8. 10. 2013
Harmonia Moraviae 2013 and Mojca Erdmann
Metropolitan Opera's Mojca Erdmann at Harmonia Moraviae 2013
Mojca Erdmann is a young German soprano whose family roots are in Slovenia. Born in Hamburg, her main musical studies were completed in Cologne, and she first appeared in opera in Berlin. Her musical breakthrough came as a result of her success at the Salzburg festival, and last year she appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in the role of Zerlina in a new production of Don Giovanni, and as Waldvogel in Siegfried. Mojca Erdmann has a vast concert repertoire, frequently working with conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Ivor Bolton, Manfred Honeck, Kent Nagano, Fabio Luisi and Daniel Harding. She has performed in Frankfurt, Vienna, Stockholm, at La Scala, in Cologne, Amsterdam, Bad Kissingen and Berlin. In 2009 she signed an exclusive agreement with Deutsche Grammophon with the first solo recording, Mozart's Garden, featuring arias by Mozart and his contemporaries, released in 2011. The soprano will be showing her great vocal affinity and passion for the music of Mozart when she performs with the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic and its conductor Stanislav Vavřínek at the Congress Centre in Zlín on 3rd October 2013, singing opposite the Slovak baritone and Bratislava National Theatre soloist Pavol Remenár.
Miss Erdmann herself says that the most important thing for her is the experience she gives the audience. Here in Zlín she will be giving her tender and heartfelt rendition of Susanna's aria 'Deh, vieni non tardar' ('Oh come! Do not delay') from the Marriage of Figaro, the terrified Zaida's explosive lament 'Tiger! Wetze nur die Klauen' from Mozart's unfinished opera of the same name, and Pamina's reproach to Tamino in the aria 'Ach, ich fühl´s' from the Magic Flute. Then we will hear Juliet's doleful 'Eccomi in lieta vesta' from Bellini's opera The Capulets and the Montagues, and Norina's capricious 'Quel guardo, il cavaliere' from Donizetti's Don Pasquale.
This won't be your first performance in Czech Republic. How do you look back at your previous concerts?
This year I will be singing for the third time in Czech Republik. And after having sung twice in beautiful Prague I will be visiting Zlin for the first time, very exciting. Looking back I cannot find enough words for explaining how warmhearted and friendly Czech people are - I felt very comfortable in your wonderful country.
Originally, you were studying playing the violin. Why did you change it for opera singing? What moment decided?
Besides me playing the violin I always sang. My first steps on the operatic stage I experienced as a member of the children's chorus of Hamburg State Opera. From this moment I had taken my first private singing lesson at the age of fourteen. I felt that expressing myself and my musical ideas and emotions throughout my voice was much more natural and easy - compared to the violin. And that I could connect much better to the audience without having anything "in between".
Are there any venues and spaces that you like, that inspire you? Can you be specific?
Some cities (Salzburg, New York), stages (Scala Milano, The Metropolitan Opera), buildings (Stephaniensaal Graz, Concertgebouw Amsterdam) have special energies, kind of inspiring vibrations. But of course it always depends on the audience you a are sharing the performances with.
What is more important for you: good acoustics or good audience? Are there any differences between audiences?
Yes, definitely! Especially in a Lied recital I can feel and see if an audience is "diving" together with myself into the world of music and poetry.
In this case I can feel a wonderful positive and inspiring energy, an additional dimension. Of course a good acoustic is always helpful and makes it much easier to create the sound and the coulours you wish to form. Ideally you get both: inspiring audience plus wonderful acoustics...
Which one of your artists stage experiences was crucial in your life?
I will never forget the moment I met Nikolaus Harnoncourt for the first time. He is such a wonderful artist with huge knowledge and inspiring musical ideas. Every rehearsal, every concert with him is a magical venue.
What would you like to achieve in your career?
I already live the most wonderful life I could imagine. Spending my lifetime with making music, sharing the magic of music with my audience - I am just grateful for having got these gifts. I never thought of a career. It is all about the pleasure of making music and giving this pleasure to the people who listen.
What operatic roles are ahead of you and what concerts?
This season I will "be SOPHIE" (Rosenkavalier). This role will take me to Vienna State Opera, the Metropolitan Opera New York, Munich and Paris.
Besides these operatic performances I will sing many concerts with a huge variety of partners and programs: chamber music festivals in Jerusalem and Zermatt, lied recitals in Spain, Graz, Frankfurt, Strasbourg, Tokio, concerts with Orchestra in Tokio (Carmina Burana), Vienna (works by Mendelssohn), Helsinki (Mahler's 4th Symphony).
