It's torture getting though music, because it is rigorous, intensive work. If you don't have that passion, then you are not going to make it."
And the learning doesn't stop once you graduate, she said. "I find I'm a perpetual student. I continually read about composers, and I still get voice coaching. I am always learning."
If you go
What: Indra Thomas, soprano; Keith Lockhart, conductor; Utah Symphony
Where: Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple
When: Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.
How much: $12-50
Phone: 355-2787 or 888-451-2787
E-mail: ereichel@desnews.com