BASTIEN & BASTIENNE
DER SCHAUSPIELDIREKTOR
EVMORFIA METAXAKI
London, 26/10/2012
Presenting two of Mozart's cutest operas: "Bastien und Bastienne" and "Der Schauspieldirektor". Evmorfia Metaxaki is a Greek soprano who makes a remarkable career in Germany and she is singing two of the leading roles: Bastienne and Madame Silberklang. Enjoy this exclusive interview!
How did you start singing opera?
I always liked to sing but I started to learn music at the age of 8 when I joined a children's choir. Some years later at the conservatory in Athens, they encouraged me to try my luck abroad.
What is your favourite role and why?
I enjoyed the part of Ilia in Mozart’s Idomeneo very much. I love the music –I love Mozart generally- and the role shows so many different components: love, nostalgia, sacrifice but also the pureness of that girl which I personally find the most difficult to perform on stage. It’s easier to be the “bad person” in an opera, you know…?
How would you describe yourself on and off stage?
I hate to talk about myself but in one word I would say: Passionate on and off stage.
Tell us about the recording of Bastien & Bastienne for the Deutsche Grammophon. How was this experience for you?
The DVD came out on 2006 at the Salzburg Festival. I was invited to sing Bastienne and Mademoiselle Silberklang as it was a mixed production of two Mozart operas –"Bastien et Bastienne" and "Der Schauspieldirektor"- It was an indescribable feeling taking part in such a famous festival: great colleagues, great environment and great audience! The DVD is a live recording, so for us it was a normal performance.
You've lived and worked in Germany for quite a long time, but you come from Athens, Greece. How do you feel about being so much away from home?
It is not always easy to be abroad... to be a foreigner. But I was very young when I left Greece, which makes it easier, and I am away from home by choice! My musical education was very important to me, I wanted to travel, which is also very important for an artist, and at the moment by living and working in Germany, I could say that I have made the right decision.
Is it difficult for you being in Germany right now? How do you feel about Greece’s situation at the moment?
I've worked in Germany since 2004 and live in Berlin for the last three years. I love the city. It’s a city that I can afford, full of creative musicians and artists and the people here have still interest in music and art generally. So what do I want more? On the other hand I love my country and I am really sorry about the situation at the moment. But I am sure there will be better days for us. We are Greeks after all!
What do you think about opera in Greece?
Greece has at the moment much more serious problems to solve: Greek people have survival problems, do you think they care about opera? Of course we have great voices and talent but without money, everything gets too difficult. Unfortunately the level of our music education is very low! I became an opera singer and I have never had music lessons at school! Can you imagine that?
If you could choose a music piece to express yourself, which would it be?
I would choose Carmina Burana.
How do you see yourself in 10 years from now?
Oh… that I can’t tell! I don’t make plans… I love being surprised!
Art is…
... something that makes our lives infinitely rich.
I always liked to sing but I started to learn music at the age of 8 when I joined a children's choir. Some years later at the conservatory in Athens, they encouraged me to try my luck abroad.
What is your favourite role and why?
I enjoyed the part of Ilia in Mozart’s Idomeneo very much. I love the music –I love Mozart generally- and the role shows so many different components: love, nostalgia, sacrifice but also the pureness of that girl which I personally find the most difficult to perform on stage. It’s easier to be the “bad person” in an opera, you know…?
How would you describe yourself on and off stage?
I hate to talk about myself but in one word I would say: Passionate on and off stage.
Tell us about the recording of Bastien & Bastienne for the Deutsche Grammophon. How was this experience for you?
The DVD came out on 2006 at the Salzburg Festival. I was invited to sing Bastienne and Mademoiselle Silberklang as it was a mixed production of two Mozart operas –"Bastien et Bastienne" and "Der Schauspieldirektor"- It was an indescribable feeling taking part in such a famous festival: great colleagues, great environment and great audience! The DVD is a live recording, so for us it was a normal performance.
You've lived and worked in Germany for quite a long time, but you come from Athens, Greece. How do you feel about being so much away from home?
It is not always easy to be abroad... to be a foreigner. But I was very young when I left Greece, which makes it easier, and I am away from home by choice! My musical education was very important to me, I wanted to travel, which is also very important for an artist, and at the moment by living and working in Germany, I could say that I have made the right decision.
Is it difficult for you being in Germany right now? How do you feel about Greece’s situation at the moment?
I've worked in Germany since 2004 and live in Berlin for the last three years. I love the city. It’s a city that I can afford, full of creative musicians and artists and the people here have still interest in music and art generally. So what do I want more? On the other hand I love my country and I am really sorry about the situation at the moment. But I am sure there will be better days for us. We are Greeks after all!
What do you think about opera in Greece?
Greece has at the moment much more serious problems to solve: Greek people have survival problems, do you think they care about opera? Of course we have great voices and talent but without money, everything gets too difficult. Unfortunately the level of our music education is very low! I became an opera singer and I have never had music lessons at school! Can you imagine that?
If you could choose a music piece to express yourself, which would it be?
I would choose Carmina Burana.
How do you see yourself in 10 years from now?
Oh… that I can’t tell! I don’t make plans… I love being surprised!
Art is…
... something that makes our lives infinitely rich.
