Page 37 - Headingtonian Magazine 2017

Is it hard to combine your career with being a mum?
When I had my little boy – he’s five now – I was worried I’d lose my contacts while I was pregnant and I’d have to start from scratch again when I went back to work. In the event, things worked out fine and I was chosen for roles quite quickly. I’ve taken it more slowly with my second child. My little girl is 21 months old now and I’m just getting ready to audition again.
Is opera is appreciated by a wider audience today?
Definitely. I work in London a lot and there are such a variety of opera venues now. Recently Peroni sponsored a series
of pop-up opera in unusual venues like train stations. Pub opera is very popular; the sound can be absolutely amazing where there’s a very intimate space. Medium size opera companies find unusual venues like warehouses to
create a very different opera experience that draws in a younger audience. Smaller theatres like the King’s Head in Islington put on opera and that’s reaching a wider audience too. A lot of opera is now sung in English so there isn’t the language barrier to contend with. Hearing an opera in its original language includes an emotional texture that can be lost a little in translation but in my view the small adjustments don’t seriously diminish
the experience. This way, an English audience can pick up the nuances of the story and characterisation and enjoy opera even more.
What advice would you give budding opera
singers at Headington?
If you love singing, continue singing in choirs.
Sing solo as much as you can and just enjoy your
voice. For me, starting to sing opera seriously was
a massive waiting game. I knew opera was what I
wanted to do with my life but the excellent advice I
got was not to rush it. Wait until you are ready. Once
you get into music school and really start training your
voice, finding a vocal coach you feel comfortable with is important too. Singing is so specialist, it draws on you physically as well as on the emotions within. So working with someone you trust, someone who lets you experiment, can make a world of difference to the singer you become.
Find out more about Maggie at her website
www.margaretcooper.co.uk
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