THIS week we chat with world renowned soprano Merlyn Quaife AM.<\/p>\n
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Do you sometimes have to take a moment to wonder how you became a singer and performer of such great acclaim?\u202f <\/strong><\/p>\n I am forever grateful for the opportunities I had to develop my skill. I do occasionally take stock of what a wonderful career and life I have experienced and marvel at how I seemed to meet the right people at the right time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For readers who don\u2019t know you, can you please describe your background?<\/strong><\/p>\n My Mum had a lovely singing voice which I fortunately inherited. Initially I was more interested in acting and thought some singing skills wouldn\u2019t go astray. I started Classical singing lessons as a single subject at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music with Brian Hansford, alongside my arts degree. Very quickly I got totally hooked on singing, entered many competitions, started performing in concerts and eventually won a coveted German Government Scholarship and studied in Munich.<\/p>\n This then led on to a career of opera, concerts with Symphony Orchestras, song recitals, chamber music and quite a lot of new classical repertoire. As to how I developed my voice – great guidance by my teachers, lots of practice, patience and persistence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Which performing artists inspire you?\u202f <\/strong><\/p>\n As a young singer I loved Joan Sutherland for her amazing vocal flexibility and Maria Callas for her dramatic intensity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What are some particular highlights you have from your amazingly illustrious career?\u202f <\/strong><\/p>\n Doing world premieres of new works is always particularly exciting and having works written for me is pretty wonderful. I created the role of Betty Joy in Brett Dean\u2019s opera BLISS<\/em>, based on the novel by Peter Carey, for Opera Australia.<\/p>\n I also created the role of Medea in Gordon Kerry\u2019s eponymous opera \u2013 there were chamber made performances in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Washington DC and then I repeated the role with the Berliner Kammeroper in Berlin and Dusseldorf.<\/p>\n As you can see, singing has taken me to many interesting places! One of my favourite memories is of singing in the horse show Lipizzaners with the Stars<\/em> \u2013 I even got to ride and sing. Now that was a highlight!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n