Dolora Zajick is one of the most acclaimed singers in the opera world. And she makes her home in Reno.
She’s also a maverick, known for going her own way both vocally with an unconventional technique for a big, rich voice. And offstage where she pursues a range of activities from painting and writing to composing.
Zajick recently stopped by UNLV to teach two master classes – one as an artist in residence for the School of Music. The second class was for the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS:
How is opera different than what you see on Broadway?
"There is one thing and one thing only that makes opera different from other art forms and that's an acoustically trained voice that sings in a very specific way"
How do you know when an audience is getting what you're doing on stage?
"Well sometimes they don't. But there are subtitles and some people speak the languages. Some people following along in a libretto and some people have been going to opera for years and know it by heart."
What are you experiencing as a performer?
"The singer is concentrating on making sure everything is done in an organic manner. And that the technique is working that you're remembering your words. The music that you're in sync with what's going on. And that requires a continual line of concentration"
Why are Verdi operas so special to performers?
"Well there is always this misconception that bigger is better."
To what do you attribute your longevity?
"Well several factors. You can't get away from genetic pre-disposition. Some people just age more slowly. But there are also other factors in the sense that I avoided singing too many things, singing too much. I avoided singing things that were absolutely wrong for me."
Advice for singing students:
"I think the first and foremost thing that a student needs to do is to make sure that they are with the right teacher. That is easier said than done. Who's right for one person may not be right for another."
What do you want your master class students to leave with?
When you have such a short period of time you want them to be able to take something home with them that they can remember that they can use. So you want to kept it simple. Singing is very simple but its a very complex process to discover those simple things that make operatic singing work.
Click Here for more information on Zajick's Institute for Young Dramatic Voices
Dolora Zajick, opera singer