News & Views

Member Spotlight: Wiktoria Wizner - Mezzo Soprano

Audition OracleMon 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 OracleThu 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 OracleTue 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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Member Spotlight: Grace Lovelass - Mezzo-Soprano

Audition OracleTue 4 Jun 2024 @ 12:37

Today our Member Spotlight is British mezzo-soprano Grace Lovelass

Photo of British mezzo soprano Grace Lovelass on blue and gold back ground.

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

Opera singer, entertainer and IRONMAN
 

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

Coincidentally, I am actually a long distance cycling enthusiast who loves to cold-water swim!! I’m a two-time IRONMAN triathlete, as well as a yogi and dancer trained in ballroom & latin, street and now flamenco. I’ve written two one-woman shows with the most recent, Disgraceful, billed as the rebellion of an off-duty opera singer. I give talks to Women’s Institutes and other organisations about my life as a singer and athlete.
 

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

Writing, producing and performing my show, Disgraceful. It was the culmination of a lot of soul searching, self discovery and artist enquiry undertaken during the pandemic. It also put to bed the imposter syndrome that I’d felt coming to a professional opera career later in life. More than anything, the most memorable and rewarding aspect was the complete joy that I felt sharing something so honest and personal with my audience on the night.
 

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

My favourite role to date has been Romeo in Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi. I can’t imagine enjoying a character more but, of course, the ultimate goal would be to perform it at the highest possible level and the Met is my dream opera house. So, in the meantime, I’ll just be here, keeping on manifesting!
 

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

I never know what’s going to happen next. I wake up with a sense of excitement and wonder every single morning. But perhaps most of all, I get to be completely myself in everything I do. I had a previous career in which I was trying to squeeze myself into a mould. I was using my skills but compromising aspects of my personality to fit the environment and industry standards. Now, I have the unequivocal pleasure of showing up as my unique and authentic self every single day.
 

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

Be unapologetically yourself and listen to your soul. I’ve learnt that my unique talents and way of seeing the world are what makes my work interesting. The same goes for all of us and my favourite mantra is “your mission is not what you do - it’s what happens in others when you do what you do”. I’ve learnt to trust my intuition. Stay curious, open to information and hear advice but then, have faith in yourself to take what you need and throw the rest away.
 

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

Courage, honesty and self-reliance
 

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

I’m singing the Sorceress in Dido & Aeneas with Somerset Opera in July and the Witch and Mother in Hansel & Gretel with Opera Kipling at Camden Fringe in August. I’m calling it my ‘hot witch summer’ as I embrace my mezzo hag era!
 
To purchase tickets for To catch Grace's Sorceress, please visit https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/somersetoperagroup and for Witch/Mother in Hansel & Getel - https://camdenfringe.com/events/hansel-gretel/
 

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