Classical Opera Singer: Everyday Life & Constitution

Years ago, I was asked at a party, "You are an opera singer, how interesting and extraordinary! But tell me: You usually work in the evening - what do you actually do during the day?"

A funny, naive question for a professional singer who has to cope with a very precisely clocked, labor-intensive everyday life - but understandable from the point of view of the opera fan, who is pleased and impressed by the result without knowing the laborious effort that leads to a successful performance (which is probably only good in terms of artistic effect).

So let's take a look at the everyday life of professional singers* in the classical field, for all those, who want to become professional singers or want to know out of pure interest what reality actually looks like.

Although in this context you first have to distinguish between artists with and those without commitment, there are job-specific similarities in both groups. The everyday life of all includes:

• Daily vocalisation and voice/breathing training
• Voice technical development/training of difficult parts of an aria, a song, an ensemble.
• New studies and/or repetition of subject-specific repertoire
• Reflections on the interpretation and search for vocal expressivity colours
• Memorize what has been developed and repetition of what has already been learned

In the initial phase, more time must naturally be spent on this basic work than later in full professional assignment. In this phase of life, there are other indispensable tasks that still require time later, but are of the utmost importance in vocational preparation. Here are:

• Compiling an application folder with good photos, a carefully written CV and a convincing repertoire list
• Well-prepared recording of an application DVD or CD with 3 opera arias ( Mozart should be there), 1 operetta aria, 1 oratorio aria, 2 songs. Equally fast virtuoso and slow sonorous legato pieces should be selected.
• Contacting agents and planning auditions appointments at theaters
• Application to competitions
• Auditions with cantors and concert organizers in the immediate vicinity

Highly recommended is the regular cooperation with a pianist/coach and the frequent voice control and repertoire - advice from an experienced singing teacher.

Busy days already in the career development phase - diligence and labor intensity are prerequisites for early as well as later success. 30% talent, 70% hard work is a coherent equation in this context.

What does the everyday life of professional singers* look like when they are engaged for a stage role as a guest or permanently at an opera house?

As a rule, musical and scenic rehearsals are scheduled daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Depending on the size of the roll, you will almost always or quite often be on the sample plan. The trial plan for the next day will not be published until 2 p.m., so that reliable private planning in production phases is hardly possible. If you rehearse for an upcoming premiere, but also have evening performances to sing, you are sometimes completely rehearsal- free or only have morning rehearsals. Then all the attention is paid to rest, concentration and preparation for the performance - no time for shopping or office transactions.

In case of sudden sick leave from colleagues*, however, rehearsals can also be scheduled in the afternoon as a briefing for a guest singer. Stage rehearsals, especially the main rehearsals with piano and orchestra in costume and mask, are unlimited in time and can last 6-8 hours in extreme cases. Rehearsal exemption is only possible if you have agreed on an irrevocable holiday ticket with the director and musical director and also received it as a signed document.

For permanent engagements, the number of vacation days guaranteed per season is at least as important as the amount of the fee - the possibility of guesting depends on it and thus the chance to present your own name and artistic business card in an extended network.

Here is a virtual daily routine (a wide variety of variants are conceivable):

It becomes clear how little private time remains during a production, at least for important roles. In these usually 4-6 weeks, the rehearsal and main stage is your home, the colleagues are your family.