News & Views

Member Spotlight: Isa Regina Siebert - Soprano

Audition OracleMon 29 Jul 2024 @ 19:29

This week we are delighted to introduce German soprano Isa Regina Siebert

Isa Regina Siebert - Soprano

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I am a passionate classical music artist and captivating audiences with my heartfelt interpretations. It brings joy and pure love, and I am continually fascinated by the wonderful interaction between the audience and me.

 

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

Volunteering in my community to support people with mental health challenges gives me a deeper understanding of human experiences, which enriches my emotional expression in music.

 

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

First time being on stage in the Spiegelfoyer Opera Graz and first time singing with Orchestra.

 

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

a) Jonas Kaufmann asks me to sing with him Lippen schweigen and later Tu qui Santuzza

b) to have more concerts with Orchestra for example in the Carnegie Hall

c) to sing in Theaters like the Met, the Scala and finally

d) to play there the role of Santuzza

.... And if I can't do it all on my own, then I will look for a loving and supportive man like the one Florence Foster Jenkins had ;)

 

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

That it brings joy, enriches all the senses, and constantly challenges me.

 

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

Have more courage.

 

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

Passion, Artistry, Perseverance

 

8. Where can our followers hear you sing next?

17. August 2024 – Konzert: Hamburger Kammeroper Allee Theater Hamburg, Max-Brauer-Allee 76, 22765 Hamburg

10. November 2024 – Konzert: Parkhotel Graz Leonhardstraße 8, 8010 Graz, Österreich

 

To follow soprano Isa Regina Siebert visit her website or check out her Audition Oracle profile https://auditionoracle.com/singer/isa_regina_siebert_lyrical_youth-dramatico/.

 

Permalink


Member Spotlight: Dominique Dethier - Soprano

Audition OracleTue 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.
 
-
 
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/.
 

Permalink


Member Spotlight: Mica Liberta-Smith - Baritone

Audition OracleThu 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/

Permalink