BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
Last year, we took you backstage with opera stars in our interview series Behind the Curtain.
This year, we’re going to take you inside the minds of these performers.
Our new series Blood, Sweat, Opera exposes the inner workings of the opera singer, from performance anxiety to memories; sources of passion to the thoughts that race as they perform.
The West Australian Opera states that, for us all, “blood is life-force, symbol, power, and passion”. So we’re teaming up to bring you exclusive and personal conversations with world-renowned artists.
And they each have opera in their blood.
Meet Elena Perroni
Our first interview is with Elena Perroni, who will take to the stage as Violetta in Verdi’s heart-wrenching La Traviata. The opera, staged by WAO and presented with the City of Perth, asks for no booking fee: audiences should simply come along and sink into the sound.
Elena Perroni returns to her hometown of Western Australia after success in the United States, where she last year graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music. Elena has performed with Opera Philadelphia, the English National Opera, and with Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra.
Take us back to your earliest memories of wanting to sing opera. What were your dreams of the stage?
My first voice teacher was an opera singer, and I remember being captivated watching her on stage. I couldn’t understand how the voice could function like that! It inspired me to want to learn how.
Also, as a young girl, I was enamoured by the music of Walt Disney in the 1950s, and the way the music told a story through song.
Tell us about the memory of the first performance you felt gave you a ‘big break’ or made you realise: I can really do this.
That’s a tough question! There have been a few performances which have been incredibly important and meaningful to me and my development as a singer and artist — the first being my international debut with English National Opera; and also having the opportunity to sing as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
A big milestone for me was being selected as the first Australian to be accepted into the opera department at Curtis Institute of Music. I realised then that I had the opportunity and support from others to dedicate myself to this career in a serious way.
However, the moments that I am most proud of, and value the most, are those when I connect with people through music in a way that means something to them.
As you started to build up your career, what were some sources of passion that you used to push you forward?
I have really become passionate about the pursuit of bettering myself through hard work. Over the last few years, I’ve really enjoyed the discipline I’ve adopted to aid me in becoming the musician I strive to be. I’m passionate about working hard to learn new roles, arias, or phrases that at first seemed impossible.
I also greatly value the importance of my connection to nature, what’s going on in the world, and my personal connection with those around me. I feel like these are the things that inform my singing, and strengthen my passion of telling a story through music.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way, which you thought would set you back or crush your confidence as an artist?
It is always a challenge when moments in an audition, competition, or performance do not go the way you hoped for. In these moments, I try and understand what it is I can learn from the situation. It has been important for me to learn how to take on a range of comments, opinions, and advice; and to use them in a way that can help me move forward.
What’s been your experience with performance anxiety?
For me, ensuring that I have prepared enough to feel comfortable is the best remedy to combat performance anxiety. Of course, the butterflies still creep in, sometimes in the most surprising moments. But when that happens, I try to lean on the hard work and preparation that I have put in, to give me a boost and help me overcome any nerves.
What are the things that are going through your mind while you perform?
A thousand things at once! However, I always try to get to the point, technically, [at which] I can focus my energy on being in the moment, and concentrate on what it is I want to say through the music and what the character is saying.
Opera is in your blood. So how important do you feel it is to achieve a balance between this part of your identity and your ‘self’ off the stage?
It’s definitely important to achieve a balance between my work-life on stage and my personal time off. I very much enjoy exploring, whether it be nature or a new city! I really love going on long hikes, and I find that they are a great way to centre myself between projects.
I value being connected to nature, those around me, and staying up to date with the world’s current affairs. I feel like maintaining the connection to the things I love very much informs the choices I make in my work.
When you’re not singing, how do you physically care for your voice as well as your body?
Every day, I try to combine a healthy diet with some sort of physical activity, whether it be a run, a hike, or a workout at the gym.
Over the last few years, I have become very interested in using food as medicine, so I focus a lot on nourishing my body through my diet choices.
To the young singers who also have opera in their blood, what advice would you give to forging a healthy career in this industry?
This career can be an exciting roller coaster. So work hard, be true to yourself, and don’t forget to enjoy the ride!
See Elena sing in City of Perth Opera in the Park: La Traviata from 8pm February 2.
It’s a free event at the Supreme Court Gardens, Perth.
Stay tuned as we join with world-class WAO talent to bring you our next interview in Blood, Sweat, Opera. In the meantime, you can now binge the complete interview series of Behind the Curtain. We’d recommend starting with Pia Harris, soprano.
Images supplied.
