We are living through a strange and unsettling time which has reminded us of the fragility of both life and our economic security.  The immediate effect on opera is that all the theatres are dark, most live performances cancelled or postponed, and singers and orchestras are losing much of their work.  We don’t know the long term effect, but if there’s a recession there will be less money around to support the art form, and with higher taxes imposed on us all, audiences will be reluctant to buy tickets.  I find out what singers are doing during this period, where they are and how they are making the best of it.  These fascinating q&a include videos and home photos sent by the artists.

My first interview is with the star soprano Ermonela Jaho.

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Ermonela Jaho

One of the world’s finest and most sought after sopranos talks to Lucy from New York about life in a time of corona.

https://mailchi.mp/3e565019ce54/my-ermonela-jaho-interview-singers-in-lockdown-series

 

Rosalind Plowright

A grande dame of opera on life in Salisbury and new projects.

https://mailchi.mp/eb9e116df03a/rosalind-plowright-a-grande-dame-of-opera-with-a-secret

 

Sir Willard White

A philosophical approach. The star spoke to Lucy from his home in Paris.

https://mailchi.mp/53bdb96ed05f/sir-willard-white-in-paris

 

Joseph Calleja

The world famous tenor on his home in Malta, family life and continuing to sing.

https://mailchi.mp/c06d9f298fb6/joseph-calleja-talks-to-lucy-life-in-a-time-of-corona-interviews

 

Harry Bicket

The esteemed opera conductor and Music Director of The English Concert in splendid isolation, Scotland.

https://mailchi.mp/db18eb9acf22/conductor-harry-bicket-when-harry-met-lucy

 

Claire Booth

A top English soprano juggling pandemic performances with motherhood and other domestic duties.

https://mailchi.mp/5ced34763662/claire-booth-la-voix-humaine

 

Charles Castronovo

The fabulous star tenor in Berlin for lockdown and preparing to go back on stage.

https://mailchi.mp/e13dc8ab327d/the-charles-castronovo-interview-life-in-the-time-of-corona

 

Jane Ede

Sydney Opera House’s favourite soprano is singing to boost Australia’s morale.

https://mailchi.mp/1f04d0a00118/sydney-opera-house-principal-soprano-jane-ede

 

Jesus Leon 

A conversation with the super-talented Mexican tenor in Vienna.

https://mailchi.mp/28733810784b/jesus-leon-the-mexican-tenor-in-vienna

 

Nelly Miricioiou

The vintage diva on teaching Royal Opera House Young Artists online.

https://mailchi.mp/25929f56d346/direct-from-the-diva-nelly-miricioiou-at-home

 

Shanul Sharma

The Opera Australia Young Artist with a heavy metal provenance.

https://mailchi.mp/f57f05af249f/from-heavy-metal-vocalist-to-opera-tenor

 

Rhian Lois

The Welsh soprano talks about the joys of family life in lockdown and future projects.

https://mailchi.mp/feeff692db66/rhian-lois-an-open-air-boheme-and-filming-turn-of-the-screw

 

Na’ama Goldman

A great video interview with the gorgeous Israeli mezzo-soprano in Germany. 

https://mailchi.mp/544a327340a9/video-interview-with-israeli-mezzo-soprano-naama-goldman

 

John Paul Huckle

The Anglo American bass flew from Genova to be with his parents in Pittsburgh USA.

https://mailchi.mp/e32880b06b5e/john-paul-huckle-anglo-american-bass-in-pittsburgh-for-the-pandemic

 

Letitia Vitelaru

We catch up with the rising star soprano in Hamburg and Croatia.

https://mailchi.mp/f39c5b72f846/love-in-the-time-of-corona-soprano-at-sea

 

Sergey Levitin

Royal Opera House Concert Master in lockdown, the virtuoso violinist from Russia with love.

 

Yuriy Yurchuk

The Royal Opera House Principle baritone – a Ukrainian in Little Venice.

http://Yuriy Yurchuk Principle at Royal Opera House – a Ukrainian in Little Venice.