Interview with Welsh Opera Singer Natalya Romaniw Starring in Eugene Onegin at Bristol Hippodrome
Posted on: 09 Nov 2017The Welsh National Opera are coming to Bristol’s Hippodrome for a very special show this November the 15th. In the follow up to the much anticipated production, we spoke to Natalya Romaniw who plays Tatyana in Eugene Onegin. The award winning singer was born in Swansea and has had national success with her stunning voice. She represented Wales at the 2009 Cardiff Singer of the World competitions and in 2012 became the first person to win both the first prize and the song prize at the Kathleen Ferrier Awards.
Tchaikovsky’s best loved opera is based on the Alexander Pushkin novel of the same name. Simple and classic countryside settings are contrasted with beautiful ballroom scenes and rich costumes reflecting high society at the time. This poignant story showcases the battle between the yearnings of the heart and social convention, all through a score of wonderfully romantic choruses and evocative arias.
Hello Natalya, have you always wanted to be an opera singer?
I didn’t always want to be one actually! I wasn’t aware at a younger age when I was approaching university, that it was possible to make a career out of opera.
How did you get into it?
I sort of fell into it actually...I’d always loved music and drama and languages, so it pretty much made sense to me when the opportunity to study opera presented itself!
What are your top tips on how to preserve your voice before a show?
Everyone will have a different routine/regime because it’s all to do with how your body feels. I prefer to be quiet on the day of a show and have time to myself. Having said that...when it comes to showtime I’m ALWAYS hanging in the wings (and not in my dressing room) at least half an hour before curtain up because I simply cannot wait to get on there! Ask stage management- it’s like a running joke!
What advice would you give for young singers wanting to become professionals?
My advice would be to never lose the passion and integrity for this wonderful art form. We are at the service of the music and the text first and foremost and that should never be forgotten.
How do you warm up before a show?
Usually I will test my voice on the morning of a show when I wake up, just by doing a couple of sirens or humming a scale. I think all singers wake up and like to check that things are working on a show day. Then once I’m at the theatre, I like to stretch my body out a bit so that I feel everything is flowing correctly (yoga is so good for singers or any performer!) and then I’ll gently start to warm my voice up around an hour before curtain up, sometimes earlier, depending on when my wig and make up call is.
Who is your idol?
María Callas, without a shadow of a doubt! Her voice may not always have been the most beautiful sounding one but it was gutsy and dramatic and completely sincere. When I hear her singing, I feel overcome with emotion.
Describe your voice in 3 words
Opulent, warm and feisty
What is your all- time favourite opera?
Aaaargh! Too many to name. At the moment - Tosca by Puccini.
Can you break a glass with your voice?
It’s a myth I’m afraid...
What do you get up to in your downtime?
I love to read, gym it and I love cooking! In fact, I’d say I live to eat and go to the the gym so that I can do so...
Do you have a favourite spot in Bristol?
Unfortunately I don’t often get the chance to visit Bristol but I do love The Hippodrome! It holds a special place in my heart as that’s where I unexpectedly sang my very first Madam Butterfly back in March of this year for WNO.
What can be expected for somebody who has never been to the opera before?
I think for anyone who’s not been to the opera before (and I’ll have friends there that night in the same position!) what they can expect is to be blown away by a beautifully written score played fabulously by the WNO orchestra and a story of unrequited love, told by an array of seriously good singers who just so happen to sing with an operatic voice!
Why should young people come to the opera?
I think opera is like eating Brussel sprouts. You may not like or appreciate the taste when you’re younger but as you grow older your taste buds develop, you learn that sprouts aren’t so boring after all! Opera is something you should definitely try first before saying you don’t like it...
What do you think makes opera so timeless?
I think we as the audience always relate to at least one of the characters in an opera and I think that’s what makes it timeless. I think it’s a beautifully heightened art form that draws on the emotions of how we all feel at one point or another in everyday life.
To buy tickets for the opera or any other shows at The Bristol Hippodrome, click here.
Check out the Welsh National Opera official website here.
The Hippodrome is located at St Augustine's Parade, Bristol BS1 4UZ
Article by:
Hannah recently graduated with a degree in English with Writing. She is an avid writer, freelancer and creative. She is currently writing her first full-length novel and a collection of poetry. Always out and about in Bristol's music scene, she attends music events on a weekly basis.
