FOR NEW - AND ASPIRING - ACOCO RISING ARTISTS:
If opera singing doesn’t connect with the very essence of the performer, as a human being with a story not just to be told but to be lived and felt and shared - and for that raw feeling to be poured out - the singer can impress, inspire, entertain - but still leave people cold. It’s a wasted opportunity - for everyone, and for the art form.
Every element of opera performance is about capturing the feeling, grasping the intention, making the connection.
Everything learned from University, from teaching, classes and research - it has no artistic value unless it is connected to communication. For a complex character - audiences want their thoughts, breaths and journey - not ‘just’ the music/text/your voice.
If you don’t do that pre-work: the imagining, thinking, crafting - and you think your sound and musical preparation is enough, we may as well all go home now. We are here - as opera artists - to make a difference; not to coast by feeling comfortable and safe in what we’ve learned.
We need to take all that we’ve mastered - the instrument, the tools, the materials, and apply our own unique, laser focused drive to communicate - beyond the singularity of words, music and action. It’s a combination of voice quality and creative flair with applied thoughts and authentic commitment that wins people over.
Perform as if your life depends on every phrase. Because in many ways, it does.