News & Views

Member Spotlight: Dominique Dethier - Soprano

Audition Oracle – Tue 9 Jul 2024 @ 18:11

This week our member spotlight is the German soprano Dominique Dethier.

 
Dominique Dethier - Soprano

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I’m a freelance concert and opera singer
 

2. What other skills or passions do you have that help shape you as an artist?

I’ve also studied piano which is very helpful in learning new opera roles or preparing concert programs. But there are many other passions and skills like writing for example. I love to write texts about different topics or to create poems. I’m also a big fan of cooking and baking (of course as a sweets lover) - it’s perfect for a good work-life balance. Also long walks outside with my dog are fantastic to go through music or studied texts or just to breathe in not only fresh air but also impressions I get from working with different composers or musician colleagues.
 

3. What has been the most memorable and rewarding experience you have had as an artist?

There were several fantastic experiences during all the years as an artist, but I think one of the most memorable experiences was to sing Mozart at the beautiful Bulgaria Concert Hall in Sofia conducted by Maestro Nayden Todorov.
 

4. What role, company or performing situation would be a dream come true for you as an artist?

I would love to sing Mozart’s Fiordiligi or Händel’s Cleopatra at one of the big international opera houses.
 

5. What do you like most about being a creative artist?

That I’m directly connected with the audience in such fantastic communication via the music, and of course the possibilities of creative working as a soloist but also together with wonderful musician and opera singer colleagues, creating moments of music and taking the audience with me on a travel through music. Also experiencing new cities and concert venues around the world, inspiring encounters with people of all kinds and also discovering great music day by day is a wonderful part of being a musician.
 

6. If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Then I would say, don’t push things, have patience from the beginning, everything that is meant for you will come in time, and always listen to your body. :-)
 

7. Three words that are the pillars you shape your career by:

Passion, courage, resilience
 

8. Where can our community come and see you perform next?

There will be two wonderful opera galas in Cremona/Italy where I’ll perform different arias with orchestra on the 26th and 27th July, 2024. And also a beautiful production of Hänsel and Gretel will take place in the Stuttgart Balance Concert series where I’ll sing Gretel in December.
 
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Tickets for the opera galas in Italy are free and can be aquired here https://cremonamusicfestival.it/programma/evento/cremona-summer-festival-2024. Dominique will sing with the Nuertingen Chamber Orchestra conducted by Friederike Kienle. To find out more about Dominique, visit here Audition Oracle profile https://auditionoracle.com/singer/dominique_dethier/ and her website http://www.dominiquedethier.de/.
 

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Member Spotlight: Mica Liberta-Smith - Baritone

Audition Oracle – Thu 4 Jul 2024 @ 9:03

This week our Member Spotlight falls on British baritone Mica Liberta-Smith

 
Mica Liberta-Smith - Baritone

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist? 

The Nonbinary Baritone (they/them) – a gregarious, dedicated, passionate and determined singer. 
 

2. What other skills or passions do you have that help shape you as an artist?

As a former fine-dining chef I am detail-oriented, focused and love to cook for my spouse and friends. I have a passion for taking opera to new and different venues and to drawing in new audiences of all ages. Teaching and coaching my students. While travelling and relaxing, I enjoy crocheting and am also a huge table-top role player and board game lover!
 

3. What has been the most memorable and rewarding experience you have had as an artist? 

That would have to be either performing Alidoro (fairy godparent, La Cenerentola) with Barn Opera in Vermont USA in a glorious sparkly costume and inviting all the children from the audience to come onstage with me and 20 joined to cast some magic! Or singing the duet scene as Germont (La Traviata) with a dear friend as Violetta on the main stage of the Wales Millennium Centre with Maestro Carlo Rizzi and the Welsh National Opera Orchestra and being congratulated by the Maestro and given “stamps” by the orchestra. It felt like I had “arrived” and I felt genuinely seen and heard by people I truly respect.
 

4. What role, company or performing situation would be a dream come true for you as an artist? 

The dream would be performing Rigoletto, Figaro, Scarpia or Nick Shadow on the stage of one of the world’s biggest opera houses! But also perhaps challenging expectations by taking on gender fluid/nonbinary roles. My main dream is to show it is possible to be yourself and not have to conform to stereotypes to have a career in this industry.
 

5. What do you like most about being a creative artist? 

Having the opportunity to live my life authentically and to do what I love – singing and performing - every day; making things more accessible for trans, queer and disabled performers; and proving to myself and others there is space for trans opera/classical singers. In a nutshell, hopefully inspiring others by being the person I wish I could have seen on stage more openly and in my life when I was younger.
 

6. If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be? 

You can be you. You are not broken. Keep going and you will get through this and become the person you are meant to be. You are and truly can be loved. 
 

7. Three words that are the pillars you shape your career by:

Authenticity, Love and “Help-someone-feel-something”!
 

8. Where can we support you performing next?

I will be performing the role of Collatinus with the British Youth Opera in the opera The Rape of Lucretia performances 12-15 August with the Southbank Sinfonia at the Thames Tunnel shaft at The Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe. I am the only Solo cast Role for all four shows (with a very wonderful cover!) I feel very privileged as everyone is very talented and also lovely people! The concept is amazing though you will have to come see to know all about it! 

We are in the early stages of setting up Transgress Opera, a new queer and trans-led opera company creating innovative, accessible opera and music theatre in Cardiff and beyond. A mixture of updating staged operas, concerts/ cabaret evenings and showing how accessible opera/classical music can be! We are actively looking for people to be involved on and off the stage or in a supporting/funding capacity to start getting things properly established.
 
Purchase tickets to The Rape of Lucretia here, and to follow Mica's career visit https://auditionoracle.com/singer/mica_smith/

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Member Spotlight: Wiktoria Wizner - Mezzo Soprano

Audition Oracle – Mon 24 Jun 2024 @ 14:34

This week we are delighted to introduce Polish mezzo-soprano Wiktoria Wizner for our Member Spotlight.

Wiktoria Wizner - Mezzo Soprano.

 

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

Eclectic

 

2. What other skills or passions do you have that help shape you as an artist?

Acting, books, fine arts, travelling, photography, literature, creative writing, directing.

 

3. What has been the most memorable and rewarding experience you have had as an artist?

Winning the role of Carmen in January's audition.

 

4. What role, company or performing situation would be a dream come true for you as an artist?

I would love to sing in Spain one day, preferably in Andalucía. But a phone call from the METROPOLITAN would make me even happier.

 

5. What do you like most about being a creative artist?

That there are no frames nor limits.

 

6. If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Don't let anyone tear you apart. You deserve so much better than being told that you are nothing.

 

7. Three words that are the pillars you shape your career by:

Truth, Positivity, Joy

 

8. Where can our followers see you perform next?

I will sing Carmen in CARMEN in Stowe with Arcadian Opera (13th & 14th of July) and Hansel in HANSEL UND GRETEL in London with Opera Kipling (22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th of August). 

 

To buy tickets for these productions, vist http://arcadianopera.com/tickets/ for Carmen and https://operakipling.co.uk/performances/ for Hansel und Gretel.

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Member Spotlight: Oliver Gibbs - Baritone

Audition Oracle – Thu 20 Jun 2024 @ 13:35

This week our Member Spotlight is on British baritone Oliver Gibbs.

 
 
 Oliver Gibbs - Baritone

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

Opera Singer
 

2. What other skills or passions do you have that help shape you as an artist?

Active sportsman and builder, which keeps me vaguely fit. Energy in performance is critical.
 

3. What has been the most memorable and rewarding experience you have had as an artist?

Alberich for Regents Opera in Das Rheingold in November 2022
 

4. What role, company or performing situation would be a dream come true for you as an artist?

Rigoletto at the ROH.
 

5. What do you like most about being a creative artist?

The freedom involved in absorbing yourself into a character - sometimes wildly removed from that of your own. When there is fabulous music to inform that, then all the better.
 

6. If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Work as hard now as you're going to have to later on. Nothing less than 100% dedication. 
 

7. Three words that are the pillars you shape your career by:

Dedication, Joy, and Collegiality
 

8. Upcoming performances:

I am singing the role of Don Giovanni with Regents Opera on tour through the summer. The next performance is at Hoxton Hall, Saturday 29th June, 7.30pm.
 
 
Keep up-to-date with all Ollie's performances by visitng his Audition Oracle profile page https://auditionoracle.com/singer/oliver_gibbs/.

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Member Spotlight: Chelsea Hollow - Coloratura Soprano

Audition Oracle – Tue 11 Jun 2024 @ 15:09

Introducing the glorious coloratura soprano Chelsea Hollow for our latest Member Spotlight.

Chelsea Hollow - Coloratura Soprano 


1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

Vocalist, curator, commissioner.

 

2. What other skills or passions do you have that help shape you as an artist?

Functional strength training, singing genres in addition to classical, video editing.

 

3. What has been the most memorable and rewarding experience you've had as an artist?

Singing in the Dolores opera workshop (West Edge Opera, San Diego Opera, Opera Southwest, and BroadStage) in which Dolores Huerta herself was able to attend. Seeing her face as she watched us perform these moments from her life which had such an immense impact on the rights of farm workers in the US...it was an unbelievable experience.

 

4. What role, company or performing situation would be a dream come true for you as an artist?

I'm half Lebanese and I've never been cast in an opera about an Arabic woman or even with an Arabic narrative. It would be amazing to sing in an opera about or with an Arabic woman; two examples of incredible stories not yet brought to the operatic canon: Malala Yousafzai and Yusra Mardini.

 

5. What do you like most about being a creative artist?

It is literally my job to play, create, think, explore, innovate, etc.!

 

6. If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Spend more time finding out who you want to be and less time worrying about fitting into a "castable" mold.

 

7. Three words that are the pillars you shape your career by:

Intentionality, Kindness, and Curiosity.

 

8. Where can our members see you perform next or support your work?

I'm thrilled to be curating and commissioning my next album which will be recorded and released in 2025. In 2024 and 2025, I'll be performing in local operas and touring my solo recital, Cycles of Resistance, around the country. 2025 and 2026 have some very exciting opera debuts that I'm not able to announce at this time.


You can find out all about the wonderful soprano Chelsea Hollow and her many exciting projects and announcements by following https://www.chelseahollow.com.

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