Opera?!

One genre many people are wary of is opera. It doesn't always have the best reputation. It's often seen as long, loud, and a bit… much. 

I often hear, "It's just not for me."

As a teenager, I played classical music on the piano and loved musical theatre. But opera? I wasn't so sure.

But then I had my first real encounter with opera: a school trip to see Handel's Giulio Cesare. And I was hooked. I immediately wanted to sing all the arias, and before long I was performing a duet from the opera at a school concert.

That was the beginning of my journey into classical singing. Without that experience, who knows what I might have missed?

So introducing people to opera has become something I really enjoy.

Together with my husband, I co-founded the chamber opera company Tessitoura. We've performed in barns, taverns, churches, small theatres, outdoors — even in a cemetery. Each space changes the atmosphere, and all of them bring the music closer, removing some of the distance people often feel with opera.

Our productions bring together young professionals, enthusiastic amateurs, and sometimes even children. We've worked in schools, invited young singers to join us on stage, and created projects that open the door a little wider.

Opera doesn't have to feel exclusive or stuffy. It can be immediate, engaging - and even exciting!