Alex and Helen have quickly jumped on the podcast to respond to the recent announcement that the BBC will be disbanding the BBC Singers, and the BBC Concert Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra will face 20% role reductions. They discuss what makes the BBC Singers unique, what troubles them about the press release and, if possible, how we can look ahead with a positive spirit. Sign the petition to save the BBC Singers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more

Just like that, we’ve come to the end of Season 3 of the podcast! From the live episode, to the Voice of Black Opera Mini Series, to episodes on boundaries, nepotism and perfectionism, it’s been a total blast. To see you out, this week Alex and Helen discuss the three things they’re fighting for in the future of the operatic industry. Boundaries It would be impossible for us to talk about boundaries on this podcast any more than we already do. However, in this difficult time for those working in the creative arts we think it’s more important than ever for us to feel safe and capable of asse ..read more

This week Alex and Helen discuss the pros and cons of perfectionism. For many artists the desire to create perfection can be overwhelming. Perfectionism can have many benefits including producing work of a high standard, committing to a project with passion and motivation and inspiring others. However, perfectionism can also have drawbacks. Perfectionism can cause us to hold artists to unattainable standards, forgetting that real live performance can, in no way, be perfect. Such perfectionism can lead artists to becoming overwhelmingly self-critical which can cause issues with creative freed ..read more

This week we discuss the fear culture which pervades the opera industry and how we can take care of ourselves in these situations. Performance Anxiety We are singers and performers because we love sharing the joy of making good music; however, in certain situations (such as high pressured auditions) we can become crippled by fear. Is there a way of us reframing this? Do the feelings we experience before our first night on stage at the Metropolitan Opera have to be fear, or could they be anticipation instead? Could they be excitement at having the opportunity to connect with an audience thro ..read more

We all want to try and pretend nepotism doesn’t happen in the opera industry but, let’s face it, it does. So, how can you use nepotism to your own advantage? Make your own connections If you’re in a room with someone you want to work with, what’s the harm in having a chat? You don’t have to directly ask for work, you don’t even have to directly ask for an audition, instead you can discuss an opera you saw recently, or something you read in the news, whatever! In making the initial connection it’s about making simple conversation and making an impression on said person. Make connections in ..read more

This week Alex and Helen debate a big question which often plagues the arts: can we separate our work from politics? In this episode they discuss the three following questions: Can we put our opinions aside to perform music by people whose views we disagree with? Can we put our opinions aside to work with colleagues whose actions/views we disagree with? How are we able to reconcile our morals in the world of opera, an art form that is still plagued by misogyny, sexism, racism, homophobia and much more? Episode edited and produced by Daisy Grant Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com ..read more

Finalist in the Voice of Black Opera Competition 2022, Chantelle Grant sits down with Helen and Alex to talk about the experience of performing in such a prestigious competition, how she feels performing Wagner and Strauss and what it’s like to walk onto the stage at The Metropolitan Opera. If you want to find out more about Chantelle check out her: Website Twitter Instagram Youtube Channel Episode edited and produced by Daisy Grant Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more

Finalist in the Voice of Black Opera 2022 Competition, Thando Mjandana, joins Helen and Alex to talk about how he handles nerves, looking forward to the competition final, future roles he’s excited by and how he got into singing in the first place. For more on Thando, check out his: Agency Profile Instagram Youtube Channel Episode edited and produced by Daisy Grant Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more

To kick-start our mini series on the Voice of Black Opera (VOBO) 2022 Competition we were delighted to be joined by the competition’s founder, Vincent Osborne. In this episode we discuss what Vincent is looking forward to in the competition, why he established both this competition and the Black British Classical Foundation, what he hopes to see the opera industry of the future, and just how he ran the Time Out Bar of the Year, The Brixtonian! Episode edited and produced by Daisy Grant Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more

Alex and Helen were delighted to welcome esteemed colleague and old friend Keval Shah onto the podcast to discuss the similarities and differences between singers and instrumentalists. Keval is an internationally recognised pianist who has worked with many world-renowned singers, making him a perfectly positioned guest for this week’s conversation. In the episode they discuss the physicality of singing vs playing an instrument; how instrumentalists could learn from singers and their use of text; how singers could learn from instrumentalists and their understanding of a musical score; and, mos ..read more